Martinez vs Ioka Ends in Controversy as Knockdown Isn’t Enough for Ioka

Some fighters just have that dog in them. Fernando Martinez is one of them.

In the kind of fight that tests a boxer’s soul, Martinez vs Ioka delivered exactly that. Martinez traveled deep into hostile territory once again and left with everything he came for — his WBA junior bantamweight belt, his undefeated record, and his name still intact. It wasn’t smooth. It wasn’t clean. But it was gutsy.

On Sunday night in Tokyo, Argentina’s Martinez beat Japan’s legendary Kazuto Ioka for the second time, this time by unanimous decision. But unlike their first meeting last summer, this one came with a moment of serious danger. Martinez got dropped — hard — in round 10. And for a second, the Tokyo crowd believed their man might finally even the score.

Instead, Martinez got up. He shook off the shot. And then, he kept doing what he does best: throwing punches like his life depended on it.

Martinez Survives Knockdown, Outpoints Ioka in Gutsy Rematch Performance

The final scorecards told the tale of a close, rugged battle: 114-113, 115-112, and 117-110. (There was a bit of confusion in the ring — one score was announced incorrectly — but it didn’t change the outcome.)

At 32 years old, Martinez is now 19-0 (9 KOs) and still looking like a nightmare matchup for just about anyone. He’s pure volume, pure heart, and pure pressure. Ioka, 36, drops to 36-5-1 (16 KOs) — and if this was his final fight, he left it all out there.

They fought at the Ota-City General Gymnasium, a place Ioka practically calls home. He’s fought there nine times in his last ten fights. The crowd was behind him from the start, chanting and clapping through the early rounds.

Originally, this fight was set for New Year’s Eve, a traditional boxing holiday in Japan. But Martinez pulled out sick just hours before the weigh-in. Sunday night was the long-delayed sequel — and it delivered.

Tokyo Crowd Witnesses Instant Classic Between Old Foes

The first round was a chess match, and Ioka looked sharp — jabbing, countering, and digging to the body. That’s always been his thing: subtle, smart, efficient. He doesn’t waste shots.

But in the second round, Martinez started to cook. He didn’t land everything, but he didn’t stop throwing. Jabs, hooks, uppercuts — all coming forward like a wind-up toy that never runs out of charge.

The third round was where it got spicy. Ioka cracked Martinez with a clean right hand that snapped his head back, and the crowd roared. Martinez responded with a looping right just before the bell. From that point on, it was clear: this was going to be a war of styles.

Martinez wanted chaos. Ioka wanted control.

Action Intensifies as Martinez and Ioka Trade Momentum Swings

The middle rounds were tight. Really tight. Martinez was outworking Ioka, but Ioka was making his punches count — sharp counters to the body and chin, timed just right.

Then in round six, Ioka had one of his best moments. He found a rhythm — right hand, left hook, pivot. Martinez kept pressing, but he started missing more and breathing heavier. For the first time in their two-fight series, Ioka was turning the tide.

Rounds seven and eight? All Ioka. He was in his groove — sliding out of danger, touching the body, tagging Martinez upstairs with clean hooks. The Tokyo crowd could feel it. Their man was coming alive. Martinez was still dangerous, still moving forward, but he was getting picked off.

Then, round nine flipped the script again.

Martinez stormed out of his corner like he had a point to prove. It wasn’t technical, but it was brutal. He pinned Ioka to the ropes and let his hands go. And while Ioka stayed composed, the round swung back in the champion’s favor.

Then came the moment that almost changed everything.

Source: Fernando Martinez survives knockdown, repeats against Kazuto Ioka

Ioka Scores Knockdown, But Martinez Storms Back in Final Rounds

Midway through round ten, Ioka timed a left hook perfectly. Bang — right on the chin. Martinez stumbled forward. Then another shot. Martinez hit the canvas, face first.

You could hear the gasp across the arena.

It was the first knockdown in their 24 total rounds. Martinez looked dazed. But like any real dog in a fight, he beat the count and came back swinging. Still hurt, still wobbly — but not broken.

Ioka didn’t press for the finish. Maybe he thought he had the fight in the bag. Maybe he was waiting for the perfect shot again. But Martinez survived, and that might’ve made all the difference.

In rounds 11 and 12, Martinez did what champions do. He rallied. Not just with fists, but with grit. He poured on the pressure, letting his hands fly in combination after combination. And Ioka, while still sharp, didn’t match the urgency.

When the final bell rang, both fighters raised their arms. Both corners believed they’d done enough.

But only one left with the belt.

The judges rewarded Martinez’s volume and aggression — not Ioka’s accuracy. It was a familiar story in boxing. Quantity over quality. Especially when the quality stops throwing in the final two rounds.

Martinez Eyes Unification as Ioka Reflects on Legacy

Ioka’s face after the announcement said it all — disappointment, heartbreak, maybe even finality. But he didn’t sulk. He smiled as he walked to the back, waving to fans who stood and clapped in appreciation. If this was the last we see of him, it was a fitting end.

He was Japan’s first man to win world titles in four weight classes. A technician. A tactician. A professional. And for over a decade, he did things the right way.

But time waits for no one. And Martinez? He’s still just getting started.

Martinez had to vacate his IBF belt last year to take this fight. It was a gamble. One that paid off. He’s still WBA champion — and now he wants more.

On July 19, Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez and Phumelela Cafu meet in a huge unification bout. Rodriguez holds the WBC, RING, and lineal crowns. Cafu holds the WBO. Martinez wants the winner. And after what we saw in Tokyo, nobody can say he hasn’t earned that shot.

No matter what happens next, Sunday’s rematch was a reminder of why we love this sport. Two men, two styles, two stories — clashing not just for a belt, but for legacy.

Martinez walked through fire. Ioka landed bombs. And in the end, the younger man survived the scare, dug deep, and did just enough to get his hand raised again.

Unforgettable.

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