World Boxing Association super flyweight champion Joshua Franco exuded confidence Tuesday ahead of his rematch with Japan's Kazuto Ioka, saying he was in better shape than when the pair last met.
Their previous bout, a super fly unification match at Tokyo's Ota City General Gymnasium on New Year's Eve, was a 12-round draw, leaving Franco in possession of his WBA belt and Ioka still holding the World Boxing Organization title.
Only Franco's WBA crown will be on the line in Saturday's rematch at the same venue, with Ioka rejecting a mandatory title defense against compatriot Junto Nakatani and vacating his belt in order to take another shot at the 27-year-old American.
"My condition is good. I'm ready to go," Franco said following a light training session in Tokyo. "I just feel like I need to dominate more than I did last time."
Franco said he would have the edge over the 34-year-old Ioka, provided the Texas native stuck to his fight plan.
"I feel like there will be a point in the fight that I hurt him, so if I do hurt him, I'll try to take advantage of it," Franco said. "(I'll) just be smart, get my punches right and do what I do, and that's go in there and fight and put on a good show."
Franco's record stands at 18 wins, eight by knockout, one loss and three draws, while Ioka is 29-2-1 with 15 KOs.