Donnie Nietes has set sights on reclaiming the World Boxing Organization junior bantamweight title when he takes on reigning champion Kazuto Ioka next month.
Probellum confirmed on Wednesday, June 1 that the Nietes-Ioka rematch will finally materialize at the Ota City General Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan on July 13.
"This was the fight I wanted the most and I am incredibly eager to win back my world title," said the 40-year-old Nietes. "I have been in training since February for this fight but I really stepped up my levels when I knew it was confirmed."
The Negros Occidental native boxer first won the WBO title against Ioka on December 31, 2018, a New Year's Eve bout where Nietes scored a split decision win against the Japanese pugilist.
But the four-division world boxing champion, who is now signed with Probellum, decided to relinquish the belt months later and paved the way for Ioka to win the title against Filipino boxer Aston Palicte in June 2019.
Nietes, after more than two years of hiatus, returned on a high note with a unanimous decision win against Pablo Carillo in April 2021 before following it up with a split draw against Norbelto Jimenez in December of the same year.
Nietes, fondly known as "Ahas," holds a 43-1-6 record on top of 23 knockouts while Ioka owns a 28-2 slate with 15 KOs.
"This rematch makes me excited and when I vacated the title in 2018 it was always in my mind that I would, one day, win it back. On July 13, that dream will become a reality," added Nietes.
Ioka, 33, for his part, rides on a five-match win streak with the latest coming from compatriot Ryoji Fukunaga in December 31, 2021, also a New Yeary's eve match, since yielding to Nietes in their first encounter.
Meanwhile, Richard Schaefer, president of Probellum, believes that Nietes would be a "sure-fire" in the boxing Hall of Fame inductee but his career is "far from over."
"There is plenty left in the tank and when he travels to Japan and rips the world title from Kazuto Ioka on July 13, it will rank as the greatest victory of his remarkable career," said Schaefer.
"What a story it would be for Nietes to recapture the title he first won almost four years ago, and to achieve that in a great champion’s backyard, would make it even more special."