Thai WBA ‘super’ mimimumweight champion Thammanoon Niyomtrong (also known as “Knockout CP Freshmart) and #2-rated Uzbeki WBA contender Hasanboy Dusmatov have been ordered by the WBA to compete head-to-head in a world title bout. The two minimumweight/strawweight fighters will first enter the customary period of negotiations, followed up by purse bid proceedings in the event of their discussions being unsuccessful.
The WBA’s mandate comes almost five years after Thammanoon Niyomtrong (24-0, 9 KO’s) had a mandatory title defense after facing Nicaraguan minimumweight/strawweight contender Byron Rojas (in a rematch) on November 29th in 2018; though the Thai fighter’s ‘super champion’ distinction allows him a period of eighteen months to face a mandatory challenger. However, given the timespan that has occurred since then, it is apparent that Thammanoon Niyomtrong has not fulfilled every obligation pertaining to a WBA ‘super’ world champion.
Last year, the WBA had endeavored for Niyomtrong to face then-WBA ‘regular champion’ Erick Rosa (6-0, 2 KO’s) in a ‘unification’ bout that was also regarded as a mandatory match, but a set of complicated circumstances led to the fight never emerging. Earlier this year, Rosa vacated his WBA ‘regular’ title and moved up to the junior flyweight division which likely spurred the WBA to mandate this upcoming potential bout.
While the entire affair with Erick Rosa seemed to have prevented Niyomtrong from fighting in 2023, the Thai champion had been quite active prior to the aforementioned circumstances and completed five voluntary title defenses following his mandatory title defense against Rojas in 2018. Niyomtrong first became a WBA world champion by defeating Rojas―who was then the WBA minimumweight―during their first outing in 2016.
Hasanboy Dusmatov (6-0, 5 KO’s) has been confirmed as Niyomtrong’s next mandatory challenger and currently occupies the highest position on the WBA’s minimumweight rankings at #2―with the #1 spot currently vacant. Though much less experienced in the professional ranks than Niyomtrong, Dusmatov carries a stellar amateur pedigree―having won numerous gold medals and become an Olympic champion during the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Peculiarly, Dusmatov rose up the rankings rather quickly despite not fighting any known ranked opponent until he defeated South African contender Siphamandla Baleni (21-6-2, 8 KO’s) by unanimous decision (UD) last November―resulting in Baleni being the only fighter he went the distance with thus far.
Though the Uzbeki contender might compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics―due to his participation in the Olympic qualifiers last year―which is set to be held from July to August this year, the mandated bout will likely take place months before the start of the Olympic tournament which would leave Dusmatov with ample time to prepare.
The negotiation period between the two fighters’ teams has been set for a total of 30 days from February 7th to March 8th whereafter purse bid proceedings will commence if the two teams fail to reach an agreement.
