By Jake Donovan
Amnat Ruenroeng and McWilliams Arroyo each easily made weight for their upcoming flyweight clash Wednesday evening Liptapanlop Hall in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
Ruenroeng came in at an exceedingly low 109.5 lb., his lightest documented weight since turning pro in May '12.
Arroyo tipped the scales at 110.75 lb. for his first title fight. The weight is his lightest since a Feb. '12 knockout win over Gilberto Mendoza.
"I've already made weight and am positive of my dream of becoming world champion," said Arroyo (15-1, 13KOs), who along with twin brother McJoe Arroyo served on the 2008 Puerto Rico Olympic Boxing team. "I will do my best to bring the title home to Puerto Rico."
Wednesday's title fight marks Arroyo's first trip to Asia since the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The flyweight contender comes in riding a 12-fight win streak, including a 2nd round knockout of Froilan Saludar in June to become mandatory challenger.
Claiming a win in a major fight on the road sounds like a tall order, though Ruenroeng (13-0, 5KOs) had to overcome that hurdle in his last fight.
The first defense of his flyweight title came in Japan, where the 34-year old Thai boxer managed to turn away the challenge of Kazuto Ioka, previously unbeaten and in search of a title in his third weight class. Ruenroeng managed a split decision to retain the belt he won in a unanimous decision over Rocky Fuentes earlier this year.
Wednesday's title fight marks the third significant fight at flyweight in less than a week. Roman Gonzalez became the World lineal flyweight champion with a 9th round stoppage of defending champ Akira Yaegashi last Friday in Japan, one day prior to Juan Estrada retaining his pair of alphabet belts with an 11th round stoppage over former 108 lb. king Giovani Segura in Mexico.
Rounding out the flyweight blitz - though with far less at stake - Ioka returns to the ring on September 16 in Tokyo, facing Pablo Carrillo in a 10-round bout.
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com, as well as a member of Transnational Boxing Ratings Board and the Boxing Writers Association of America. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
Amnat Ruenroeng and McWilliams Arroyo each easily made weight for their upcoming flyweight clash Wednesday evening Liptapanlop Hall in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
Ruenroeng came in at an exceedingly low 109.5 lb., his lightest documented weight since turning pro in May '12.
Arroyo tipped the scales at 110.75 lb. for his first title fight. The weight is his lightest since a Feb. '12 knockout win over Gilberto Mendoza.
"I've already made weight and am positive of my dream of becoming world champion," said Arroyo (15-1, 13KOs), who along with twin brother McJoe Arroyo served on the 2008 Puerto Rico Olympic Boxing team. "I will do my best to bring the title home to Puerto Rico."
Wednesday's title fight marks Arroyo's first trip to Asia since the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The flyweight contender comes in riding a 12-fight win streak, including a 2nd round knockout of Froilan Saludar in June to become mandatory challenger.
Claiming a win in a major fight on the road sounds like a tall order, though Ruenroeng (13-0, 5KOs) had to overcome that hurdle in his last fight.
The first defense of his flyweight title came in Japan, where the 34-year old Thai boxer managed to turn away the challenge of Kazuto Ioka, previously unbeaten and in search of a title in his third weight class. Ruenroeng managed a split decision to retain the belt he won in a unanimous decision over Rocky Fuentes earlier this year.
Wednesday's title fight marks the third significant fight at flyweight in less than a week. Roman Gonzalez became the World lineal flyweight champion with a 9th round stoppage of defending champ Akira Yaegashi last Friday in Japan, one day prior to Juan Estrada retaining his pair of alphabet belts with an 11th round stoppage over former 108 lb. king Giovani Segura in Mexico.
Rounding out the flyweight blitz - though with far less at stake - Ioka returns to the ring on September 16 in Tokyo, facing Pablo Carrillo in a 10-round bout.
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com, as well as a member of Transnational Boxing Ratings Board and the Boxing Writers Association of America. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
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