Philippines, 01 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


What is Keeping the WBC and WBA From Filling up Vacant Light Flyweight Titles?


PhilBoxing.com




Kenshiro Teraji had vacated his WBC and WBA light flyweight titles since last October before vying for the then vacant WBC flyweight championship.

Teraji has won the WBC 112 lbs crown by stoppage over an old and jaded Nicaraguan Cristofer Rosales who had reigned as titlist six years ago.

Before that fight, many has expected either or both the WBC and/or the WBA to announce the rated contenders who will fight to fill up the vacancy. But nothing has emanated from either bodies.

What is keeping the WBC and the WBA from filling up their vacant light flyweight titles?

Or, what are they waiting for?

There's a saying that, "he who holds the gold rules".

Presently, the IBF and WBO champions are both Japanese who won their crowns in fights held in Japan, namely Masamichi Yabuki and Shockichi Iwata.

Yabuki despite being the challenger was able to entice South African Sivenathi Nontshinga to defend in Japan. Nontshinga just early in the year created a sensation by travelling all the way to Mexico to reclaim his IBF title by knockout over Adrian Curiel who had previously wrested the crown by knocking him out in his first fight outside of South Africa. It just seemed odd that Nontshinga would fight back to back away from his home country and against a dangerous foe as Yabuki. But as they say, money talks. The offer could have been irresistible.

Iwata on the other hand despite losing badly in his previous WBO world title try versus Jonathan Gonzalez, got to retain his ranking as #1 contender and hence given another title opportunity (priority?) when Gonzalez moved up to flyweight. Some people were saying Iwata was virtually given a gimme opponent in the fight to fill the vacancy. Money talks. Japan is boxing capital especially in the lower weights

Are the WBC and WBA waiting for the right contenders? Or the right bidder or bidders to hold the fights to fill up the vacancies?

The top three contenders in the WBC are Venezuela's Carlos Canizales and Thaiand's Panya Pradabsri and Dominican Republic's Erick Rosas, both ex minimumweight titlists. For WBA they are Erick Rosas, Filipino Arvin John Paciones and Mexican Neider Valdez. Rosas and Valdez are reportedly set to fight on December 19 in Santo Domingo but it is not clear whether it is a title eliminator or for any regional championship. The WBA is mum about that fight either.

The highest rated Japanese currently are WBC #9 Toshiki Kawamitsu and WBA #4 Kyosuke Takami. But as they say, world ranking is subjective.

Are they waiting for the next world ranking before making the decision?

Everyone agrees Japan is the biggest fight organizer in Asia outside of Saudi Arabia. He who holds the gold...

But does that mean anything to our top ranking contenders AJ Paciones, Christian Araneta, Regie Suganob and Jayson Vayson?

The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • MARIO BARRIOS LAS VEGAS MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES
    , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • CATTERALL AND EUBANK LAY THEIR 'CARDS ON THE TABLE' AHEAD OF MANCHESTER SHOWDOWN
    , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • Dumadag holds chess tourney
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • Manny Pacquiao's Case for the Greatest of All Time
    By Ace Freeman, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • DavNor Adventure Race 2025 set July 2
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Gumila rules Antipolo rapid chess tilt
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • FULL CIRCLE AT WILD CARD: Jhay Otamias’ Tribute to a Fighter and a Fanbase
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Vince Paras Wins by 4th Round KO Over Sarawut Thawornkham to Capture the IBF Pan Pacific Super Flyweight Title
    , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Team USA's Quest for Gold Set in Stone at World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
    , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • SBA SEASON 2 DRAFT UNVEILS RISING STARS AND STRATEGIC MOVES AS TEAMS COMPLETE THEIR ROSTERS
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Filipino Elwin Retanal wins Saudi rapid chess meet
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Jake Paul Earns Boxing Legitimacy with Dominant Decision Over Julio Cesar Chávez Jr.
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • Zurdo Ramirez Defends Cruiserweight Crowns with Unanimous Decision Over Dorticos
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • Vince Paras Faces Sarawut Thawornkham Today at Venue 88 in Gensan
    , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • USA Elite High Performance Team Sets Sights on Gold at World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
    , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • Alekhine Nouri bags silver in blitz
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • Paul vs. Chavez Jr: Can Julio Derail Jake Paul?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Dr. KO: Christian Mbilli Stops Maciej Sulecki in 1
    , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • GOLDEN BOY SIGNS UNDEFEATED MIDDLEWEIGHT BLUE-CHIP PROSPECT AMARI JONES
    , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Paul vs. Chávez Jr. is a Go: All Fighters Make Weight in Anaheim Ahead of High-Stakes Bout
    , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • IIEE Chessmasters Overall Champion in the International Bundesliga with GM Joey Antonio
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Kittipong of Thailand Battles Bhavesh of India in Brico Santig's Exciting Show in Bangkok
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Weights from Philadelphia
    , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Alekhine Nouri and John Jerish Velarde struck gold and bronze
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Would OKC Still Win the West If Dallas Had Not Traded Doncic?
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 27 Jun 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.