AFTER clinching the WBO International bantamweight title last March 28 by knocking out Ghana’s Prosper Ankhra in the fourth round at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Manila, Japanese Ryo Akaho of ALA Promotions International is set to go a step higher on August 7.
The power-punching Akaho (26-1-2, 18KOs) will gun for the vacant WBO World bantamweight title against the belt’s former owner Pongluang Sor Singyu (50-3, 34KOs) of Thailand.
Akaho, 29, from Yokohama, Japan regaled Filipino boxing fans when he knocked out Ankhra in the under card of Pinoy Pride 30 co-headlined by two-division world champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes and five-division titlist Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire Jr.
The fight will be held in Bangkok, Thailand.
ALA Promotions International signed Akaho to a one-year exclusive promotional contract making him the Cebu-based boxing promotions’ second foreign boxer under its banner after former WBC and WBO Minimumweight champion Katsunari Takayama.
Akaho showed a lot of promise to win a world title by showing superb boxing skills not just in winning over Ankhra but also during his explosive sparring sessions with Donaire Jr. while training for Pinoy Pride 30.
Akaho is now on a seven-win streak. His last loss was in 2012 against Yoto Sato for the WBC World super flyweight title.
Sor Singyu on the other hand, is best remembered as the boxer who defeated AJ “Bazooka” Banal for the WBO World bantamweight title last 2012 in Metro Manila. In that fight, the Thai scored a ninth round TKO victory against the Cebuano.
After losing the WBO world bantamweight title to Japanese Tomoki Kameda last year via seventh round KO, Sor Singyu got back on track by stringing up four straight wins. He is now the reigning WBO Asia Pacific bantamweight champion.
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