An official announcement will soon be made as to the much-awaited title shot of hard-hitting Filipino flyweight Miel Fajardo.

“The date’s been set and only the venue and minor contract details are being finalized,” reported matchmaker Anthony Arieta.

Fajardo is the mandatory challenger to Masamichi Yabuki of Japan, the reigning International Boxing Federation (IBF) flyweight champion.

Last April on hostile ground, Fajardo needed less than one round to dispose of Tobias Reyes of Argentina in their elimination match to assume the status of mandatory challenger.

Fajardo has been in training mode the last few weeks but the intensity of his workouts is expected to heighten once an announcement is made.

Representing Fajardo in the negotiations is Sean Gibbons, whose influence, connections and savvy has made him a much-sought after agent.

Yabuki, 34, last fought in June when he defeated Rene Calixto of Mexico on points at the Aichi Sky Expo in Tokoname, Japan.

He holds a 20-4-0 win-loss-draw record with 18 knockouts.

Fajardo, 26, sports a 14-3-2 mark with 12 knockouts, including seven in the very first round.

Managing the Agusan del Sur-born Fajardo is Lennon Tsoi of Hong Kong while training him is Ericson Asilo.