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Former WBA super flyweight champion Kazuto Ioka will fight a world title rematch on New Year’s Eve against Argentine boxer Fernando Martinez, winner of their two-belt unification bout in July, the event’s promoter announced Monday.
Former WBA super flyweight champion Kazuto Ioka poses for a photo after holding a press conference in Tokyo on Nov. 18, 2024. (Kyodo)
The fight will take place at Tokyo’s Ota City General Gymnasium, a venue familiar to the 35-year-old Ioka during a career comprising 31 wins, 16 by knockout, with three losses and one draw.
The 33-year-old Martinez (17-0, 9 KOs) will put his WBA super flyweight belt on the line for the first time since beating Ioka by unanimous decision at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan on July 7.
According to U.S. media reports, Martinez vacated his IBF super flyweight belt after passing up a mandatory defense in favor of the rematch with Ioka.
“I felt endless frustration after that loss,” Ioka said at a press conference in Tokyo. “I’m definitely going to make amends and prove I can get back on top.”
Ioka became the first Japanese boxer to win world championships in four weight divisions when he captured the WBO super flyweight crown in 2019. Naoya Inoue has since become the second and Kosei Tanaka the third.
The Osaka Prefecture native acknowledged that another loss to Martinez could make it difficult for him to get a further shot at a title.
“I won’t necessarily retire if I lose, but this isn’t a world where you can keep thinking there will always be another chance,” Ioka said.
Japan’s Kazuto Ioka (R) takes on Argentina’s Fernando Martinez in a world super flyweight unification bout at Tokyo’s Ryogoku Kokugikan on July 7, 2024. (Kyodo) ==Kyodo
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