Japan has lost another year-end title fight as WBA super flyweight champion Fernando Martinez’s manager announced that his fighter is out of tomorrow’s rematch with Kazuto Ioka due to influenza.
The news, while unwelcome, isn’t particularly surprising. Martinez cancelled all media obligations in the last few days due to a 100-degree fever. Ioka isn’t someone to face when your own body is rebelling.
It’s been a tough month for Japan’s champions; a cut to Sam Goodman delayed his clash with Naoya Inoue to January, and Yoshiki Takei withdrew from the co-feature due to a shoulder injury. It’s also another setback for a fractured super flyweight division that recently saw Willibaldo Garcia and Rene Calixto fail to crown an IBF champion.
We’ll update you on any developments regarding this fight.
