IPINAGUTOS ng International Boxing Federation ang paghaharap nina No.3 contender Donnie ‘Ahas’ Nietes at No.4 ranked Eaktawan Krungthepthonburi ng Thailand para sa bakanteng IBF flyweight title na binakantehan ni Pinoy champion Johnriel Casimero.
Binitiwan ni Casimero (23-3-0, 15KOs), two-division world champion, ang IBF crown para ituloy ang paghahamon kay WBC super flyweight champion at pound-for-pound No. 1 Roman Gonzalez ng Nicaragua o maging sa kababayn niyang si Jerwin Ancajas na kasalukuyang IBF superfly world champion.
Numero uno namang contender si Nietes (39-1-4, 22KOs), 34, sa WBO flyweight division at mandatory challenger ni Zou Shimming ng China na kasalukuyang png pin aguusapan. Si Nietes ang pinakamatagal na kampeong Pinoy nang hawakan ang WBO world minimumweight title mula Setyembre 2007 hanggang Agosto 2010, gayundin ang WBO light flyweight title mula Aug., 2010 bago niya ito binaknate nitong Setyembre.
BALITAnaw: Ang dalawang babaeng naging pangulo ng Pilipinas
Hindi pa nananalo si Krungthepthonburi (22-3-0, 15KOs), 27, kilala bilang Komgrich Nantapech, sa regional title.
Nabigo siya kay Albert Pagara via knockout noong Nov. 15, 2012 sa Maasin City , gayundin kay Froilan Saludar via decision noong Oct. 26, 2013 sa Makati. Matapos matalo kay Saludar, naitala naman niya ang 15 sunod na panalo.
“We have yet to hear from the IBF,” pahayag ni Michael Aldeguer, manager at promoter ni Nietes sa Philboxing. “We knew it could happen when we learned yesterday that Casimero is vacating his belt,” according to Aldeguer who said he heard rumors that Casimero was moving up in weight but he didn’t expect that to happen “this soon.”
“I will talk to Donnie if he wants this fight and I will still talk to the WBO where Donnie is the mandatory challenger to Zou Shiming’s title. Whatever Donnie wants, we’ll support him. He likes to fight the big names out there but at the same time this is a good opportunity for him to get another world title,” pahayag ni Aldeguer.
Sakaling matuloy, sinabi niyang gaganapin nila ito sa Abril.
