ELMO Traya challenges Thai teen sensation Phoobadin Yoohanngoh for his World Boxing Association (WBA) super lightweight belt on June 4, 2022 in Thailand.
Though coming in as an underdog against a teen phenom, Traya believes that he has all the tools to hand the 18-year-old Yoohanngoh his first career defeat.
“I have seen his fights. I believe I can take him,” Traya told SunStar Cebu. “He has an amateur boxing style but brawls once in a while. I won’t let him dictate the fight. I will pressure him and will be in front of him all the time so that I can easily counter him and I will destroy his game.”
Traya, a former ALA Boy, is coming off a lopsided unanimous decision win over veteran Jhun Ryan Quimbo last March 9, 2020 at the Robinsons Galleria Cebu, just before the Covid-19 pandemic hit the Philippines. Before that, Traya lost back-to-back fights in Poland, losing to Przemyslaw Runowski by unanimous decision and Michal Syrowatka via a seventh round technical knockout.
Traya hasn’t fought since the pandemic broke out in the country.
Yoohanngoh, on the other hand, won the vacant WBA Asia super lightweight belt at 15 years old. He defeated Somboon Meesitdee by unanimous decision in Thailand. He successfully defended his belt three times, beating the likes of previously unbeaten Atchariya Wirojanasunobol, two-time world title challenger Suriya Tatakhun and former world youth champion Sonny Katiandagho.
Yoohanngoh is coming off a third round technical knockout of Aekkawee Kaewmanee last May 7.
Traya is 12-3 with eight knockouts, while Yoohanngoh is 13-0 with eight knockouts.