Takefumi Sakata will defend his WBA flyweight title in a mandatory fight with Denkaosan Kratingdaenggym in December.

The World Boxing Association (WBA) has announced, at its annual meeting, of several title matches including the flyweight bout of Japan’s Sakata and second-place contender Thailand’s Denkaosan. The previous match of the two ended as a draw last year, although Sakata was down for a count of eight in the first round. 

Manager of Kyoei boxing gym, Keishiro Kanehiro, who was present at the WBA meeting, said the WBA has ordered a mandatory match of Sakata and Denkaosan within this year as the first-place challenger Koki Kameda of Japan failed to confirm his intention to challenge the WBA title and seemed to be in a negotiation for a WBC match.

Kanehiro said he agreed with the WBA decision and would organize the bout in Japan at the end of December.

Denkaosan’s manager, Naris Singwangcha, has also confirmed of the match in December. He said he has arranged a bout on October 17 to prepare the Thai boxer for the Japan match.

Another boxer of Naris, Hesus Singwangcha from Congo, is scheduled to challenge an Asia-Pacific WBO title with a Filipino opponent in Dubai.