This is one of those rematches fans were begging to see as soon as the first fight ended. In the summer of 2024, slugger Fernando Martinez outworked four-division world champion Kazuto Ioka in a fierce, high-paced battle.

Unfortunately for the Japanese star, he relied less on his boxing ability and more on trying to trade power shots — a poor strategy against someone like Martinez, who thrives in toe-to-toe warfare. But Ioka is capable of fighting smarter: he has an excellent jab and will surely aim to bring that toolkit into the rematch.

Martinez is 33, Ioka is 36. And the difference in experience is significant. Kazuto is nothing short of a legend — titles in four weight classes and a résumé filled with top-tier opponents. On paper, his ring IQ should have been enough to solve Martinez.

But he miscalculated. Maybe fatigue played a role — Martinez outthrew him in most rounds. Or perhaps the game plan was simply flawed. Either way, the rematch offers a chance for redemption.

The most telling data comes straight from their first encounter, given how soon the rematch is happening. Outside of rounds 3, 5, and 10, Ioka threw fewer punches than Martinez in every round. In round 8, for example, Martinez launched 101 punches to Ioka’s 75 — an enormous output and an equally significant gap.

The takeaway is clear: Ioka should avoid getting dragged into another brawl. And for Fernando, the best strategy is to do exactly what worked the first time.

It’s been 10 months since their first fight — plenty of time to rest, reflect, and prepare for the sequel.

Given how intense their first clash was — both fighters threw nearly 1,000 punches each — it made perfect sense to allow for a longer recovery before jumping back in.

Both fighters hit hard — that’s evident in both stats and visuals. Their shots are crisp, forceful, and well-placed. They distribute their attacks between head and body efficiently, though Martinez does tend to headhunt a bit too much at times.

With the sheer volume of punches expected again, a knockout could realistically happen at any moment.

Remarkably, both men have excellent chins — which they proved by staying upright through their first war. A sudden knockout is always possible, but unlikely. Both fighters have solid guards, reliable defense, and know how to absorb damage. Don’t be surprised if we get another full 12-round war.

This will be Ioka’s 17th fight at the Ota-City General Gymnasium. The only time he fought elsewhere in his last 17 bouts? His loss to Martinez. That makes this return feel powerfully symbolic for the Japanese fighter — a shot at revenge in the arena he calls home.

For Martinez, that last win was career-defining — dethroning a living legend on his home turf to become champion. Now, he just needs to prove it wasn’t a fluke — was it Ioka’s inability to deal with sustained pressure, or just a bad strategy on the night?

Ioka, for his part, absolutely has room to improve. He can jab more, stay disciplined, and show he's the more refined boxer — if, and only if, he’s in peak condition. Should he manage that, he’s got a real shot at victory. But the margin for error is razor-thin — one slip, and Martinez will take over again.