Followers of the little giants can be happy and excited to listen to how junior bantamweights Fernando Martinez and Kazuto Ioka have agreed to combat a return bout on December thirty first, the return filling the customary New 12 months’s Eve slot in Tokyo, Japan. There’s all the time some nice combat motion taking place in Japan on the ultimate night time of the yr, and Martinez-Ioka II guarantees to be a great one, possibly a really epic one.
It was again in July when Argentinian warrior Martinez, 17-0(9) took Ioka’s WBA belt 115 kilos whereas retaining his IBF title. The motion was red-hot from starting to finish, and most followers noticed an in depth combat. As a substitute, fairly shockingly, all three judges had it extensive for Martinez – very extensive on the case of 1 merely ludicrous card that had Martinez profitable each single spherical at a rating of 120-108. Martinez deserved the win, however Ioka, who fell to 31-3-1(16) deserved higher from two of the three officers; the 2 different scores being 117-111 and 116-112 for Martinez.
Now seeking to get his revenge, Ioka, who did some super physique punching within the July combat, this as Martinez got here ahead all night time lengthy, must be given a great shot at getting it, even when he’s the considerably older man. The July battle was nice to observe, with the thrilling encounter boasting a few real stand out rounds.
Except Ioka has out of the blue “grown previous,” with the July battle proving to be the final nice combat of his lengthy and wonderful ring profession, we should always get one other memorable shootout on New 12 months’s Eve.
Will or not it’s repeat or revenge? If Ioka does reverse his loss right here, may we see a trilogy between him and Martinez?
