The IBF strike again and strip Fernando Martinez

The IBF has stripped Argentinian junior bantamweight titleholder Fernando Martinez of his belt ahead of an expected New Year’s Eve rematch with Kazuto Ioka, ESPN’s Salvador Rodriguez reports.

The sequel, not yet confirmed, was intended to be a unification bout. 

Martinez, 17-0 (9 KOs), claimed the WBA title from Ioka in July but is overdue for an IBF mandatory defense. Top challenger Willibaldo Garcia, 22-5-1 (13 KOs), is now expected to face Rene Calixto, 23-0 (9 KOs), for the vacant title in Japan this December.

The IBF had previously granted 33-year-old Martinez exceptions, including for his July bout with Ioka, but has now enforced its mandatory requirements. Martinez won the title in February 2022 by defeating Jerwin Ancajas and has made three defenses since.

Garcia, 34, has never fought at 12-round level and has not competed against a world class opponent since he was outpointed, over 10, by Paul Butler in 2021.