The World Boxing Council’s 10^th-ranked minimumweight Norihito Tanaka of Misako Boxing Gym will take a crack at champion Panya Pradabsri of Thailand for the latter’s title on June 28 in Rayong in the east coastal city of the Gulf of Thailand, the gym said on June 9.

  It will be the third time for the 38-year-old Tanaka to challenge a world minimumweight title held by Thais in Thailand as he was decisioned by World Boxing Association super champion Knockout CP Freshmart (Thammanoon Niyomtrong) in March 2020 and by WBC titlist Panya last August.

  Tanaka said, ‘’I have accepted the offer because I have no objection. Probably it will be my last chance for a world title challenge considering my age. I am determined to win the title at all costs.’’

  Panya cancelled his title defense against then third-ranked challenger Yudai Shigeoka of Watanabe Boxing Gym two weeks before the Apr. 16 fight in Tokyo, citing he caught the flue.

  The WBC admitted Shigeoka to fight then seventh-ranked minimumweight Wilfredo Mendez of Puerto Rico for the division’s world interim title on that very day. Shigeoka won the fight.

  The 32-year-old Panya has a record of 39 wins, including 23 knockouts, against a loss. For his part, Tanaka, he has a 20-9 win-loss tally with 10 KOs.