ANOTHER stalwart of the General Santos City-based Sanman Boxing Gym will be campaigning abroad as Jether “The General” Oliva looks to snag the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) silver flyweight belt.
Oliva (24W-5L-2D-11KOs) will take on unbeaten Muhammad Waseem (3W-0L-0D) of Pakistan on July 17 at the Pavilion, Far East Square in Singapore, revealed Jim Claude “JC” Mananquil, the youthful chief executive officer of Sanman Promotions.
The belt at stake in the 12-round fight promoted by Andy Kim of AK Promotions is the title that Oliva’s stablemate Randy Petalcorin and Omari Kimweri fought for in Australia last April 15.
Kimweri won the fight via split decision but Mananquil filed a protest to question the result, complaining that the referee did not count the four knockdowns scored by Petalcorin.
Following the protest, WBC declared the title vacant and Oliva is looking to finally bringing it home.
“I’m confident with Jether Oliva’s experience. I think that will be the key for him to get the victory,” said Mananquil.
Oliva is coming off a unanimous decision win over Jong Sabellina last May 22 in Zamboanga Sibugay.
Oliva, a 29-year-old orthodox boxer, had just arrived from Japan where he served as a sparring partner and also allowed him to stay in shape.
Oliva pocketed the WBF Asia-Pacific flyweight title via unanimous decision win over Jemmy Gobel last October 5 in Glan, Sarangani Province. He won the WBF International light-flyweight crown by a majority decision win over Wilber Andogan on May 24, 201
Also, Oliva bagged the WBF International light-flyweight crown by a majority decision win over Wilber Andogan on May 24, 2014 in General Santos City.
Oliva fought but lost for the vacant IBO world flyweight title by a controversial split decision against Moruti Mthalane on March 15, 2014 in South Africa.
Oliva also fought in South Africa but lost to Zolani Tete via unanimous decision for the vacant WBO Africa super-flyweight crown last December 18 in East London, Eastern Cape.
Oliva, a former WBO Oriental minimumweight and Philippine Boxing Federation light-flyweight champion, also dropped a UD to Mexican Pedro Guevara last February 20 in Sinaloa, Mexico.
In his first world title fight, Oliva bowed to Ulises Solis by a UD on August 27, 2011 in Mexico for the IBF World light-flyweight crown.