On July 7, 2024, the Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan, will be filled with cheering sounds and emotions for the long-awaited clash between the first male Japanese boxer, Kazuto Ioka, and the undefeated Fernando Martinez for WBA and IBF World Super Flyweight Titles. This fight, which will be highly anticipated due to the prestige and competitiveness brought by their experience and titles, is set to be a promising one to watch. Kazuto Ioka, a four-division world champion, and Fernando Martinez, the current IBF junior bantamweight champion, will bring their best to the ring. The event’s location in Tokyo will provide a great home advantage for Kazuto Ioka, adding to the excitement. The potential for a home victory or an extension of Martinez’s undefeated record only adds to the anticipation for this upcoming battle.
Kazuto Ioka, a standout in the boxing world, is a Japanese professional boxer born on March 24, 1989. He is the first Japanese boxer and the fourth Asian to become a four-weight world champion. His boxing journey is compelling, as he is the nephew of Hiroki Ioka, the flyweight champion, and asked his father to teach him how to box as a teenager. Despite not qualifying for the Olympics, Kauto Ioka dropped out of college and became a professional boxer in 2009. His first professional fight was on 12 April 2009 against Thongthailek Sor Tanapinyo, which he won by TKO in the third round. He went on to win six straight and compete for the vacant Japanese light flyweight title, which he won by defeating Masayoshi Segawa in the 10th round.
With an overview of his last two fights, with one battle on December 31, 2022, Kazuto Ioka defended his sixth super flyweight title in a unification bout against WBA champion Joshua Franco. They fought to most draws and retained their titles. On February 14, Kazuto Ioka vacated the WBO title to face Franco in a rematch after being ordered to make a mandatory title defense against Nakatani. With his impressive performance, Ioka defeated Franco unanimously to win the WBA title. The last fight was with Perez on December 31, 2023. He showed his sheer talent and knocked out Perez in the seventh round. This time at home, it will be quite an advantage for Ioka to make a significant impact on her huge fans.
Fernando Martinez, born on July 18, 1991, is an Argentine boxer with a fierce determination. His amateur career saw him compete in the men’s flyweight event at the 2016 Summer Olympics. On August 25, 2027, Martinez made his professional debut against Juan Ignacio Haran, winning the fight by a fourth-round stoppage. Over the next two years, he astounded everyone with a record of 10-0, six of which were by stoppage. On December 16, 2019, he was scheduled to compete against Athenkosi Dumezweni, the reigning WBC Silver super flyweight champion. This event, which took place in East London, marked Martinez’s first fight outside Argentina. Martinez won the battle through technical knockout in the eleventh round with a flurry of punches at the 0.23-minute mark. On December 11, 2020, he faced Angel Nicolas Aquino; without any doubt, he won the game by split decision with a score of 95-94, 97-92, and 94-95. Under IBF super flyweight champion, Martinez faced Ancajas on February 26, 2022. Despite entering the fight as an underdog, he seized the title with a unanimous decision; Martinez landed 427 out of 1046 total punches thrown. Martinez’s confidence in his success and his anticipation for the fight are palpable, adding to the excitement of the upcoming battle.
Kazuto Ioka vs. Fernando Martinez: Event Details
Main Event: Kazuto Ioka vs. Fernando Martinez
Date: July 7, 2024 (Sunday)
Time: 7.00 p.m. ET | 4:00 p.m. PT | 4:30 a.m. IST (Next Day)
Venue: Kokugikan in Tokyo, Japan
Where to Watch Kazuto Ioka vs. Fernando Martinez?
Kazuto Ioka and Fernando Martinez will telecast this thrilling bout on ABEMA-TV from Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan arena.
Kazuto Ioka vs. Fernando Martinez Fight Card
Kazuto Ioka vs. Fernando Martinez (IBF & WBA super flyweight titles)
Seiya Tsutsumi vs. Weerawat Noolae (super bantamweight)
Yudai Murakami vs. Hiro Ichimichi (lightweight)
Kantaro Juri vs. Phai Pharob (super-flyweight)
Taiga Kato vs. Shi Dong (welterweight)
Hao Wang vs. Aoi Yokoyama (bantamweight)
Hibiki Kawai vs. Ruka Shinkawa (lightweight)
Kazuto Ioka Stats and Odds
Nationality: Japanese
Age: 35
Height: 5′ 5″
Reach: 66.5″
Total Fights: 34
Record: 31-2-1 (16 KOs)
Fernando Martinez Stats and Odds
Nationality: Argentinian
Age: 32
Height:5′ 3.5″
Reach: 64″
Total Fights: 16
Record: 16-0-0 (9 KOs)
Prediction
Kazuto Ioka vs. Fernando Martinez
Kazuto Ioka heads into this match with a record of 31 wins, two losses, and one draw. Ioka is well known for his technical ability and ring IQ. His counterpunching and defensive skills are exceptionally top-notch. In his career, he stopped 16 of his opponents with a knockout ratio of 52%, and in a total of 319 rounds, his professional fight lasted 9.4 rounds on average. During his previous fight, Kazuto Ioka faced off against Josber Perez on December 31, 2023, at Ota City General Gymnasium, Ōta, Tokyo, Japan. On the fight day, Ioka’s effective punches played a crucial role. During the fight, Ioka dropped Perez three times. The first two knockdowns occurred in the fifth round, and the final one in the seventh round led to the stoppage. Ioka’s experience and skill level were evident as the fight progressed. He could adapt and capitalize on openings, showcasing his superior boxing IQ. In the end, Ioka won the fight by TKO in the seventh round. It was an impressive performance that showed why he was the top boxer in the world at the time of the battle. Kazuto Ioka must rely on his technical ability, ring IQ, and superior boxing skills to overcome Fernando Martinez. His experience and adaptability, as shown in his previous fights, will be crucial in his strategy to outsmart and outperform Martinez in the ring.
Meanwhile, Fernando Martinez has an undefeated record of 16 wins and nine knockouts. Martinez is well known for his agility, speed, and precision, which make him a formidable opponent in the ring. His adaptability was notable when he could read his opponent and adjust his strategy accordingly. On June 24, 2023, Fernando Martinez defeated Jade Bornea by technical knockout at Minneapolis Armory, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S., and retained the IBF super flyweight title. The main reason for Martinez’s victory was due to his aggressive style and punches, which caused significant damage to Jade Bornea, which is a severe cut on his right ear. The referee stopped the fight 29 seconds into the 11th round, and Martinez won the game through technical knockout in round 11. Ferenado’s relentless power and consistency extended his undefeated record to 16-0. As we all know, aggression is his major strength for Martinez, so he will tighten his defense to avoid Kazuto Ioka’s counterpunches. He will use aggressive punches to defeat Ioka and maintain his undefeated record. While looking at both players’ statistics and performances, Kazuto Ioka will have an edge to win this game through decision.
The Pick: Kazuto Ioka via Decision.
