By ADRIAN STEWART CO

An unexpected injury has hampered the scheduled World Boxing Association (WBA) Asia super featherweight title defense of Negrense boxer Roldan Aldea this March.

In a Facebook post by VSP Promotions, it said that the Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental-native was forced to withdraw from his upcoming defense due to an injury.

The 27-year-old Aldea was supposed to put his

regional championship on the line against fellow Filipino fighter in Charly Suarez on March 5 in Parañaque City.

Suarez will instead face another Filipino fighter in Tomjune Mangubat with Aldea’s Asian championship on the line since the Negrense boxer was put on “Championship in Recess.”

“Roldan was put as WBA Asia super-featherweight Champion In Recess,” according to a report by RealFight PH. “Suarez and Mangubat will be fighting for his belt.”

The report added that Aldea will have a chance to regain his regional championship when he challenges the winner of Suarez-Mangubat bout when he recovers from his injury.

Aldea captured the WBA Asian championship when he scored an impressive victory against Junior Kauko Raka last April in Papua New Guinea.

“It is very unfortunate that I cannot defend my WBA championship,” Aldea said. “I will just recover from this one and hopefully have a chance to regain my belt.”

Aldea currently has an impressive 16-8-1 win-loss-draw ring record, including nine victories by way of stoppages.

The Negrense boxer, who is known for his monicker of “The Cobra,” was also a winner in four of his last five matches./ASC, WDJ