By Jake Donovan
McWilliams Arroyo will no longer appear in a homecoming show this weekend in Fajardo, Puerto Rico. As badly as the flyweight contender was hoping to make his first hometown appearance in more than four years, an opportunity has surfaced which will allow him to move one step closer towards his second crack at a major title.
The International Boxing Federation (IBF) has ordered a final elimination bout between Arroyo and Philippines' Johnriel Casimero, to which both parties have agreed to pursue. With such fights normally come a 30-day negotiation period before going to purse bid, but all signs point towards the camps eventually reaching a deal for a fight that appears destined to land in the United States.
A showdown with Casimero was just one of many opportunities being explored for Arroyo, who—along with twin brother and recently crowned super flyweight champ McJoe Arroyo—represented Puerto Rico in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
"We were negotiating several things to McWilliams, one of which was the possibility of facing world champion (Roman) Chocolatito Gonzalez," noted Peter Rivera, vice president of Puerto Rico Best Boxing Promotions (PRBBP). "But that fight did not materialize. There was also this IBF elimination, and we wanted McWilliams active in August, but the IBF ordered this bout with the number one ranked and we are going to this opportunity."
The winner will land a mandatory title shot against Amnat Ruenroeng, who owns controversial decision wins over both fighters. Arroyo punched his way to title contention in an impressive run last summer, only to come up just short versus Ruenroeng—whom he floored midway through the bout—on the road in Thailand last September.
Casimero was forced to battle Ruenroeng and referee Larry Doggett in his title challenge this past June. Ruenroeng retained his title and undefeated record with a decision win in one of the worst officiated fights in recent history, one that had fans and media alike calling for Doggett's immediate retirement.
Such sentiments were echoed by Casimero's camp, filing a protest in hopes of having the decision overturned on the grounds of the numerous fouls that went undisciplined, or the alternative of an immediate rematch.
The IBF denied the request, but agreed to place the former junior flyweight champ as well as Arroyo in position to earn another crack at the flyweight title.
As for this weekend in Fajardo, the show will go on but just without Arroyo plying his trade in the ring. The rest of the card remains intact, which is headlined by unbeaten Emmanuel Rodriguez of Vega Baja in a regional bantaweight title fight versus Mexico's Alex Rangel.
Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com.
Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
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