Former flyweight titleholder Angel Ayala will return for the first time since losing his belt last year, sharing a main event on May 21 against former title challenger Jayson Mama.

The show will take place at Arena CDMX in Mexico City, Mexico, and is being promoted by the International Boxing Association and Zanfer Boxing, according to a press release.

Ayala, 18-1 (8 KOs), is a 25-year-old from Mexico City. On his way toward his first title shot, he defeated former titleholders Cristofer Rosales and Felix Alvarado. Ayala then captured the vacant IBF belt in Mexico City in August 2024 with a sixth-round knockout of the 20-0 Dave Apolinario.

For his first and only defense, Ayala traveled to Tokoname, Japan, in March 2025 to face Masamichi Yabuki. Ayala was dropped three times and stopped in the 12th round. That means Ayala will be returning from a 14-month layoff. He is currently ranked No. 5 by the WBC and No. 13 by the WBO.

Mama, 21-3-1 (10 KOs), is a 28-year-old from General Santos City in The Philippines. He lost a wide decision to then-IBF flyweight titleholder Sunny Edwards in 2021. After four victories, Mama then lost a split decision in October 2024 to the 17-1 Juan Carlos Camacho. 

Another defeat came this past August, when Mama was floored four times by Ricardo Malajika for a fifth-round TKO. Mama last fought in November, winning a six-round decision over a 6-32-3 foe. 

Among the other bouts announced for this show:

Former junior featherweight titleholder Yamileth Mercado, 24-4 (5 KOs), will be back for the first time since losing in a unification bout to Ellie Scotney last July. 

Mercado’s opponent is Flor Valentina Rodriguez, 9-2 (6 KOs), who has been stopped in her two most recent outings. This match will take place at featherweight, according to the press release.

Jonathan Fierro, 21-1 (18 KOs), will face Sergio Chirino, 23-2 (13 KOs), in a junior lightweight bout. 

Fierro’s sole blemish came via decision against prospect Luis Reynaldo Nunez in 2022. Chirino might be best remembered for being dismantled by featherweight titleholder Rafael Espinoza in four rounds in June 2024. Chirino’s sole fight since was a unanimous decision in April 2025 against the 25-1-2 Irvin Turrubiartes Perez.

David Greisman, who has covered boxing since 2004, is on Twitter @FightingWords2. David’s book, “Fighting Words: The Heart and Heartbreak of Boxing,” is available on Amazon.