CEBUANO light flyweight sensation Christian Araneta finally gets his chance to fight under the spotlight as he fights for a world title eliminator. The International Boxing Federation (IBF) No. 3 ranked Araneta will face No. 4 rated Agustin Gauto on Oct. 6 in Manila for the right to challenge for the title.
The fight will be held in the Philippines after Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing LLC won the purse bid and the right to promote the fight. Sampson Boxing LLC outbid OR Promotions in the purse bid in New Jersey.
Lewkowicz was instrumental in the discovery of Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao. He also once handled the careers of Filipino world champions Johnriel Casimero and Marvin Sonsona.
The 23-year-old Araneta is one of the most promising boxers from the Philippines. He’s also ranked No. 7 in the World Boxing Association (WBA), No. 10 in the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and No. 11 in the World Boxing Council (WBC).
Araneta won all three of his fights last year against Ian Ligutan, Jerry Tomogdan and Vincent Bautista but the unbeaten Gauto should be his toughest opponent to date.
Gauto, 21, quickly surged up the rankings after just making his pro debut in 2017. He got busy last year and won all seven of his fights, including a first round stoppage of Jose Antonio Jimenez to win the WBO Latino light flyweight crown. He won the IBF Youth light flyweight belt with a first- round knockout of Jesus Cervantes Villanueva and defended it with a sixth-round knockout of Mauro Nicolas Liendro in April.
Araneta, who fights out of the Omega Boxing Gym, is 17-0 with 14 knockouts, while Gauto is 12-0 with eight knockouts. (EKA)