Sarangani boxing sensation Richie Mepranum finally gets his dream of fighting for a world title.
Mepranum will face Mexican Julio Cesar Miranda for the vacant World Boxing Organization flyweight title after former world champion Omar Narvaez moved up in weight and captured the super flyweight title.
The bout is slated for June 12 in Mexico.
Miranda is a knockout artist but lost all two of his previous attempts to win a world title – against Moruti Mthalane in November last year and Pongsaklek Wonjongkam six months earlier.
Narvaez has a record of 31 wins (24 by KOs) five losses and a draw.
His most notable win was a first round knockout of former world titlist Eric Ortiz who was also knocked out by Fil-American boxer Brian Viloria in Manila five years ago. Eric Ortiz also lost to Filipino boxer Z Gorres.
Miranda lost two, drew one and has one victory in his last four fights.
Richie meanwhile is on a tear.
He won his last three fights in the United States and has not dropped a fight since his controversial hometown loss to Denkaosan Kaovichit in Thailand in 2007.
Although not known for knocking out his opponents, Mepranum is nevertheless a slick and methodical fighter who can fight from the outside and will show no fear in close quarter brawl.
He is one of the most underrated fighters in the country today.
His most recent victory was against knockout artist Hernan Marquez, a prot?g? of former world champion marco Antonio Barrera, whom he out-slugged in a rugged match over ten rounds in Texas last March.
The Marquez fight was Richie?s first main event appearance in the US.
Hed has appeared in the under card of Manny Pacquiao?s fight against Oscar de la Hoya and Miguel Angel Cotto.
Richie, 22, is managed by outgoing Maasim Mayor Jojo Lopez.
