Fernando Martinez vs Kazuto Ioka Preview December 31st, 2024
Former WBA/WBO Super Flyweight Champion Kazuto Ioka of Japan will attempt to regain his WBA Belt in a rematch against unbeaten champion Fernando Daniel Martinez of Argentina in Tokyo this Tuesday, December 31st. The two first met in July with Martinez winning a controversial unanimous decision to defend his IBF Belt and take Ioka’s WBA Belt at the same time. However, the IBF stripped Martinez for taking this rematch so he currently owns the WBA Title only. The fight can be seen live on the ABEMA streaming network in Japan and on ESPN 2 Latin America, starting somewhere between 2 and 4am ET. Ioka won the WBA Title by beating Joshua Franco via unanimous decision in their rematch in June, 2023 after battling to a controversial draw to retain his WBO Belt in December, 2022. Ioka took Franco’s WBA title in the rematch as he was the only one eligible to win it as Franco came in overweight and the belt was vacant. Ioka gave up the WBO Title shortly after the first Franco fight as he felt a rematch was in order while the WBO wanted him to move on and fight fellow countryman Junto Nakatani.
Martinez vs Ioka Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Kazuto Ioka +260
- Fernando Martinez -350
My Pick
The 35-year-old Ioka of Osaka carries a record of 31-3-1 with 16 Ko’s. He dropped a split decision to Donnie Nietes on New Year’s Eve in 2018 in his first shot at the vacant WBO Super Flyweight Title and also lost a split decision to Amnat Ruenroeng for the IBF Flyweight Title in 2014 for his other two career losses. He won the vacant Japanese Light Flyweight Crown in his sixth pro fight and then captured the WBC Minimumweight Belt in his next outing when he stopped Kittipong Jaigrajang in the fifth round.
Ioka defended the Japanese Flyweight Belt three times and added the WBA Minimumweight Title in his third defense with a unanimous decision over Akira Yaegashi. He then took the WBA Light Flyweight Crown on New Year’s Eve 2012 by stopping Jose Rodriguez in the sixth round. He defended it nine times including wins over Juan Carlos Reveco (twice), Roberto Domingo Sosa, Keyvin Lara and Nare Yianleang. Ioka moved up to super flyweight in September, 2018 and captured the WBC Silver Title with a 10-round unanimous decision over McWilliams Arroyo.
Ioka won the vacant WBO Super Flyweight Title with a 10th-round stoppage of Aston Palicte of the Philippines in June, 2019. This gave him a world title in four different weight classes at minimumweight, light flyweight, flyweight and super flyweight and he was the first Japanese boxer to achieve the feat. He defended the Super Flyweight Title against Jeyvier Cintron by unanimous decision on New Year’s Eve 2019 and stopped fellow countryman Kosei Tanaka in the eighth round on New Year’s Eve 2020 before beating Francisco Rodriguez, Ryoji Fukunaga and Nietes by unanimous decisions and then drawing and wining against Franco.
Ioka stands just over 5-feet-4-inches tall with a 64.5-inch reach and is one of Japan’s top boxers. However, he’s not as well known outside of Asia as fellow countrymen such as Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatini. He’s boxed 331 rounds since turning pro in 2009 and isn’t really a power puncher as 51.6 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage and he has gone the distance in seven of his last nine outings. Ioka possesses a solid chin and is a world class boxer on all levels. He won six national high school amateur titles and reportedly went 95-10 before turning pro.
Martinez is an energetic 33-year-old with a perfect record of 17-0 with 9 Ko’s. He made his pro debut in 2017 and has boxed 115 rounds since. He has decent power in his fists with a current knockout ratio of 56.3 per cent but has gone the distance in four of his past six fights. Most of his opponents were basically relative unknowns until he met Jerwin Ancajas in February, 2022 when he pulled off a 12-round unanimous decision upset in his first fight in America to win the IBF Super Flyweight Belt. He then repeated the feat in their rematch eight months later.
Martinez had a good amateur career as he beat Andrew Moloney and fought in the World Series of Boxing. Since turning pro, He has also captured the vacant Argentina FAB Super Flyweight Title and the WBC Silver Super Flyweight Title. He’s listed as just 5-feet-2-inches tall with a 64-inch reach but packs a lot of energy into his small frame. Still, he’ll be giving up 2.5-inches in height to Ioka. Martinez has also beaten the likes of Angel Aquino, Abel Silva, Athenkosi Dumezweni, Carlos Ruiz and Nicolas Botelli.
Prediction…
Boxing runs through the family of Ioka as his uncle Hiroki Ioka, was a two-weight world champion in the 1980s and 90s and was the first boxer to capture the WBC Minimumweight World Title after it was created in 1987. He’s a solid boxer with decent power and likes to fight at close range and apply pressure with precise, accurate combinations to the head and body. Martinez is quite unorthodox as he throws punches from all angles and he’s unbeaten until now. The first fight was a back and forth contest with Martinez throwing more punches while Ioka countered with accurate shots, especially to the body. However he wasn’t rewarded for his effort on the scorecards as he lost 117-11, 116-112 and a ridiculous 120-108. The disciplined Ioka is boxing at home again but will once again have his hands full with Martinez due to his style. If Ioka learned anything from the first fight and perhaps targets the head more he may fare better. Martinez is like a bull in a china shop though so it’s going to be a difficult task. Ioka’s great in rematches though as he’s 3-0 in them and he has the skill to win this fight but he’s almost 36 years old and I think he’ll fall just short once again.
A close call between two contrasting styles.
Play: Martinez -350 @ BetOnline.ag
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Fernando Daniel Martinez betting • Kazuto Ioka betting