Aston Palicte’s hopes of becoming a world champion have been crushed once again after a 10th-round technical knockout defeat to Japanese star Kazuto Ioka in their world championship bout for the vacant World Boxing Organization (WBO) super flyweight title on June 19, 2019 at the Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan.
Ioka displayed his superior boxing skills and defensive prowess by outboxing Palicte and finally stopping him in the 1:47 mark of the 10th.
With Palicte seemingly gassed out, the 30-year-old Ioka took advantage of the opportunity and unleashed a flurry of the punches that forced referee Kenny Chevalier to wave off the fight.
“Aston fell short,” Palicte’s coach Rodel Mayol told SunStar Cebu. “He lacked the stamina and durability.”
Ioka became the first Japanese to win world titles in four divisions. He improved to 24-1 with 14 knockouts.
It was a huge win for Ioka, who bounced back from a split decision defeat to Donnie Nietes for the same belt just last December.
Palicte, the No. 1 rated super flyweight in the WBO, dropped to 25-3-1 with 21 knockouts.
Palicte’s first attempt at becoming a world champion was in 2018 when he challenge Nietes for the same title and lost by split decision.
The title became vacant when Nietes relinquished it in his search for bigger fights in the weight division. (EKA)