Sanchai Yotboon of Thailand Arrives in Cebu Wanting Christian Araneta’s IBF #1 Ranking; The Two Will Battle in the Omega Show on Wednesday
By Carlos Costa
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 09 Dec 2024
CEBU, Philippines — Thailand boxer Sanchai Yotboon arrived in the Queen City of the South, Cebu, today, Monday December 9, for his eight-round non-title rumble against promising world-ranked slugger Christian “The Bomb” Araneta of the Omega Gym.
The visiting 27-year-old Yotboon landed at the Mactan-Cebu International Airport together with his lady manager Ms. Pastsarawan Artharn on board Cebu Pacific flight 5J5959 from Don Mueang Bangkok Airport.
Yotboon arrived looking fine and strong after the 4-hour flight.
Appearing rather shy, the Thai boxer was cordially received by Omega Gym’s trusted brother Ramon Jandayan of Cobsolacion, Cebu.
The 27-year-old Yotboon (16-8, 10 KOs), who is from Kamphaeng Phet in Northern Thailand, and the 29-year-old local boy Christian Araneta (24-2, 19 KOs) of Mandaue, Cebu, will collide on Wednesday, December 11, at the IPI Tingub Gym in Mandaue City.
No boxing fan in Cebu can afford to miss this.
Sanchai Yotboon (C) and his lady manager Pastsarawan Artharn (L) pose for a selfie with Omega's Ramon Jandayan who meet them at Mactan International Airport Monday, Dec. 9.
Truly, Yotboon is expected to bring his A-game, as he has nothing to lose and so much, so much, to win.
That’s because the southpaw Araneta is currently the IBF #1 world rank mandatory fighter in the Light Flyweight division. Plus, he is also in the WBA and WBC world rankings.
Beating Araneta would be HUGE for Yotboon and for Thai boxing.
Could that happen?
In fact, the Cebuano is right now on the doorsteps of a much-wanted world title shot.
That golden chance could probably come against 32-year-old IBF world champion Masamichi Yabuki (17-4, 16 KOs) of Nagoya, Japan.
It is possible.
So then, can we imagine what could happen if Araneta gets defeated on Wednesday in his own backyard?
In boxing, anything can happen. We all know that. Boxing shocks us with incredible results like this one: World-ranked #1 Reymart Gaballo getting knocked out by underdog Mexican Kenbun Torres. That was last May at the Midas Hotel.
Yes, we all know this: in boxing, anything can happen.
So what will happen Wednesday?
👉 Will the experienced, talented and popular IBF # 1 Christian Araneta detonate his bombs with destructive power, ravaging and stopping Yotboon to keep his precious IBF # 1 rank intact, just as his many fans here in Cebu want?
👉 Or… or will the super massive underdog Yotboon be the one to brilliantly attack and defeat the world ranked Cebuano rising star in his own hometown of Mandaue?
Fans can not miss the action. For one thing, Araneta is never boring!!
The official weigh-in for the Araneta vs Yotboon clash unfolds tomorrow, Tuesday, with GAB officials, media and fans taking a good look at the proceedings, everyone hoping for an exciting and entertaining show; and Philboxing will be in attendance.
The show is promoted by the most pogi of all the Filipino promoters: Pio Paulo Castillo Jr., the managing director of Cebu’s popular Omega Boxing Gym.
Araneta vs Yotboon Wednesday, December 11, in Mandaue, Cebu.
May the best man win!
The author Carlos Costa of Cebu can be reached at carlos@philboxing.com and 09184538152.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.
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