Oliva guns for IBF light flyweight crown today

CHALLENGER Jether Oliva of the Philippines and defending IBF light flyweight champion Ulises Solis of Mexico both tipped the scales at the division limit of 108lb yesterday paving the way for their title showdown today (Philippine time) in Mexico.

Solis (33W-2L-3D, 21 KOs) will be making the first defense of the title he won from Luis Lazarte of Argentina last April by split decision.

The 29-year-old Solis is well known to Filipino boxing fans having fought at the Araneta Coliseum in 2009 and losing his title to Brian Viloria by 11th round TKO. Solis has also beaten Filipino boxers Bert Batawang, Rodel Mayol and Glenn Donaire.

The 24-year-old Oliva (17W-0L-1D, 11 KOs) hails from Gen.Santos City. He is undefeated but lacks big fight experience and this will be his first fight outside the Philippines.

Last May 13, in a fight card covered by CDN, Oliva captured the vacant WBO Oriental minimumweight title by unanimous decision against Fernando Ocon of the RWS Gym in San Francisco, Southern Leyte.

This title fight will be held at the Auditorio Benito Juarez in Guadalajara.

Also set to defend his title in the card is WBO minimumweight champion Raul Garcia who will face countryman Moises Fuentes.

Garcia inherited his title from Donnie “Ahas” Nietes of the ALA Gym who vacated the title this year in search of a second world title. Garcia (30W-1L-1D, 18 KOs) stopped Rommel Asenjo of North Cotabato in three rounds for his first title defense last April.

Fuentes (13W-1L, 6 KOs) is a former WBC interim Youth minimumweight titlist. Both champion and challenger stepped in at 105lb.

Garcia’s brother Ramon Garcia Hirales, will defend his WBO lt.flyweight crown against Nietes in Bacolod City this October.