Next in line

IBF No. 1 lightflyweight Christian Araneta is next in line among Filipino top contenders taking a shot at the world title. Aside from Araneta, the other No. 1 Filipino fighters are WBO superfeatherweight Charly Suarez, WBO lightflyweight Regie Suganob and WBO minimumweight Vic Saludar. A rung below are No. 2 contenders WBC superfeatherweight Mark Magsayo, WBC superbantamweight Marlon Tapales, WBO superbantamweight Carl Jammes Martin, WBA lightflyweight Arvin Jhon Paciones and WBC minimumweight Joey Canoy.

Araneta, 30, gets a chance to vie for the vacant IBF 108-pound title against No. 2 Thanongsak Simsri in Tokyo on June 19. A bone-crushing puncher, Araneta boasts a record of 25-2, with 20 KOs including nine in the first round. His last two outings ended in one frame. Araneta, known as “The Bomb,” has lost only to Daniel Valladares by stoppage and Sivenathi Nontshinga on points. He suffered a right shoulder injury against Valladares and surrendered on his stool after four rounds while the defeat to Nontshinga was highly disputed. Araneta floored the South African in the 12th round as two judges saw it 114-113 and the third, 115-112. He has won his last six assignments.

Araneta has never won overseas, bowing to Valladares in Mexico and Nontshinga in South Africa. But he has never lost to a Thai, thrashing Sanchai Yotboon in one and Jakrawut Majungoen in nine. Nontshinga, 24, also has an impressive record of 38-1, with 34 KOs, making the coming confrontation a battle of KO artists. The Thai, who’s based in Tokyo, has disposed of four Filipino victims- – John Paul Gabunillas in five, Miel Fajardo on points, Christian Bacolod on points and Ricardo Sueno in one. Seven of his 34 KOs came in the first round.

Araneta arrived in Tokyo last Friday so it’s more than enough time to acclimatize to local conditions. He turned pro in 2013 and zoomed to a 17-0 record before the Valladares setback. It’s his first shot at a world crown and Araneta is determined to join IBF minimumweight titlist Pedro Taduran and WBC minimumweight beltholder Melvin Jerusalem as the only Filipino reigning world champions. Referee for the bout is Japan’s Katsuhiko Nakamura. The judges are Japan’s Koji Tanaka and Masakazu Murase and Poland’s Leszek Jankowaik.

Tomorrow, another Filipino Nonito Donaire climbs the ring to face Chile’s Andres Campos for the interim WBA bantamweight throne in Buenos Aires. It’s not for a regular world title but a win for the interim championship is a step closer to a crack at the real deal. Donaire hasn’t fought in two years and was ranked No. 5 by WBA to take on No. 8 Campos. Manny Pacquiao was also ranked No. 5 by WBC despite a four-year layoff to clear the way for his encounter with WBC welterweight king Mario Barrios on July 19.