Fernando Martinez lands an uppercut during his junior bantamweight title unification bout against Kazuto Ioka. (Photo by Naoki Fukuda)
Fernando ‘Puma’ Martinez traded one alphabet title for repeat business and the big payday that comes with it.
The undefeated Argentine has officially vacated his IBF junior bantamweight title, the sanctioning body confirmed on Friday. Martinez made the decision after being asked to make a mandatory title defense against Willibaldo Garcia.
“On Tuesday, October 29, the IBF received notice that Fernando Martinez is vacating his IBF title,” an IBF spokesperson informed The Ring. “In a letter addressed to President Daryl Peoples, Martinez thanked Peoples for the opportunity to represent the organization with honor and respect.
“The IBF wishes Fernando Martinez continued success and all the best in his future endeavours.
Martinez (17-0, 9 KOs) will instead move on to a much more lucrative rematch with Kazuto Ioka (31-3-1, 16 KOs). The Ring’s no. 1 and no. 2 rated junior bantamweights will meet again on December 31 in Tokyo. Martinez won their first fight by unanimous decision to unify the IBF and WBA titles at Ryoguke Kokugikan in Tokyo.
The bout was the third – and now final – defense of the IBF title Martinez claimed in a February 2022 decision over Jerwin Ancajas. He repeated the feat in far more dominant fashion later that October. Martinez then defeated Jade Bornea via knockout for his lone fight of 2023.
His 2024 campaign will wear an Ioka two-pack. The Ring learned that his purse for the rematch is well into six figures.
Interestingly, Ioka was faced with a similar predicament before another reunion.
The four-division titleholder was forced to relinquish the WBO title to instead go ahead with a June 2023 rematch against Joshua Franco. The two fought to a majority decision draw in their 2022 New Year’s Eve WBA/WBO unification bout in Tokyo. Ioka retained his WBO belt while Franco retained the WBA title.
In their rematch, Ioka defeated an overweight Franco to win the WBA belt, which he had defended once. His reign ended in the loss to Martinez, although that belt will be the only one on the line in December.
Meanwhile, the IBF has already moved to fill the vacancy.
Mexico’s Garcia and undefeated compatriot Rene Calixto have been summoned to begin negotiations. The fight between the IBF’s top two rated contenders has been ordered for October 31, according to an official ruling obtained by The Ring.
Garcia (22-5-1, 13 KOs) is represented by Sean ‘Viva’ Gibbons. Calixto (23-0, 9 KOs) is promoted by TMK International and is managed by former 118-pound titlist and current featherweight contender Tomoki Kameda (43-4, 23 KOs).
The two parties have until November 30 to reach an agreement. However, The Ring has learned that a deal has almost been finalized for December in Japan. Fittingly, the fight would take place less than two weeks before Martinez-Ioka II was to hold the date.
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for The Ring and vice president of the Boxing Writers Association of America.
