BOXING
Why is the WBO boxing flyweight title vacant?
Nakatani has decided to try his luck in the bantamweight division, the WBO super flyweight world championship he previously held is now vacant.
Titles can become vacant when a fighter moves up in weight or retires. Then the organization orders the best-ranking fighters to enter into conversations for the title. If they can’t reach an agreement, the purse enters into a bid, and new challengers can arise.
Because Kazuto Ioka has decided to try his luck in the bantamweight division, the WBO super flyweight world championship he previously held is now up for grabs.
Nakatani and Moloney were ordered to fight for the vacant WBO world junior bantamweight championship after Kazuto Ioka voluntarily gave up the belt.
The WBO mandated that Ioka and Nakatani fight on January 9, and despite having 30 days to come to terms, they did not. The WBO postponed the purse bid hearing initially scheduled for February 23.
In that period of time, Ioka relinquished his bantamweight title in order to pursue another fight. Thus prompting the WBO to try to schedule a fight between Nakatani and Moloney.
Why is the flyweight title vacant?
After being asked by the WBO to fight Moloney for the junior bantamweight title, Nakatani had to relinquish his rights to the WBO flyweight title. As a result, the title has been vacant for the last couple of months.
The vacant WBO flyweight championship will be contested Saturday night in San Antonio, Texas, between Cristian Gonzalez and former WBC super flyweight champion Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez. The bout will take place at the Boeing Center at Tech Port.