The context is more important than the opponent. Ioka suffered back-to-back losses to Fernando Martinez at junior bantamweight, a defeat that ended his second reign at 115 pounds and left him winless for two years. For a fighter whose career has been characterized by steady progress across divisions, the disparity is stark.

The jump to 118 pounds was deliberate. Ioka weighed in at a career-high 118 pounds and looked comfortable. He pushed forward early, kept his balance and focused on targeting the body. His strength, which he hadn’t shown in recent games, quickly returned.

Aldous Goiti was defeated. He had limited previous experience playing outside of Venezuela, and the difference in his control was evident from the first round. He struggled to create space and was almost immediately forced into a defensive stance.

Body shot first knockdown

The first knockdown came late in the second round, a left hook to the body. Aldous Goiti beat the Count without any reply. The same pattern repeated itself in the fourth game. Another clean left hook. This time, Aldous Goiti went down and his corner called for referee Koji Tanaka to stop play.

The stoppage marked Ioka’s first knockout since his win on New Year’s Eve two years ago. It also restored momentum at a time when people were beginning to question the direction of his career.

The win puts Ioka back into bantamweight title contention, although the WBA field remains crowded. Tesho also has the main belt. Nonito Donaire is seeking a rematch. Antonio Vargas is still listed as the top prospect this offseason, but the mandatory window is approaching. None of these paths appear directly.

The next step is still possible to fight for the WBC title with Takuma Inoue. A potential WBC title fight with Takuma Inoue has been discussed. Both fighters have aligned themselves with Lemino and the matchup has been mentioned at a future Tokyo Dome event. The appeal is both logistical and competitive.

For Ioka, the goal is clear. A bantamweight title would give him a fifth division title and extend a career already defined by historical benchmarks. Not all questions were answered Wednesday. It does prove that the upgrade is possible and that the next phase can proceed.

The undercard included a second-round stoppage of Daiya Kira as she moved toward a junior flyweight title opportunity.