IBF ORDERS NIETES-KRUNGTHEPTHONBURI WORLD FLYWEIGHT TITLE FIGHT
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 21 Dec 2016
In the aftermath of former IBF world flyweight champion Johnriel Casimero of the Philippines vacating his belt, the IBF has ordered its highest ranked contenders No. 3 rated flyweight Donnie Nietes of the Philippines to face No. 4 ranked Eaktawan Krungthepthonburi of Thailand to fight for the vacant world flyweight title, ESPN's Dan Rafael has reported.
Casimero (23-3-0, 15KOs), a two-division world champion, has announced yesterday thru his American promoter Sampson Lewkowicz, that he was vacating his flyweight title to campaign in the super flyweight division where he wants to face pound-for-pound No. 1 Roman Gonzalez of Nicaragua, the WBC superfly title holder, or IBF superfly world champion Jerwin Ancajas of Philippines.
Nietes (39-1-4, 22KOs), 34, the Philippines's longest reigning world champion who held the WBO world minimumweight title from Sep., 2007 until Aug., 2010 and the WBO light flyweight title from Aug., 2010 until he vacated the belt last September to campaign in the flyweight division, is rated No. 1 by the WBO in the flyweight division and the mandatory challenger to newly crowned WBO flyweight champion Zou Shiming of China but that fight has not yet been negotiated.
Krungthepthonburi (22-3-0, 15KOs), 27, from Bangkok, whose birth name is Komgrich Nantapech, has yet to win a regional title. He lost to Albert Pagara by knockout on Nov. 15, 2012 in Maasin City and also lost to Froilan Saludar by decision on Oct. 26, 2013 in Makati. After the Saludar loss however, he racked up 15 consecutive wins, 11 inside the distance.
?We have yet to hear from the IBF,? Nietes's promoter Michael Aldeguer told 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,? Aldeguer said who added that if the Nietes-Krungthepthonburi will push thru, it will likely be in April next year ?where Donnie has been scheduled to return.?
Photo: Nietes (L) and Thailand's Krungthepthonburi (R).
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dong Secuya.
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