Cristian Araneta is ready to return to the ring after missing out on a title opportunity.
The Ring’s No. 7 junior flyweight will face Thailand’s Sanchai Yotboon atop ‘Kumbati 18’ this Wednesday from IPI Tingub Gym in Mandaue City, Philippines. It will mark the first fight for Araneta (24-2, 19 KOs) since a first-round knockout of countryman Arvin Margamo (18-2-1, 11 KOs) on Jan. 26 in Cebu City.
The all-Filipino clash was a sanctioned IBF title eliminator, which Araneta won in just 110 seconds. He became the mandatory challenger to the IBF 108-pound title, but a wrist injury forced him to postpone a planned challenge of then-titleholder Sivenathi Nontshinga (13-2, 10 KOs), The Ring’s No. 3 junior flyweight.
Araneta will now set his sights on Masamichi Yabuki (17-4, 16 KOs), who won the belt in a ninth-round stoppage of Nontshinga on Oct. 10 in Aichi, Japan.
The bout versus Yotboon (16-8, 10 KOs) is little more than means for Araneta—who has won five straight—to make sure he is at full health before he challenges for his first major title. Araneta was permitted to retain his mandatory position through his forced inactivity, as the IBF granted Nontshinga a voluntary defense during that period.
Serving as the chief support, Cebu’s Ramil Roda (6-1-2, 3 KOs) will face Davao City’s Ian Donaire (5-3-1, 4 KOs) in a scheduled 10-round junior bantamweight contest. Donaire is a distant cousin of Nonito Donaire (42-9, 28 KOs), a former four-division champ and a future Hall of Famer.
The show will also feature the pro debut of former amateur standout Alexander ‘Showtime’ Fredrikkson, who signed with Omega Sports Promotions earlier this year. Fredrikkson, a 21-year-old Filipino based in Sweden, will face fellow debutant Jubmark Pan in a scheduled four-round lightweight contest.
Jake Donovan is part of the U.S. team for The Ring. Follow Jake on X and Instagram.