Joshua Franco will never not believe that he deserved to enter 2023 with two major titles in tow.
Ever the realist, he recognized the moments where he failed to convince two of the three judges to score in his favor over Kazuto Ioka last New Year’s Eve in Tokyo. The visiting WBA 115-pound titleholder from San Antonio plans to make sure he doesn’t leave any doubt if this weekend’s rematch once again goes to the scorecards.
“We don’t want it to go to the judges this time,” Franco told The DAZN Boxing Show. “If it does, we want to make it so everyone is able to see that I’m the clear winner.”
Franco (18-1-3, 8KOs) will attempt the second defense of the WBA junior bantamweight title this Saturday, once again from Ota-City Gymnasium in Tokyo where Ioka fights for the seventh straight time. Unlike their first fight, only one belt is at stake as Ioka (29-1-1, 15KOs) vacated the WBO belt earlier this year to instead move forward with the Franco rematch.
The move came less than two months after Franco was forced to settle for a majority decision draw in their WBA/WBO unification bout. Judge Stanley Christoldoulou (115-113) scored for the visiting Franco, who fought outside the U.S. for the first time as a pro. Judges Ferlin Marsh (114-114) and Jose Roberto Torres (114-114) both had the fight even, which left both boxers with their respective title reigns still intact.
Varying opinions lent credence to the ultimate outcome. Many viewers felt Franco’s superior workrate left him unfortunate to get the nod. Statistically, Ioka was the more accurate and—despite throwing more than 600 fewer punches—landed 12 more, though a chunk of that lead was compiled in the first three rounds.
Franco vowed to leave Tokyo with a knockout win this time around. It would be his first in more than four years if he is able to accomplish the feat. Ioka—Japan’s lone male boxer ever to capture major titles in four weight divisions—has never been dropped or stopped through more than fourteen years as a pro.
Greater accuracy through a similar punch output, Franco believes, could get the job done. If it doesn’t produce a stoppage, then it will at least eliminate any doubt as to why he will deserve the nod.
“I was the busier fighter but my punches weren’t as clear as I wanted,” Franco said of the first fight. “This time I want to dominate in the same way but make it clearer.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox