Kazuto Ioka v Fernando Martinez - Tale of the Tape: Weight, height, reach, trainer & professional boxing records

We analyse the credentials and statistics of domestic rivals Kazuto Ioka and Fernando Martinez as the super-flyweight stars gear-up for their mouth-watering unification showdown in Tokyo on Sunday 7th July.

Fight fans have been treated to some great match-ups in 2024, and the high-quality bouts continue in Tokyo as Kazuto Ioka and Fernando Martinez battle it out in a super-flyweight unification.

Four-weight world champion Ioka has had a long and distinguished career, but will have to withstand relentless pressure if he is to have his hand raised.

IBF titlist, Martinez is one of the most exciting boxers in the world today, but is yet to face someone with the technical ability of the Japanese fighter.

The big question is who will prevail?

Let’s take a look at the 'Tale of the Tape'...

Kazuto Ioka v Fernando Martinez
Tale of the Tape

	Kazuto Ioka	Fernando Martinez
Odds:	20/29	23/20
Age:	35	32
Nickname:	N/A	'Pumita'
Height:	5ft 4.5ins	5ft 2ins
Reach:	64ins	64ins
Weight:	Super-flyweight	Super-flyweight
Trainer:	Ismael Salas	Rodrigo Calabrese
Record:	31-2-1 (16 KOs)	16-0 (9 KOs)
Last Fight:	Won - (KO) v Josber Perez (December 2023)	Won - (SD) v Jade Bornea (June 2023)

Kazuto Ioka
In Profile

When observers of the sport debate pound-for-pound lists, Kazuto Ioka often features just outside the top 10.

That lofty ranking is testament to the skill and accomplishments of the Japanese fighter.

Ioka has won world titles in every division, from minimumweight to super-flyweight; through a combination of balance, skill and precision.

In just his seventh fight, and at the age of 23, Ioka stopped Kittipong Jaigrajang in the fifth round to capture the WBC 105lbs strap.

Two bouts later, the prodigy made history by becoming the first person to win a unification between two boxers from Japan, as he defeated Akira Yaegashi to add the WBA version of the belt to his collection.

Yaegashi was an all-action fighter who had prevailed in one of the best fights of the previous year as he outlasted Pornsawan Porpramook in a gruelling battle.

However, Yaegashi was unable to drag the youngster into his kind of fight. Ultimately, the movement and accuracy of Ioka was enough to edge the bout on the scorecards.

Six months later, Ioka moved up to light-flyweight to become a two-weight world champion. The highlight of his run at 108lbs saw him hand the aggressive Felix Alvarado his first loss.

His bid to capture a world title in a third division was temporarily halted as he fell just short against the awkward Amnat Ruenroeng.

But less than a year later, Ioka succeeded in his mission, as he outpointed Juan Carlos Reveco for the WBA flyweight belt. Five successful defences followed, including a rematch with Reveco.

Ioka’s first attempt at winning a title at super-flyweight ended similarly to his maiden challenge at 112lbs, as he fell agonisingly short against Donnie Nietes.

Again, he did not have to wait long for a chance to right the wrong as he won the vacant WBO strap, six months on, with a victory over Aston Palicte.

The 35-year-old defended his belt on five occasions, beating Nietes in their second encounter in the process, before facing off against WBA champion Joshua Franco in 2022.

Their unification ended in a draw, but Ioka was determined to prove he was the better man.

An immediate rematch was scheduled, but in doing so, the sanctioning body stripped the Japanese fighter of his belt as he was unable to fulfil his mandatory obligations.

Franco came in overweight, by over six pounds, but the fight went ahead. On the night, Ioka was too slick and too accurate as he won the WBA belt against a bigger man.

Now, he has another opportunity to become unified 115lbs champion, but does Ioka have another masterful performance left in him at this stage of his career?

We will soon find out.

Strengths:	Weaknesses:
Accuracy	Stays in range too long
Balance	Lack of head movement
Punch variety	Can be outworked
Footwork	Showboats at times

Fernando Martinez
In Profile

If the key to Ioka’s success is control, then Martinez thrives on chaos.

The Argentinean is relentless, and applies constant pressure with wings and hooks firing from all angles.

So far, not a single one of his 14 opponents, over the course of 16 fights have found the answer to halt the onslaught.

Perhaps it is because Martinez is not as reckless as he appears at first glance?

‘Pumita’ is compact, utilises a high guard and feints to close the distance and when he is in range, he lets his hands go. There is method in the madness.

The Rio 2016 Olympian demonstrated this in 2022 when he stepped up in class to challenge Jerwin Ancajas for the IBF super-flyweight belt.

The Filipino had been a world champion for over five years and had made nine successful defences, establishing himself among the best at the weight in the process.

However, Ancajas was unable to handle the volume of shots thrown by the challenger.

Martinez won wide on the scorecards and set a record for most power-power punches thrown in a 115lbs title fight, in the process.

If anything, their rematch was even more one-sided.

In June 2023, ‘Pumita stopped, the previously-unbeaten, Jade Bornea in the 11th round to retain his belt.

Bornea was bloodied and bruised, sustaining a horrific ear injury before succumbing to the pressure in the penultimate frame.

Historically, Ioka has dealt well with aggressive fighters well, but it remains to be seen whether the 32-year-old is simply too fresh for the four-weight world champion to handle at this stage of his career. 

Strengths:	Weaknesses:
Applies pressure	Open to counters
Throws in combination	Susceptible to uppercuts
High-guard	Head falls over front foot
Power in both hands	Stays in range too long

All odds displayed within this article were correct at the time of writing and are subject to fluctuation.