The International Boxing Federation has given formal sanction approval for the IBF super bantamweight eliminator fight for the mandatory spot - between #3 Terence ' TJ' Doheny and #7 Mike Tawatchai (44-10-1, 27 KOs).
The bout is scheduled for December 20, 2017 at the Suanlum Night Bazaar in Bangkok, Thailand.
Doheny was initially scheduled to fight Evgeny Gradovich, the former featherweight world champion of the International Boxing Federation, on December 15 in Yekaterinburg, Russia. But, last week Gradovich withdrew from the contest - with his promoter citing an issue with the boxer's eyes.
Doheny (17-0, 13 KOs) is very motivated to secure a world title shot and now faces his most experience opponent to date. The majority of his fights have taken place in Australia, with two landing in the United States in 2016. This is his second fight of the year.
Tawatchai has picked up two victories in a row after tasting a decision loss back in March when he traveled to Japan and dropped a one-sided ten round unanimous decision to former world champion Tomoki Kameda.
Every time Tawatchai has stepped up in class, he's been beaten. Nearly all of his fights have taken place in Thailand and nearly all of his defeats have occurred in Japan. In 56 pro fights, he's only been stopped twice so he's certainly very durable.
IN OTHER NEWS: Kenya's Fatuma "Iron Fist" Zarika outclassed Zambian Catherine Phiri via a unanimous unanimous decision to retain the World Boxing Council (WBC) world Bantamweight title on Saturday night.
Zarika withstood, endured and weathered deep cuts above her right and eye below her left eye, with all judges seeing it as a win for her. Judges John Shipanuka(Zambia), Michael Neequaye (Ghana) and Steve "Vedo" Okumu scored 97-92, 98-95 and 99-92 in favour Zarika, who successfully accomplished her first defence since winning the title on October last year, defeating Jamaican Alicia Ashley in the United States.
Zarika, who improved her record to 30 wins, 12 losses and two draws.