WBA orders Kal Yafai to face Norberto Jimenez

Yesterday’s confirmation of the April 26th Sor Rungvisai-Estrada II card was notably bereft of Kal Yafai, who was initially linked to it with the potential of a unification bout with Donnie Nietes. His immediate future may lie elsewhere, as the WBA has ordered him to begin negotiations with mandatory challenger Norberto Jimenez. The purse bid is currently scheduled for March 12th with a 75/25 split.

The Dominican Republic’s Jimenez (29-8-4, 16 KO) opened his career 2-8-1 with four knockout losses, but has not tasted defeat in almost eight years. That is, admittedly, partially due to lack of competition; aside from a 2014 split draw with Kohei Kono during the latter’s reign as WBA super flyweight champ, his record is fairly empty. It’s not entirely clear how he got his mandatory status, either, as he’s not faced a single fighter in the sanctioning body’s top 15.

He is taller than Yafai (25-0, 15 KO), at least. Would still prefer Chocolatito.