Inoue vs Ioka

When is Inoue vs Ioka?

Takuma Inoue will face Kazuto Ioka on Saturday, May 2nd, 2026, at Tokyo Dome, Tokyo.

The fight will be contested over 12 rounds in the Bantamweight division, which means the weight limit will be 118 pounds (8.4 stone or 53.5 kg).

This contest is for the vacant WBC bantamweight championship of the world.

Inoue will be defending his WBC World Bantamweight Championship for the first time. He won this belt against Tenshin Nasukawa in November 2025. He had held this belt for 4 months and 2 days.

This fight will appear on the undercard of Naoya Inoue's and Junto Nakatani's clash for the The Ring Junior Featherweight, WBC World Super Bantamweight, IBF World Junior Featherweight and WBO World Junior Featherweight championship. Also on the undercard will be Kosuke Tomioka's and Shogo Tanaka's fight, Toshiki Shimomachi's and Reiya Abe's fight, Yoshiki Takei's and DeKang Wang's contest, and Sora Tanaka's and Jin Sasaki's bout.

Inoue vs Ioka stats

Takuma Inoue steps into the ring with a record of 21 wins, 2 losses, and 0 draws, 5 of those wins coming by way of knockout.

Kazuto Ioka will make his way to the ring with a record of 32 wins, 4 losses and 1 draw, with 17 of those wins by knockout.

The stats suggest Ioka has a large advantage in power over Inoue, boasting a 53% knockout percentage compared to Inoue's 24%.

Takuma Inoue is the younger man by 7 years, at 30 years old.

Ioka has a 2-inch reach advantage.

Both Takuma Inoue and Kazuto Ioka fight out of an orthodox stance.

Inoue is the less experienced professional fighter, having had 14 fewer fights, and made his debut in 2013, 4 years and 7 months later than Ioka, whose first professional fight was in 2009. He has fought 132 fewer professional rounds, totaling 215 compared to Ioka's 347.

Takuma Inoue goes into the fight ranked number 3 by The Ring at bantamweight.

Kazuto Ioka is currently ranked number 3 by the WBA, 4 by the WBC, 2 by the WBO, 7 by the IBF, and 9 by The Ring in the 118lb division.

Inoue vs Ioka form

Inoue has beaten 4 of his last 5 opponents, stopping 1 of them, going the distance 3 times.

In his last fight, he beat Tenshin Nasukawa on November 24, 2025, by unanimous decision in their WBC World Bantamweight championship fight at Toyota Arena Tokyo, Koto-Ku, Japan.

Prior to that, he had been beaten by Seiya Tsutsumi on October 13, 2024, by unanimous decision in their WBA World Bantamweight championship fight at Ariake Arena, Tokyo.

Going into that contest, he had beaten Sho Ishida on May 6, 2024, by unanimous decision in their WBA World Bantamweight championship fight at Tokyo Dome, Tokyo.

Before that, he had won against Jerwin Ancajas on February 24, 2024, by knockout in the 9th round in their WBA World Bantamweight championship fight at Kokugikan, Tokyo.

He had beaten Liborio Solis on April 8, 2023, by unanimous decision in their WBA World Bantamweight championship fight at Ariake Arena, Koto-Ku.

Ioka has beaten 3 of his last 5 opponents, stopping 2 of them, going the distance once.

In his last fight, he defeated Maikel Ordosgoitti on December 31, 2025, by knockout in the 4th round in their WBA World Bantamweight eliminator fight at Ota-City General Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan.

Prior to that, he had lost to Fernando Martinez on May 11, 2025, by unanimous decision in their WBA World Super Flyweight championship fight at Ota-City General Gymnasium, Tokyo.

Going into that contest, he had been beaten by Fernando Martinez on July 7, 2024, by unanimous decision in their WBA World Super Flyweight and IBF World Junior Bantamweight championship fight at Ryogoku Kokugikan, Tokyo.

Before that, he had defeated Josber Perez on December 31, 2023, by knockout in the 7th round in their WBA World Super Flyweight championship fight at Ota-City General Gymnasium, Tokyo.

He had won against Joshua Franco on June 24, 2023, by unanimous decision in their WBA World Super Flyweight championship fight at Ota-City General Gymnasium, Tokyo.

Activity check

In terms of recent activity, Kazuto Ioka has been fighting more than Takuma Inoue.

Takuma Inoue last fought 5 months and 8 days ago, while Kazuto Ioka's last outing was 4 months and 1 day ago.

Inoue's last 5 fights have come over a period of 3 years and 24 days, which means he has been fighting approximately every 7 months and 12 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 57 rounds, meaning that they have lasted 11.4 rounds on average.

Ioka's last 5 fights have come over a period of 2 years, 10 months and 8 days, meaning he has been fighting on average every 6 months and 27 days. In those fights, he fought a total of 47 rounds, meaning that they have lasted 9.4 rounds on average.

What time does Inoue vs Ioka start?

The fighters are expected to ringwalk at around 10:00 AM UTC at Tokyo Dome, Tokyo, Japan, which is 6:00 AM EST or 3:00 AM PST on the West Coast of America, or 11:00 AM BST in the UK.

What are the odds on Inoue vs Ioka?

Takuma Inoue is currently 4/9 (-230) to win the bout outright, while you can get 13/8 (+160) on Kazuto Ioka if you fancy the small upset.

View all Inoue vs Ioka Odds