Araneta ready to drop bomb

Just a few days before his world title crack in Japan, Christian “The Bomb” Araneta is already right on track.

Araneta is slated to meet Thaongsak Simsri of Thailand for the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) light-flyweight crown on Thursday at the Ota City General Gymnasium in Tokyo.

“His weight is fine and he’s ahead of schedule,” reported Omega Boxing Gym point man Dodong Diego Bandido from the Japanese capital.

Top nutritionist Jeaneth Aro, famed for her role in the Olympic success of weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz, has blown into town to preside over Araneta’s meals in the next few days leading to the official weighin on Wednesday and fight day.

“Coach Aro is taking care of recovery and refueling,” added Bandido, who is joined there by chief trainer Julius Erving Junco.

Araneta and his team arrived in Japan last 6 June from Cebu City.

A press conference is set for Wednesday at noon at the Sheraton while the official weighin follows the next day also at 12.

The southpaw Araneta enters the ring armed with a 25-2 win-loss card with 20 knockouts while Simsri, who is based in Japan, parades a 38-1 with 34 knockouts.

The IBF has appointed Japanese Katsuhiko Nakamura as the referee of the scheduled 12-rounder while the three judges are Leszek Jankowaik of Poland, Koji Tanaka and Masakazu Murase, both from Japan.

Japan Boxing Commission secretary-general Tsuyoshi Yasukochi is the fight supervisor.

If victorious, Araneta will join Melvin Jerusalem and Pedro Taduran as the country’s current world champions.