An all-Filipino clash is in store to determine the next mandatory challenger to the IBF junior flyweight title.
Unbeaten contenders Mark Vicelles and Regie Suganob have both accepted an invitation to enter negotiations for a final IBF title eliminator, an IBF spokesperson confirmed to BoxingScene.com on Tuesday. A negotiation period has been ordered, with the two sides given until November 3 to work out terms and avoid a purse bid hearing.
The winner of the ordered fight will be first in line to challenge recently crowned IBF junior flyweight titlist Sive Nontshinga (11-0, 9KOs).
Vicelles is considered a top talent of the Omega Boxing Promotions stable, while Suganob is represented by Floriezly Podot of PMI Bohol Boxing Promotions.
Vicelles (17-0-1, 10KOs) was always on board to enter a sanctioned title eliminator, immediately accepting an invitation from the IBF for such a bout as the current number-four contender. The 26-year-old southpaw from Lebak, Philippines was originally ordered to face recent title challenger Hector Flores (20-1-4, 10KOs), who is ranked number-three.
The otherwise attractive matchup was understandably declined by Tijuana’s Flores, who is coming off a hard-fought, split decision defeat to South Africa’s Nontshinga in their brutal vacant title fight on September 3 in Hermosillo, Mexico.
The IBF’s title elimination policy called for the sanctioning body to go down the line to the next highest-ranked available contender. Two boxers from The Philippines were next in line. Number-five ranked Cristian Araneta (22-2. 17KOs) was offered the fight, but his team declined what would have been his second title eliminator in less than two years. The now 27-year-old southpaw from Cebu City lost to Nontshinga via narrow unanimous decision in their April 2021 final eliminator, having since won three straight though he will move in a different direction.
The search then led to the 25-year-old Suganob (12-0, 4KOs), who agreed to enter talks with his countryman for the right to challenge for the title. The matchup marks a step up in class for the four-year pro, though he is coming off a ten-round shutout of Andika D’Golden Boy on September 9 in Dimiao, Philippines.
Vicelles has scored first-round knockouts in consecutive starts, including a 147-second blitzing of Jaysever Abcede on June 17 in Cebu, Philippines. The talented southpaw has fought at the ten-round level since 2019 as he now enters his first scheduled twelve-round bout and title eliminator.
Should the negotiation period end without a deal in place, a purse bid hearing will be called to determine promotional rights. Vicelles will be entitled to the greater end of a 60-40 split as the higher ranked contender.
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox