Uutoni goes for world title eliminator SPORT REPORTERCurrent WBO junior flyweight international champion Japhet Uutoni will step into the ring with Angel Acosta from Puerto Rico for the final world title eliminator in February next year.
The MTC Nestor Sunshine Boxing and Fitness Academy says the fight will take place in Dallas, Texas, on 25 February 2017, and will be promoted by MC Cotto Promotions.
Boxing promoter Nestor Tobias explained that a final world title eliminator is when two top-rated fighters are given an opportunity to fight each other, and the winner will become the mandatory challenger to fight the current world champion.
“In the case of the WBO junior flyweight title, the world title is vacant after the champion moved up one division. On 30 December number one rated Moises Fuentes (Mexico) will fight number two rated Kosei Tanaka (Japan) for the vacant world title, and the winner will have to fight the winner between Uutoni and Acosta,” he further explained.
Uutoni is currently rated fourth by the WBO while Acosta is rated fifth in the junior flyweight division.
The Namibian boxer will go into the fight with a record of 13 fights, 12 wins and one loss, while Acosta is currently unbeaten with 15 fights and straight wins.
“This is a big opportunity for Uutoni. He has worked hard since being an Olympic boxer. His big break is here now and he must win this fight if he wants to fight the world champion.
“We are also making history as MTC Sunshine by having our very first title fight in the USA, it is not easy to go and fight there but we are there now and humbled by the opportunity not just to be present but to go and compete and win.
“It is a real pity that we cannot stage the fight in Namibia due to financial constraints and that is why we had no option than to fight away,” said Tobias.