"El Professor" Josh Franco traveled 6500 miles from his home city of San Antonio to Tokyo, Japan. To take on home countryman and future Hall of Famer Kaz Ioka to unify the WBA and WBO Super Flyweight titles in the biggest fight of his young and promising career.
Franco delivered perhaps the best performance of his young and promising career. However, the entertaining 12-round affair failed to produce a winner as the pair of 115-pounders titlists fought to a twelve-round, majority draw. Franco managed to win by a score of 115-113 on a single card but that verdict was overruled by a pair of 114-114making the WBA/WBO unification bout Saturday evening a Draw at Ota-City General Gymnasium.
Franco seemed to control the early rounds and built up a lead in the early going of constant pressure and excellent combination punching. Franco was able to force Ioka backward and into the ropes. Franco was able to keep his man backed up and made him pay while on the ropes. Franco served as the aggressor who seemed to land the cleaner shots. The judges largely agreed, scoring the first seven rounds in favor of Franco by a wide margin. Ioka rallied in the middle rounds and was able to score with right hands and got in a rhythm against the ropes. Ioka was able to move closer on the scorecards. However, the final three rounds specifically the last two, seemed to be Franco rounds. The Texan bounced back and rallied with right hands and precision combination punching to close out the 10th and seemed to remain in control for the final six minutes. Hurting and wobbling the hometown legend in the 11th. He mixed up a body shot and straight right to the head that momentarily stumbled his opponent. Like a true champion. Ioka still in trouble started the 12th and final round in retreat, perhaps in survival mode. Franco pressed the action and again was able to affect the Japanese warrior. As the bell rang to conclude the 12th and final round it seemed academic Franco had done more than enough in a competitive fight. However, the judges did the unthinkable and scored the bout a majority decision draw. With one judge somehow giving Ioka the final five rounds.
Ioka was just as confused saying "I tried my best but I feel that I lost" That was the impression the audience had as well. Franco will retain his WBA belt, and his hard luck record moves to 18-1-3 (8). Ioka receives the benefit of the doubt and moves to 29-2-1 (15). Franco has already had rematches and then trilogies with two other fighters, Andrew Moloney and Oscar Negrete. Given the controversial decision, another rematch may be in store for the Alamo City native.