Title fights in Thailand continues to be a poor connection for Carlos Canizales.
BoxingScene has confirmed that the WBC 108lbs titlist is no longer able to commit to a December 4 defense against Thammanoon Niyomtrong in Bangkok, Thailand. An air travel ban in Canizales’ native Venezuela has resulted in multiple flights being canceled which has affected more than 8,000 passengers as of Thursday.
Among those forced to pay the price was Canizales, 28-3-1 (20 KOs), who expected to make the trip on Thursday. His bout versus Niyomtrong – a former long-reigning strawweight titlist – was due to headline a show as part of the 63rd annual WBC convention in Bangkok.
“Today I was happy because I was finally traveling to Thailand to defend my world title,” Canizales said in a video released on his social media account. “But due to flight problems, we have decided not to fight, and I sincerely apologize to everyone who was looking forward to my fight. God knows why He does things.”
Canizales noted that alternate travel plans would have meant boarding five separate flights, in hopes of making it to Thailand before next Thursday’s show. The exhausting travel log would leave minimal time – if any at all – to recover and be ready for the first defense of his title.
The foreign travel ban is directly tied to concerns about U.S. military activity amidst the growing conflict between the two nations. The U.S. Department of State has listed Venezuela as a Level 4 travel risk (“Do not travel”) since May, citing unrest, terrorism and wrongful detention among several other issues.
BoxingScene has learned that Niyomgtrong, 28-1 (11 KOs) will now face Argentina’s Junior Zarate, 26-5 (9 KOs).
ESPN Knockout’s Renato Bermudez – who was first to report the new bout – cited that the fight will come with the WBC 108lbs title at stake, and that Canizales will be demoted to “Champion in Recess.”
BoxingScene was unable to confirm that detail, as WBC officials were not available to return a message given the time difference in Thailand. That said, it would mark an unfair development for Canizales, given the travel issues beyond his control along with the fact that bout was a voluntary title defense. Niyomtrong is a top-rated contender at strawweight, where he held the WBA title for more than eight years. However, he is not Canizales’ mandatory.
Canizales was due to make the first defense of the title he lifted from Panya Pradabsri, Niyomtrong’s stablemate and longtime friend in their August 1 rematch in Caracas, Venezuela.
Pradabsri initially won the vacant title with a highly questionable 12-round, majority decision over Canizales, 28-3-1 (20 KOs) in Bangkok. Many observers – including WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman – not only felt Canizales deserved the nod but that it was among the worst official decisions of the year.
An immediate rematch was ordered, which afforded Canizales with a rare home game. Canizales seized the moment with a fifth-round stoppage in their second act on August 1 in his Caracas hometown.
There were talks of a rubber match, but Pradabsri – a former two-division titleholder – announced his retirement, just weeks after his recent stoppage defeat to Canizales.
Niyomtrong was more than happy to step up, in his own bid to become a two-division titlist. He reached a point in his WBA strawweight reign where he was the sport’s longest active male titleholder, though it came to a violent end when Oscar Collazo stopped him in the seventh-round of their WBA/WBO 105lbs unification bout last November in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Three wins have followed for Niyomtrong as he enters his clash with a new opponent.
Zarate has bounced back and forth between strawweight and junior flyweight, the latter where he is in the WBC’s top five, which would make him an eligible title fight participant. The 36-year-old Argentinean has won a pair of regional title fights following a split decision defeat to Mpumelelo Tshabalala last September 14 in Midrand, South Africa.
The opportunity to face Niyomtrong during the WBC convention will provide Zarate with just his second career fight outside of Argentina.
Meanwhile, Canizales is forced to ride out an ongoing political conflict between Venezuela and the U.S. in order to sufficiently resume his career.
“I'm making this decision, though it's extremely difficult, out of a sense of responsibility.,” stated Canizales. “I want to publicly apologize to President don Mauricio Sulaimán and the WBC for not fighting at their Convention. They know my commitment to the green and gold belt is absolute.
“I hope to secure a new date and arrive in top form to defend what is ours. Thank you for your unwavering support; we remain steadfast.”
