The International Boxing Association (IBA) alongside Zanfer Boxing and Zignia Live will join forces to bring the IBA Pro 18 to the Arena CDMX in Mexico City on Thursday, May 21.
Former world champion Ángel Ayala and Jayson Mamá lock horns in the headliner in a high-stakes clash with possible implications on the future of the flyweight division.
Ayala (18-1, 8 KOs) returns home to the Mexican capital following an IBF world title loss to Masamichi Yakubi, where he lost a twelfth round stoppage last March in Tokoname, Japan.
Ayala had previously defeated Dave Apolinario via a sixth round stoppage to secure the IBF belt in Mexico City in August 2024. Filipino former world title challenger Jayson Mamá comes to upset the applecart in Mexico City. Mamá (21-3-1, 10 KOs) comes off a stoppage win over little-known journeyman Ramel Antaran in his homeland, the victory followed a fifth round stoppage defeat to Ricardo Malajika for the IBO super flyweight belt in South Africa last August.
In the chief support Jonathan Fierro squares off with former world title challenger Sergio Chirino at super featherweight. Fierro (21-1, 18 KOs) is another youngster tipped for world title challengers down the line. The 22-year-old from Guadalajara is on an eight fight winning streak ahead of the toughest test of his career to date. Chirino (23-2, 13 KOs) was plucked out of relative obscurity to challenge Rafael Espinoza for the WBO world featherweight title nearly two years ago, but would lose a fourth round stoppage during his American debut in Las Vegas. However, he did return with a victory against Irvin Turrubiartes last April.
Yamileth Mercado also makes her highly-anticipated return to the ring when she squares off with Colombia’s Flor Rodríguez. The former super-bantamweight world champion, who successfully defended her crown on seven occasions, will be looking to remind the boxing world of her pedigree, eyeing another major fight in 2026.
Also on on the undercard, Paris 2024 Olympian Miguel Ángel ‘Piolín’ Martínez continues his push into the professional ranks, taking on Brian Farías near the lightweight limit. Big things are expected from Martinez, who is being tipped as a future star of Mexican boxing.