Career
Ioka entered the Miwa Tsuda Gym (current Green Tsuda Gym) while attending middle school, and made his professional debut in 1986 at the age of 17. This record remains unbroken today. Ioka made his first defense against Kyung-Yun Lee in January, 1988, winning by knockout in the 12th round.
Ioka made his second defense in June, 1988, against Napa Kiatwanchai of Thailand, retaining his title by a 12 round draw.
The fight was highly controversial, as Kiatwanchai"s side claimed that the last round was ended almost 30 seconds early in order to make the fight a draw. Ioka had almost been knocked out by Kiatwanchai in the final round.
Ioka was ordered to have a rematch with Kiatwanchai for his third defense in December, 1988, and lost his title by 12 round decision. Ioka fought Kiatwanchai again in June, 1989, for his former title, but lost again by TKO in the 11th round.
He met Yuh again in his third defense of the title in November, 1992, but lost by decision, losing his title.
In December of that year, Ioka lost a 10 round non-title match to an unranked fighter, and decided to retire from boxing. Ioka"s career record was 33-8-1 (17KOs). He currently trains and manages young fighters at the Ioka Boxing Gym (Ioka Promotions), and appears on local television shows from time to time.
In 2000, Ioka fought a 14-year-old Koki Kameda in a two round exhibition match, which was broadcast as part of a television documentary on the Kameda family.
Kameda was training at the Green Tsuda Gym at the time, where Ioka trained for much of his career. Kameda scored a knockdown on the former two division title holder from a left straight and right hook combination, but the referee ruled it as a slip.
The fight ended up as a two round draw decision.
