Araneta battles Thai for vacant IBF throne

World No. 1 light-flyweight Christian “The Bomb” Araneta will soon find himself gunning for a world title shot.

With the International Boxing Federation (IBF) 108-pound throne now vacant, efforts are under way to stage a showdown to determine a new champion.

Araneta, who packs a 25-2 win-loss card, is likely to face Japan-based Thai Thanongsak Simsri, ranked No. 2, after erstwhile titlist Masamichi Yabuki of Japan decided to campaign in the flyweight class.

But the Cebu outfit Omega Sports Promotion, which represents Araneta, told DAILY TRIBUNE that three parties have expressed interest in staging the fight.

Dodong Diego Bandido, Omega’s vice-president and brand strategist, said that the interest is high.

“I’ve entered negotiations with Team Simsri a few days back. Currently, there are three different promoters who approached us to stage this fight.”

Given the early phase of the talks, Omega said it is weighing its options after a Japanese group expressed the desire to bring the fight to Kyrgyzstan.

There are also offers from the camp of Simsri in Japan and another from Masayuki Ito, who runs Treasure Boxing Promotion.

Omega said Ito wants to do a partnership again after the success of their initial collaboration.

Simsri, parading a 38-1 slate with 34 knockouts, is the reigning Orient-Pacific Boxing Federation titleholder.

The southpaw Araneta, whose two losses came during world title bouts, scored a first-round knockout of Sanchai Yotpoon of Thailand last December in Cebu.

Before that, Araneta, 30, also crushed Arvin Magramo also in the opening round in January 2024 in the Queen City.