Araneta Scores Knockdown But Loses Title Bid to Simsri by Split Decision
By Dong Secuya
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 19 Jun 2025
Christian Araneta of the Philippines, despite scoring a third round knockdown, fall short in his bid to bring home the IBF light flyweight belt when he lost by split decision against Thanongsak Simsri of Thailand Thursday at the Ota-City General Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan. Judges Masakazu Murase and Koji Tanaka scored the contest 115-112 and 116-111 respectively in Simsri's favor while Leszek Jankowiak had it 114-113 for Araneta.
Simsri was boxing smartly, using his jab to dictate the tempo and throwing combinations as Araneta tries to time Simsri with his signature bombs. In the third round Simsri pressed Araneta into the ropes throwing a bunch of punches but looping left counter by Araneta found its mark at Simri's left whisker that buckled the Thai with his knee and glove touching to the canvas for knockdown count by the referee. Araneta tried to finish off Simsri in the round attacking the Thai with a flurry of punches but Simsri survived the round.
Simsri seemed to have recovered as the fourth round ensued and stick to his plan of outboxing the Filipino and regained the momentum by the middle rounds landing three strong rights in quick succession. However, Araneta persevered, briefly regaining the upper hand with a thudding left hand in the last minute of round six. Simsri started to back off in the second half of the fight, repeatedly taking hits to the head and body. As Araneta seemed to wear down in the tenth and eleventh rounds, the Thai's jab became a significant factor. Araneta bravely plodded forward in the final round, frantically trying to land a knockout blow. Instead, though, he stepped onto a short right hand that briefly stopped him in his tracks.
Both teams anxiously awaited the official results, and it was Thanongsak Simsri who got his hand raised in triumph.
Simsri who improved his record to 39-1, 34KOs, wins his first world title while Araneta (25-3, 20KOs) failed in his first world title bid.
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