Araneta’s trainer confident of victory

CEBU, Philippines — The camp of Omega Boxing Gym standout Christian “The Bomb” Araneta is highly confident on his chances against Thai Thanongsak Simsri in an exciting showdown of power punchers for the IBF light flyweight belt on Thursday, June 19, at the Ota City General Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan.

Being the top two contenders, Araneta and Simsri earned the right to dispute the vacant crown after Japanese champion Masamichi Yabuki voluntarily abdicated his throne to campaign in the heavier flyweight division.

Araneta sports a 25-2 record spiked with 20 knockouts while Simsri is equally impressive, losing only once in 39 fights with 34KOs.

Omega Gym head trainer Julius Erving Junco is optimistic that the pride of Mandaue City will be successful in his first world title shot.

“Dako og chance si Araneta tungod sa iyang abilidad, kusog ug kaisog,” said Junco. “Maningkamot mi nga makuha ang bakus para sa pamilya namo ug para sa mga Sugbuanon.”

If victorious, the 30-year-old Araneta will become the fourth Filipino world champion this year after minimumweight titleholders Melvin “El Gringo” Jerusalem (WBC) and Pedro Taduran (IBF) and Nonito Donaire Jr.,  who claimed the WBA interim bantamweight strap with a ninth round technical decision victory over Chile’s Andres Campos just last Sunday, June 15.

It will be a tough challenge though for Araneta as he is up against the 24-year-old Simsri, a known Filipino slayer with former OPBF titlists Miel “Silent Assassin” Fajardo and John Paul “Angas ng Cebu” Gabunilas among his notable victims. — (FREEMAN)