WBA World flyweight titlist Kazuto Ioka turns 27 today. Fighting out of Osaka, Japan, since 2009 (19-1, 11 KOs), Ioka scored the title in April 2015 by beating Juan Carlos Reveco via majority decision. In his rematch with the durable Argentine this past December, the Japanese won by 11th-round TKO, the only time Reveco has been stopped in his 12-year career. Never kayoed himself, Ioka has only lost once, beaten in his quest for the IBF World flyweight title by Amnat Ruenroeng via split decision in May 2014. The birthday boy has also been the WBA and WBC World minimumweight champ, as well as the WBA World light flyweight champ, titles he ultimately vacated.

Former WBA World middleweight champ Javier Castillejo turned 48 on March 22. The hard-hitting and iron-chinned Spaniard fought from 1988 to 2009 (62-8-1, 43 KOs, 1 no contest), winning the title in July 2006 by stopping Felix Sturm via 10th-round TKO, but losing it by unanimous decision in the April 2007 rematch. “El Lince de Parla” was also twice WBC World super welterweight champ. He last fought in April 2009, drawing against Pablo Navascues, and last won in November 2007, knocking out Mariano Natalio Carrera in the sixth.

The WBA wishes the heartiest Happy Birthday to both warriors.

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