In a 12-round WBA super flyweight title fight, Joshua Franco faces Kazuto Ioka Saturday at Ota-City General Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan. While the main fight card is scheduled for Saturday night in Tokyo, it will start 7 a.m. ET with the main event scheduled for approximately 9 a.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Franco vs. Ioka odds, and make our expert boxing picks and predictions.
These 2 fighters fought to a majority draw on New Year’s Eve at this same venue. One judge had Franco winning 115-113, while the other 2 judges scored it 114-114.
Franco has had some interesting fights lately. He had a no contest in the “bubble” at MGM Grand in Las Vegas against Andrew Moloney in November 2020 in a fight which was also a rematch. He topped Moloney via unanimous decision in late June 2020.
Franco bounced back from the no contest in the trilogy fight with a unanimous-decision win against Moloney in the rematch at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa in mid-August 2021. Franco hopes the rematch luck is on his side again Saturday.
Ioka had won 6 straight fights, all in his native Japan, since losing by split-decision to Donnie Nietes in Macau on New Year’s Eve 2018. He avenged that loss with a unanimous-decision win over Nietes prior to the last fight with Franco. Nietes, too, hopes for rematch success.
Franco vs. Ioka odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Friday at 3:30 p.m. ET.
- Fight result (3-way line): Franco -110 (bet $110 to win $100) | Ioka +100 (bet $100 to win $100) | Tie +1200 (bet $100 to win $1,200)
- Over/Under: 11 rounds (11 or more -500 | Under +333)
- Will the fight go the distance? (Yes -400 | No +275)
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Franco vs. Ioka picks and predictions
Records: Franco (18-1-3, 8 KOs) | Ioka (29-2-1, 15 KOs)
Fight result (2-way line or moneyline)
At even money, IOKA (+100) is the play in his native Japan. He was on the short end of the majority draw last time out, but he’ll bounce back with a win here.
Ioka has tremendous punching power, which will be on full display, perhaps with a little extra motivation in front of a pro-Ioka crowd. He’ll also have a chip on his shoulder from not being scored ahead by any of the 3 judges last time.
The main concern is that Franco (-110) has a 2.5-inch reach advantage, so Ioka will have to be careful not to step into a big punch.
Over/Under (O/U)
There is no sense playing Yes (-400): Will the fight go the distance? as this will cost 4 times the potential return. Eleven round or more (-500) is even more costly.
Instead, focus on IOKA ON POINTS (+160) in a full-distance fight. Whether you like Ioka, or if you disagree with me and intend to play Franco, definitely go to the “Round Group Betting” section and take either fighter on points. There is very little chance we get a knockout.
Visit Boxing Junkie for more fight news and analysis.
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For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.
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