Expected to embark on a revenge mission at the close of 2024, the boxing world had different plans for this Japanese legend. A rematch with Fernando Martinez will have to wait, but when all was on track, Phil Rogers checked in on the multi-weight king.
KAZUTO IOKA is no stranger to comebacks. A casual look at his record shows a career peppered with historic victories and sanctioning body titles in four different weight classes. Yet, scratch below the surface, and the Japanese super-flyweight has endured more than his fair share of disappointment; missing out on the 2008 Olympic squad, losing controversial decisions in the ring, and even being wrongly accused of testing positive for cannabis by the Japanese Boxing Commission. Now, as he prepares for his rematch with Fernando Martinez this New Year’s Eve in Tokyo, Japan, Ioka must once again find a way to bounce back.
“My life experience has been a great influence on me, both in boxing and in my mentality,” he tells Boxing News.
“I hope to make the most of my last experience. I think it’s a great opportunity.”
The Argentine, Martinez, won a unanimous decision over Ioka back in July to unify the IBF and WBA super-flyweight titles, though one lamentable 120-108 scorecard was rightly criticised for failing to recognise what was a closer and more competitive contest.
“I felt endless frustration after that loss,” Ioka (31-3-1, 16 KOs) told a press conference in Tokyo in the build-up to the rematch.
“I’m definitely going to make amends and prove I can get back on top.”
Now thirty-five years old, Ioka has once again faced questions about whether or not he will hang up his gloves if history is repeated against Martinez. Though previously emphatic with his answer to such questions, Ioka now appears in a more reflective mood.
“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.
Ioka’s career has developed under the tutelage of several trainers. His father, Kazunori (brother of former two-weight world champion, Hiroki Ioka) helped his son amass an impressive 95-10 record as an amateur before continuing to coach him to professional success.
Ioka then linked up with famed Cuban trainer Ismael Salas, who steered him to some of the most notable wins of his career. In the background, however, his friend and coach, Shuhei Sasaki, has played a notable role in training, and for this fight, the two have partnered up more closely in his homeland in preparation for the challenge posed by Martinez.
“I have known him since we were youngsters at the same university. I have known him since we were young. He is a trainer that I trust very much because he understands me very well. This time, I have trained in Japan. But what we have to do is the same. Training has not changed much.”
Like so many of his fellow countrymen, Ioka’s achievements have been difficult for fight fans in the West to enjoy, with television coverage scarce and time differences inconvenient. Despite such hindrances, hardcore followers of the sport have been gushing in their praise of his achievements. Ioka became the fastest Japanese fighter to win a world title (in his seventh professional fight, bettered only by Naoya Inoue) and picked up world championship gold from minimumweight right up to super-fly.
Some fans previously called for Ioka to be placed in pound-for-pound rankings, particularly after his impressive win over Kosei Tanaka, yet other more fashionable names have always remained ahead of him. Ioka, himself, has remained philosophical over this lack of recognition, instead simply delighted that Japanese boxing is finally getting the praise it deserves.
“Everyone has their own evaluation, I feel the recognition has been enough,” he says.
“It’s great that Japanese boxers have proven their strength to the world. More and more talented boxers who have built their careers in amateur boxing are transferring to the pros and their overall skills have improved.”
The rematch with Martinez will be Ioka’s 13th bout to take place on New Year’s Eve, a day traditionally reserved for Japanese fans to enjoy a notable card of boxing. The former champion has spoken previously about the sense of “duty” he feels in providing his fellow countrymen with entertainment on this heralded day, and with what appears to be a crossroads fight for Ioka approaching, he remains in a typically bullish mood.
“It is a special day for me to fight on New Year’s Eve in Japan. So as long as people are expecting me, I have a strong feeling that I want to compete on that day. It is a special feeling to have a match on that day for such a long time. Now all I can think about is beating him.”
