FUENTES-RUENROENG IBF TITLE FIGHT SET FOR JAN. 22

Fuentes.

CEBU -- The Rocky Fuentes vs Amnat Ruenroing fight for the vacant IBF Flyweight Title is set for next Wednesday, Jan. 22 in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand and not on Feb. 22 as earlier reported, ALA Promotions Vice-President Dennis Canete, made the correction.

Fuentes was scheduled to fight Puerto Rico's McWilliams Arroyo on Jan. 25 for the IBF title eliminator. However, according to ALA Vice-President Dennis Canete, Fuentes encountered visa problems going to Puerto Rico so the Fuentes-Arroyo fight was deferred. But in another related development this week, South African flyweight champion Moruti Mthalane, who was scheduled to defend his title against mandatory challenger Amnat Ruenroing on Jan. 22 in Thailand, decided to vacate the title instead than go to Thailand with a measly purse money. On Oct. 29, 2013, a purse bid was held at IBF Office for the Mthalane-Ruenroeng title fight that was won by Thai promoter Jimmy's Boxing, the only bidder, for $15,000.

To salvage the event, and with the IBF's blessings, Ruenroeng was allowed to fight for the now vacant title on the same date against Rocky Fuentes with the winner set to fight No. 4 ranked flyweight Silvio Olteanu of Romania, according to Canete

Ruenroeng (11-0-0, 5KO), the IBF Pan-Pacific title holder, was sentenced to 15 years in Bangkok prison where he joined the jail's boxing program. He was released when he won a spot on the Thailand Olympic team where he fought Japan's Ioka and China's Zou Shiming in the Olympics. As a pro, he defeated a string of Filipino journeymen including Louie Bantigue, Danilo Pena, Michael Rodriguez and Julius Alcos.

Fuentes (35-6-2, 20KO) is the current OPBF flyweight champion and is highly ranked in the boxing's four major bodies. He is rated No. 2 by the WBC, No. 3 by the WBA, No. 5 by the IBF and No. 8 by the WBO.