Hmm, any official source or link that tells many people are now considering Japan as not a good choice for a fight? Anyways, never mind as Casimero and Akaho didn't fight on Japanese soil but on South Korea although the referee in charge was Japanese. And don't worry about the result of that fight as from NO CONTEST it was now changed to a TKO victory for Casimero. Akaho admits that he was clearly struggling against Casimero.
Anyways, that should not be a topic here.
Going back to the topic, the name Kazuto Ioka is quite still fresh for PH boxing fans after the Japanese defeated one of the PH greats Donnie Nietes way back in June this year. Can't say who has the better edge between Kazuto Ioka and Joshua Franco as both champions won't reach their respective status if they are not good. Although Franco is roughly 6 years younger than Ioka, we can't consider the age as a big factor here.