Kazuto Ioka ordered to defend WBO world title against Donnie Nietes

Donnie Nietes has a chance of becoming a world champion again in the twilight of his career after the World Boxing Organization named him the mandatory challenger to WBO world super flyweight champion Kazuto Ioka.

Nietes, 39, shared the ring with the Japanese star in 2018 where he emerged victorious to claim the then vacant WBO world super flyweight title only to vacate the belt after and go on a three-year hiatus. He last fought in December against Norbelto Jimenez in a bout that ended in a draw.

“Please be advised that the WBO World Championship Committee is hereby ordering the commencement of negotiations for the subject matter bout,” the WBO announced.

“The parties herein have thirty (30) days upon issuance of this letter to negotiate and reach an agreement accordingly. If an accord is not reached within the time frame set forth herein, purse bid proceedings will be called per WBO Regulations of World Championship Contests.”

The WBO had also set a minimum bid amount of $100,000 which is around 5.1 million pesos.

—JMB, GMA News