Ioka crowned WBC minimumweight champ

Ioka crowned WBC minimumweight champ

KOBE, Japan - Japan's Kazuto Ioka waves to the crowd after a historic win over Oleydong Sithsamerchai of Thailand and being crowned WBC minimumweight champion at Kobe World Memorial Hall in western Japan on Feb. 11, 2011. Victory for 10th-ranked Ioka saw him set the Japanese record for winning a world title in the fewest number of fights -- seven.

Kuroki tastes defeat in 1st crack at world title

Kuroki tastes defeat in 1st crack at world title

TOKYO, Japan - Fourth-ranked challenger Yasutaka Kuroki of Japan (R) gets caught in a blitz by WBC minimumweight champion Oleydong Sithsanerchai of Thailand in the second round of a title match at Ariake Colosseum on March 27, 2010. Kuroki lost by unanimous decision to the Thai champion who defended his title for the fifth time.

Kuroki to challenge Sithsanerchai

Kuroki to challenge Sithsanerchai

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese challenger Yasutaka Kuroki (L) and WBC minimumweight champion Oleydong Sithsanerchai of Thailand shake hands after the signing ceremony for their title match at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on March, 26, 2010, a day before the match at Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo.

Japan's Ebisuoka KOed by Thai WBC minimumweight champ

Japan's Ebisuoka KOed by Thai WBC minimumweight champ

PHUKET, Thailand - A referee holds up an arm of WBC minimumweight champion Oleydong Sithsanerchai after the Thai champion beat Japanese challenger Junichi Ebisuoka (R) by a knockout in the ninth round of their match in Phuket, Thailand, on June 18. (Kyodo)

Ioka crowned WBC minimumweight champ

Ioka crowned WBC minimumweight champ

KOBE, Japan - Japan's Kazuto Ioka waves to the crowd after a historic win over Oleydong Sithsamerchai of Thailand and being crowned WBC minimumweight champion at Kobe World Memorial Hall in western Japan on Feb. 11, 2011. Victory for 10th-ranked Ioka saw him set the Japanese record for winning a world title in the fewest number of fights -- seven. (Kyodo)

Kuroki tastes defeat in 1st crack at world title

Kuroki tastes defeat in 1st crack at world title

TOKYO, Japan - Fourth-ranked challenger Yasutaka Kuroki of Japan (R) gets caught in a blitz by WBC minimumweight champion Oleydong Sithsanerchai of Thailand in the second round of a title match at Ariake Colosseum on March 27, 2010. Kuroki lost by unanimous decision to the Thai champion who defended his title for the fifth time. (Kyodo)

Kuroki to challenge Sithsanerchai

Kuroki to challenge Sithsanerchai

TOKYO, Japan - Japanese challenger Yasutaka Kuroki (L) and WBC minimumweight champion Oleydong Sithsanerchai of Thailand shake hands after the signing ceremony for their title match at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on March, 26, 2010, a day before the match at Ariake Colosseum in Tokyo. (Kyodo)