ARISTON Aton gets a huge opportunity to prove himself in the international stage as he takes on former International Boxing Organization minimumweight champion Simpiwe Konkco on May 22, 2021 at the Booysens Gym in South Africa.
The 21-year-old Aton replaces ArAr Andales, who was originally slated to face Konkco.
Aton looks to end a two-bout slump and layoff for more than a year. He dropped his last two fights, both in Japan, against Tatsuro Nakashima by majority decision in 2019 and against Tsubasa Koura via a third round stoppage.
In the meantime, Konkco lost his last bout by unanimous decision in the hands of Thai great Wanheng Menayothin in a World Boxing Council (WBC) minimumweight title fight in 2019.
Konkco is an experienced warrior that owns victories over former International Boxing Federation minimumweight king Nkosinathi Joyi, and world-ranked Filipinos Toto Landero and Lito Dante. He also fought but lost to former world champion IBF and World Boxing Association (WBA) light flyweight titleholder Hekkie Budler.
In the main event, Jonathan Almacen trades leathers with Budler for the WBC Silver International light flyweight crown.
Almacen moves up in weight and hopes to score an upset over Budler. He’s currently ranked No. 36 by the WBC in the minimumweight division.
Almacen is a winner of back-to-back contests against unheralded Benjie Bartolome and prospect Roldan Sasan.
Budler, on the other hand, is returning from a layoff of more than two years. He last saw action on Dec. 31, 2018 and lost to Hiroto Kyoguchi via a 10th round technical knockout in a WBA Super light flyweight title fight.
The 21-year-old Almacen is 7-3-2 with two knockouts, while Budler is 32-4 with 10 knockouts. (EKA)