Kazuto Ioka delivered another New Year's Eve celebration, this time as the four-division world champion seeks history among deeper and complicated waters at bantamweight.

He floored and later finished Maikel Ordosgoitti (15-2, 14 KOs) with a body shot barrage after four rounds of their WBA title eliminator atop a Lemino-streamed card from Ota-City General Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan.

Ioka, who unified titles at strawweight and later junior bantamweight, is already a Hall of Fame lock but isn't yet satisfied as the opportunity to further enhance his legacy awaits.

"If I can become a five-division world champion, I believe it will show the importance of taking on challenges and that great things can be achieved because you dared to challenge yourself," he told The Ring in the build-up to this return. First hurdle safely cleared.

Ioka (32-4-1, 17 KOs) also spoke of his desire to challenge either WBA beltholder Seiya Tsutsumi or new WBC champion Takuma Inoue in an all-Japanese clash that would capture the imagination for fans during an exciting year featuring their two pound-for-pound stars.

Venezuela's Ordosgoitti lost his unbeaten streak when campaigning at featherweight during the WBC Grand Prix in April but Ioka's extra poundage was the story here, as he utilised savvy shot selection - particularly uppercuts and hooks to the body - to devastating effect.

The 24-year-old couldn't help but sit down and recover after absorbing one too many in quick succession midway through round two, with Ioka calmly strolling off to the side without reaction, knowing there was more punishment yet to administer.

After beating referee Koji Tanaka's count, Ioka bounced towards him and closed the distance, throwing body shots and connecting on a right hand as the younger man's survival instincts kicked in, retreating with his back to the ropes hoping for a reprieve.

Ordosgoitti held his feet more in the third, aware he couldn't afford to give Ioka any more motivation to finish the job by being overly defensive after the prior knockdown and winged hooks wildly searching of a shot that would change the complexion of their contest.

Ioka finished that frame better after a spirited response from the visitor, in only his second scheduled 10-round matchup. Clearly unfazed by the power flashing back at him, the 16-year veteran was content to trade at close-range with him and knew the work downstairs had already begun wearing the challenger down. It felt fitting then, that shot ended matters.

Ordosgoitti threw an uppercut-hook combination but left his body exposed, with Ioka digging down a pair of hooks with either hand to the six-year pro's midsection.

He crumbled to the canvas in agony and couldn't continue, sealing a sweet end to an eventful year for the home favourite after suffering a repeat 12-round points defeat by now-former world junior bantamweight champion Fernando 'Puma' Martinez in May.

The Ring's No. 2-rated 115-pounder wanted to deliver an impressive display and certainly made a lasting impression as many forecast what 2026 has to offer.

Nonito Donaire was narrowly bested by Tsutsumi earlier this month in his own quest for history aged 43 and the Filipino is seeking an immediate rematch, while the sanctioning body's champion in recess Antonio Vargas has a shot of his own due no later than April 15.

Recently aligned on the same streaming platform, the WBA title logjam could instead see Ioka face WBC beltholder Inoue in a voluntary defence that would afford him an opportunity to become Japan's first-ever male five-division world champion.

Ioka was the first to win world titles in four weight classes, a feat Takuma's older brother and Ring's No. 2-rated pound-for-pound star Naoya achieved in 2023.

Tokyo prospect Daiya Kira (4-0, 3 KOs) wasted no time scything down Ivan Garcia Balderas (13-5-1, 5 KOs) in their WBA junior flyweight title eliminator, connecting clean with a counter overhand right hand leaving the Mexican down and out after 0:27 in round two.

WBO's No. 2-rated contender Kira, who trains with and is among Ioka's promotional stablemates, turned professional in June 2024.

This marked his first scheduled 10-rounder, with 12-round bouts sure to follow in the new year after telling The Ring Balderas represented another challenge he'd been calling for.

The 22-year-old's remarkable rise continues and while in line for a shot at unified beltholder Rene Santiago (15-4, 9 KOs), it's likely he'll be kept busy with more step-ups in competition.

WBO/WBA champion Santiago could next pursue a rematch with The Ring's No. 5-rated divisional operator Shokichi Iwata after a social media callout elicited a positive response.