Exclusive Photos & Interview: Ioka Shares the Heart Behind His Historic Challenge

An Unyielding Will

Kazuto Ioka: People are weak, you know.

You discipline yourself. You faithfully do what you’ve decided. In that sense, strength or weakness as an athlete doesn’t really matter, does it?

But to keep doing what you’ve decided with conviction—that seems simple, but it’s actually very difficult.

For example, you set up a routine to achieve your goals: a morning run after waking up, a meal at a set time, a gym session, stretching after returning home. What you think and feel when you fail to do that—that’s extremely important.

When I was a student, there were times I couldn’t get out of bed and thought, “Just a little more sleep,” and skipped my morning roadwork. I went to school and attended class without practice—but the whole day was unenjoyable. I was full of guilt, and it felt empty. People who don’t feel that way probably can’t grow.

There’s this word motivation, but “I do it because I’m motivated” isn’t enough. And “I’ll challenge the option with even a small chance” isn’t right either. There are many important factors for achieving goals—environment, timing, etc.—but the most important is decision-making. Once you decide “I’m going this way,” you need the will to commit fully without leaving an escape route.

Kazuto Ioka (36)—who has created countless legends with titles such as the fastest in the world and first Japanese to—now, at the late stage of his career, is taking on an unprecedented challenge in Japanese boxing: aiming for five-division world titles. When asked by a reporter about criticism citing his age and size, Ioka replied as above: “I’m not challenging because I have confidence I can achieve five-division titles.”

Ioka: In May, I lost the direct rematch to Fernando Martinez (34), marking the first consecutive losses of my career. What to do next? Do I regain the super flyweight world title, or move up to bantamweight to pursue five-division supremacy? When I considered that, the faces of those around me came to mind.

I wanted to repay those who support and cheer me. So I thought I should take the biggest challenge possible. I want them to feel, “Wow, he’s amazing,” or “I’m glad I supported him.” I want to prove the critics wrong: “He’s not finished yet.”And I felt that ending my boxing career without attempting a five-division title—something only a four-division champ can challenge—wouldn’t be right.

Moving up a weight class isn’t just about adding muscle. There’s an appropriate muscle-to-bone ratio. If adding muscle slows your movement, victory becomes more distant. Starting from a lighter class, Ioka says moving to bantamweight meant breaking the training and preparation process I’d built since my pro debut.

Ioka: In any sport, you start by building the body, right? You strengthen the physical first, then strip away the unnecessary. You identify what’s necessary and what isn’t, and create a body you can control.

But until now, I hadn’t done that. I focused on refining my senses and instincts rather than developing my physicality.

What Makes Kazuto Ioka Strong?

Ioka: It’s not boxing that’s obviously superior—like having exceptional speed or punching power. If someone asks me, “What makes you better than others?” I honestly don’t know. What I’ve done is consistently disrupt my opponent’s rhythm and neutralize their strengths. That’s how I’ve won.

Once a fight is confirmed, I study my opponent, make a strategy, and face them in the ring. I step in with confidence—but the opponent has also prepared, so nothing matches up perfectly at first.

Then what do you do? You probe to find the keyhole that will unlock the situation. The moment you find it, everything clicks into place, like solving a puzzle, and the fight unfolds rapidly.

Speed and power are certainly advantages—but if you can find that keyhole and understand your opponent’s logic, you can control the distance. No matter how fast or strong they are, they’re not scary—you won’t get hit cleanly.

It’s about how you use the tools you’ve prepared, depending on the situation. Situational awareness backed by experience, plus creative thinking—that’s what I think my strength is.

It Feels Like Youth

Ioka: Bantamweight is uncharted territory for me. My previous style might not work. But that’s also an opportunity to make a big change. I incorporated upper- and lower-body strength training, even training the connections between muscles. I focused on output, and in doing so, I discovered something new. I had realizations.

Boxers have always trained their cardio—running, hitting the heavy bag, building endurance.

But stamina from lung capacity and muscular stamina are different. By focusing on physical conditioning this time, I improved muscular endurance. That extended the time I could maintain good movements. Strong punches can now be delivered for longer, and I can control the pace of a fight more easily. Previously, if an opponent created distance in an exchange, I’d recover my own stamina to match. Now, I can keep attacking without pause. If I push the opponent back, I can control the distance, hitting without receiving punches. I realized I could move in ways I never could before—and thought, “Wow, I still have so much room to grow.”

Achieving goals is of course satisfying, but for me, the most enjoyable part is the process—facing myself and feeling my own growth.

To achieve this feat, I must first win the WBA bantamweight challenger match on New Year’s Eve against Michael Aldosgoity (24). Even as a mid-weight adaptation, Ioka’s expression is bright.

Ioka: As you grow older, that excitement tends to fade. I, too, eventually found that winning belts didn’t feel as thrilling as before. But now, I wake up every day thinking, “I still have so many ways to get stronger!” Sweating together with younger guys in the gym it feels like youth. I think a man always has a boy somewhere in his heart. My heart is in its youth, like high school club days.

Being a boxer has taught me something: people can’t do what they hate. You only do what you hate for the sake of what you love. Find what you love, make it your work, and earn a living from it. That’s why Kazuyoshi Miura (58) is still active today. No matter what others say—he’s slowed down or he’s declined—he shines the most. Nothing surpasses that.

I have my critics, and sometimes they tear me apart, but my friends say, “I’m jealous. You get to be passionate about what you love, be excited every day, and step into the ring in front of a huge crowd. That’s more than enough.”

“A Life Without Challenges Is Safe; A Life With Challenges Is Grateful”

I recently came across that phrase. It’s exactly right. I’ve had ups and downs in both my personal and professional life—but that’s because I’ve taken action. Set high goals and pursued them, and things happen. That includes these discoveries and realizations.

Since stepping into the pro ring at 20, fear has always been there. I’m not attempting five-division supremacy because I think I can.

But there’s no choice other than to do it.

Whatever the result, you accept it, assess what’s lacking, and move forward again. What’s most important is living a fulfilling life. Enjoying life. I am grateful to the version of myself who decided to challenge five divisions.

From the December 19 and 26, 2025 issue of “FRIDAY”