CEBU CITY, Philippines — June 19 will be a special day for Cebuano pugilist Cristian 'The Bomb' Araneta as he finally gets a chance to win a world title as he faces Thai champion Thanongsak Simsri in an electrifying title showdown for the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) light flyweight crown in Tokyo, Japan.
The world championship bout was announced recently by renowned Japanese boxing promoter Hideyuki Ohashi, who is no stranger to big-stage events as he has managed global superstar Naoya 'The Monster' Inoue from Kanagawa, Japan.

Prior to the announcement, both Omega Sports Promotions, representing Araneta, and Simsri’s promoter, had successfully entered into negotiations, paving the way for this high-stakes battle for the championship crown.

The showdown is just one part of a major event that will also feature a thrilling World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight bout clash between American Brian Norman Jr. and Japan’s Jin Sasaki, making for a truly stacked card.

For the 25-year-old Araneta, the IBF title fight is the culmination of years of hard work and perseverance saddled by a series of near-misses. His first attempt at a title eliminator was in 2019, when he faced Mexico’s Danie Valladares. However, a shoulder injury forced him to retire in the fourth round, dashing his dreams of a world title opportunity.

Araneta’s journey continued in 2021, when he flew to South Africa to face Sivenathi Nontshinga in another world title eliminator. Despite dropping Nontshinga in the final round, a controversial unanimous decision left Araneta’s dreams shattered once again.

However, in January 2024, Araneta earned his shot at redemption when he knocked out fellow Filipino Arvin Magramo in the first round on his home turf in Cebu. This was followed by a brief hiatus due to a wrist injury before the Cebuano roared back with a vengeance, knocking out Thai fighter Sanchai Yotboon in December 2024, retaining his spot at the Number One in the IBF world rankings.