A big fight is in store for boxing’s smallest weight division.

BoxingScene.com has learned that terms have been reached for a WBA strawweight title consolidation fight between ‘Super’ champ Thammanoon Niyomtrong and secondary titlist Erick ‘Mini Pacman’ Rosa. When the fight takes place, however, will depend on when Niyomtrong is able to secure a travel visa to travel to the U.S.

The fight was once targeted to take place as part of a Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) card on December 17, headlined by the Frank Martin-Michel Rivera WBA lightweight title eliminator airing live on Showtime. Niyomtrong-Rosa likely would have landed on the YouTube portion of the undercard preceding the Showtime-televised tripleheader from The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas.  

There is loose talk of Rosa (5-0, 1KO) taking a stay-busy fight as Niyomtrong (24-0, 9KOs) sorts out his travel issues, though such plans remain unconfirmed as this goes to publish.

Niyomtrong fights for Piyarat Vachirarattanawong’s Petpiya Fight Promotions out of Thailand. Rosa is proudly represented by Belgica Pena of Shuan Boxing, the leading promoter in the Dominican Republic.

Niyomtrong (24-0, 9KOs) is the sport’s longest reigning active male titleholder. The boxing artist better known as Knockout CP Freshmart has held the WBA ‘Super’ strawweight since June 2016, when he outpointed Nicaragua’s Bryon Rojas to upgrade his interim title.

The 32-year-old from Surin, Thailand has defended his title eleven times, most recently in a twelve-round win over countryman and former WBC titlist Wanheng ‘TBE’ Menayothin on July 20 in Chonburi, Thailand. The bout was a few years past its best-sell date, long called while both were unbeaten titlists though reluctant to meet due to their longtime friendship.

It also came with the understanding that Niyomtrong was very likely to next face Rosa.

A box-off was ordered by the WBA last year, with Niyomtrong scoring a fifth-round knockout of Robert Paradero last December 14 in Phuket, Thailand. Rosa (5-0, 1KOs) entered the picture one week later, winning his version of the title with a twelve-round, split decision win over Vic Saludar who outpointed Paradero to win the vacant belt earlier in the year.  

Rosa has fought in scheduled ten- and twelve-round fights since his October 2020 pro debut.

The 22-year-old southpaw from Santo Domingo has fought all five fights in his hometown, including his title winning effort over Saludar last December. He previously claimed the interim WBA strawweight title in a twelve-round, unanimous decision win over then-unbeaten Ricardo Astuvilca last July 21.

The interim title reign lasted just one month, before the WBA removed the belts from circulation due to its forced and ongoing title reduction campaign. The ordered box-off at least afforded Rosa with the chance to put another title around his waist.

Patience is now required of the precocious strawweight to challenge for the true crown.

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox