Kazuto Ioka looks to hold a firm grip on the super flyweight division when he faces Fernando Martinez on Sunday, July 7. The fight for Ioka's WBA title and Martinez’s IBF belt is in Sumo Hall in Tokyo.
Ioka (31-2-1) is a four-division champion. He won the WBC minimum weight title in 2011 and the WBA title in 2012. Moving in weight, the 35-year-old won the WBA light flyweight belt on New Year's Eve 2012 and the WBA flyweight belt in 2015. He has held super flyweight gold since 2019, winning the WBO super flyweight belt against Aston Palicte.
Defending the belt eight times, including going 1-0-1 against Joshua Franco in a memorable and controversial series, Ioka looks to unify the division, secure his place as the top fighter from Japan and immediately turn his attention to new WBC and Ring champion Jesse Rodriguez.
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“I’m happy to have a unification fight,” Ioka told The Ring. “I think it’s a challenge to go further, and fighting an IBF champion is a big challenge. … I’ve come this far, but I’m not satisfied with where I am now, I want to see how far I can go and prove it,”
Martinez (16-0) won the IBF super flyweight title in 2022 against Jerwin Ancajas. The 2010 South American Games bronze medalist has defended the belt twice. With nine wins via knockout, the Argentine heads to Japan for the first time in his career.
On the undercard, prospects continue their journey to potentially become top contenders and former champions look to return to the top.
Kazuto Ioka vs. Fernando Martinez undercard
Here’s a breakdown of all the action on the Ioka vs. Martinez card.
Seiya Tsutsumi vs. Weerawat Noolae
- Division/Weight: Super Bantamweight
- Tsutsumi record: 10-0-2
- Noolae record: 4-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Seiya Tsutsumi faces Weerawat Noolae.
Tsutsumi (10-0-2) held local bantamweight gold from 2022-23 and is moving up a weight class to test himself. He has seven wins via knockout and competes for the first time since his fight against Kazuki Anaguchi, who died at age 23 from injuries sustained in the bout.
Noolae (4-1) is 1-1 in his last two fights and 2-1 in 2024. The fighter from Thailand has two wins via knockout.
Yudai Murakami vs. Hiro Ichimichi
- Division/Weight: Lightweight
- Murakami record: 4-2
- Ichimichi record: 8-1-1
- Belts at stake: N/A
Yudai Murakami faces Hiro Ichimichi.
Murakami (4-2) saw a three-bout win streak snapped in December in a fight for local Japan gold. He looks to rebound on his way to becoming a top contender at lightweight.
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Ichimichi (8-1-1) had an eight-fight unbeaten streak snapped to start 2023 but rebounded with a win a year later, going the distance in March against Shun Nakamura.
Taiga Kato vs. Shi Dong
- Division/Weight: Super Bantamweight
- Kato record: 5-2
- Dong record: 1-2
- Belts at stake: N/A
Further down the card is Taiga Kato vs. Shi Dong.
Kato (5-2) is 2-1 in his last three fights. All five of the 21-year-old's wins have been via knockout.
Dong (1-2) in April snapped a two-fight losing streak to start his career, the first time the Chinese-born fighter had competed in some three years.
Kantaro Juri vs. Phai Pharob
- Division/Weight: Super Flyweight
- Juri record: 6-0-1
- Pharob record: 37-4
- Belts at stake: N/A
Kantaro Juri faces Phai Pharob.
Juri (6-0-1) is coming off a one-sided decision win in December against Danai Ngiabphukhiaw. The 28-year-old has gone the distance in all but two fights won.
Pharob (37-4) is a former interim WBA minimumweight champion. He is on a two-fight win streak and 2-1 in his last three fights.
Hao Wang vs. Aoi Yokoyama
- Division/Weight: Bantamweight
- Wang record: 2-0
- Yokoyama record: N/A
- Belts at stake: N/A
Hao Wang and Aoi Yokoyama compete in bantamweight action.
Wong (2-0) won in early April, his first fight since his debut in 2021. The 20-year-old has won both fights via knockout. The fighter from China is also 1-0 in MMA, his last fight being a knockout win at the end of April.
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A Japanese National Championships competitor, Yokoyama makes his pro debut.
Hibiki Kawai vs. Ruka Shinkawa
- Division/Weight: Lightweight
- Kawai record: 1-1
- Shinkawa record: N/A
- Belts at stake: N/A
Finally, Hibiki Kawai faces Ruka Shinkawa.
Kawai (1-1) lost his last fight via unanimous decision. The Saitama-born fighter looks for a major rebound but must get past Shinkawa, making his pro debut.
Kazuto Ioka vs. Fernando Martinez tune-in info
- Date: Sunday, July 7
- Time: 7 a.m. ET | 12 p.m. BST | 8 p.m. JST | 9 p.m. AEST
- Location: Kokugikan — Tokyo
- How to watch: TBA
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