By Adrian Stewart Co

Aston Palicte of Bago City will be fighting for the World Boxing Organization world super flyweight belt tonight at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba City, Japan, where he will face Japanese opponent Kazuto Ioka.
“Ioka is definitely a top contender and I will not look past that,” the Negrense boxer said. “He’s going to give it his all just as I will.”
“We’ll stick with our game plan and everything else about his past is just background for us,” he added.
The two will be battling for the title previously held by Donnie Nietes, who vacated the title earlier this year.
Palicte initially qualified after beating Puerto Rican fighter Jose Martinez following a second round stoppage in their eliminator bout at the Viejas Casino and Resort in Alpine, California. He was originally supposed to challenge Nietes for the title; however, their respective parties were unable to strike a deal for their much-anticipated rematch.
The two fought last September in a bout that ended in a split draw.
The Negrense comes into the fight with a 25-2-1 win-loss-draw ring record, with 21 stoppage victories; while Ioka carries a 23-2-0 record, with 13 knockout victories./ASC, WDJ