By Kittipong Thongsombat

Samartlek Kokietgym will challenge Akira Yaegashi for the IBF junior-flyweight title in Japan on Dec 30.

The 32-year-old Thai, whose real name is Wittawas Basapean, gets another chance to vie for a world title when he takes on champion Yaegashi next Friday.

The Songkhla native, who has won 31 fights with 12KOs against five losses, had his first world title shot in 2014 when he lost to Japan's Naoya Inoue in the WBC light-flyweight division.

He is feeling more confident this time around.

"The champion [Yaegashi] is a good fighter. He is fast and strong," said Samartlek, who is holder of the WBC Asian Boxing Council's minimumweight title.

"However, he is quite weak in the stomach."

The 33-year-old Yaegashi, a former title-holder in the strawweight and flyweight divisions, won the 108-pound belt in December last year when he beat then-champion Javier Mendoza of Mexico with a unanimous victory. He then had a successful first defence with a split decision over Martin Tecuapetla, also from Mexico, in May.

The Samartlek v Yaegashi fight comes one day before Stamp Kiatniwat, 18, takes on champion Kazuto Ioka of Japan for the WBA flyweight (112-pound) title in Osaka.

Stamp has a 15-0 (6KOs) record while the 27-year-old Ioka has 20 wins (12KOs) and one loss.

Both fights will be shown live on Channel 3SD from 5pm.

Currently, Thailand have two world champions in Wanheng Menayothin (WBC minimumweight) and Knockout CP Freshmart (WBA minimumweight), both from Petchyindee Boxing Promotion.