Boxing Blog – TSS Tidbits

Wonjongkam fights in Bangkok against Korea’s Yo Sam Choi

WBC Flyweight champion Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (64-2, 33 KOs) is heading to Japan in April to defend his title but will first fight on March 30th in Bangkok against Korea’s Yo Sam Choi (28-5, 17 KOs).

It had been widely reported that Wonjongkam would face newly crowned champion Koki Kameda in Japan but this now looks highly unlikely. Wonjongkam is shooting for his seventeenth straight title defense and has gone undefeated for nearly eleven years.

Choi, 34, was the WBC light flyweight champion before losing his title to Jorge Arce via sixth round KO in 2002. In 2004, Choi dropped a unanimous decision to current WBA flyweight champion Lorenzo Parra; he is currently unranked by the four major sanctioning bodies.

Does anyone know the WBC’s #1 and #2 super bantamweights?

Has anyone outside of Thailand ever heard of Napapol Kittisakchokchai or Saenghiran Lookbanyai? If not, they are the WBC’s #1 and #2 ranked super bantamweights.

On March 2nd, in Thailand, they’ll square off for the WBC interim title, with the winner supposedly getting a shot at Israel Vasquez, the WBC strap holder.

WBC representative Patrick Cusick explained the reason for interim championship,

“The first reason for the interim bout is the champion, Israel Vasquez, is said to be having problems making the 122 lb. limit. The second reason is the WBC feels these two boxers are superstars in Thailand and rising stars in the division. They deserve the honor of fighting for the championship and thus will fight for the interim title.�

Sources close to Vasquez deny the claim however and state unequivocally, “Israel has absolutely no problem making the super bantamweight maximum. In fact, he would like to fight WBA bantamweight champion Rafael Marquez.�

According to WBC guidelines:

1.27 Interim Championship: The WBC may order an interim title bout when a world champion will be temporarily inactive and unable to defend his title for a period to exceed 6 months due to:

a) Certified medical reasons
b) a legal impediment; or
c) a reasonable cause strictly beyond his control.

Vasquez last fought on September 16, 2006, defeating Jhonny Gonzalez via 10th round technical knockout.

Further details from the WBC are forthcoming.

Fight results from Korakuen Hall in Tokyo

WBC Interim Light Flyweight champion Wandee Singwancha defeated Munetsugu Kayo at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, however, ala Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo, he was stripped of his belt for failing to make weight.

Singwancha scored a knockdown in round seven but Kayo rose to fight back to win the later rounds in the fight. A visibly distraught Kayo collapsed in his corner after the fight, apparently thinking he had won the now vacant title.

Singwancha has previously had problems making the 108 lb limit and will now move up to the 112 lb. division.

Caballero makes quick work of Sithchatchawal in Thailand

Celestino Caballero of Panama made quick work of Somsak Sithchatchawal, knocking him down three times in the third round to force referee John Doyle to call an end to the carnage.

The taller Caballero recovered from an uppercut to his left eye that caused double vision until the end of the round and obliterated Sithchatchawal.

The case could have been made for the referee to halt the fight after the first knockdown but Sithchatchawal was given the benefit of the doubt and the bout continued. Just seconds later Sithchatchawal ate a big right that knocked him to his back.

The referee asked if he wanted to continue and Sithchatchawal showed his never-say-die attitude and shouted “Yes!” but Caballero refused to let him off the hook and powered him into the ropes.

The two exchanged a flurry of punches until Caballero threw a nose-breaking left hook that put Sithchatchawal down for the third and final time. Time of stoppage: 1:48 round of three.

No drama at weigh-in for the WBA Super Bantamweight title

At today’s weigh-in for tomorrow’s WBA Super Bantamweight title fight, champion Somsak Sithchatchawal of Thailand easily made weight on his first try, coming in at a pound below the 122 lb. limit.

Panamanian challenger Celistino Caballero hit the super bantamweight mark dead on but surprised many in the room when he removed all of his clothing in front of the media before stepping on the scale.

Both fighters were quiet for the duration of the weigh-in and left immediately after weighing in.

Caballero gsmiled as he stepped off the scale and then gave a thumbs up. On his way out of the room he stated “tomorrow I will be world champion. I am an intelligent fighter and I can do it all, box, punch, it doesn’t matter!”

The fight is being held at the Ban Rai Temple in Nakorn Ratchisima, approximately three hours from Bangkok.

Clinton Woods squeaks by Glen Johnson in rubber match

It wasn’t pretty but Clinton Woods squeaked out a mildly controversial split decision over Glen “The Road Warrior� Johnson, winning the third bout of their trilogy. The first bout between the two ended in a draw, the second went to Johnson and now Woods has evened the score.

The fight was a back and forth affair which saw both fighters throwing punches from start to finish. The first half of the fight was close but in round nine, a seemingly tired Johnson threw caution to the wind, pouring it on and trying to finish Woods. A battered but game Woods held on and then came on strong in the final three rounds to snatch the victory away from Johnson. Going in to the final round, Johnson’s corner told him “we need this round to win the fight� but Johnson had nothing left to give and held for the majority of the round.

Judge Ric Bays: 115-112 Woods, Judge Mickey Vann: 115-113 Johnson, Judge Roberto Ramirez: 116-112 Woods. The Sweet Science had it 115-114 in favor of Woods.

On the undercard, Souleymane M’baye TKO’d Raul Horacio Balbi in round four to win the WBA’s version of the vacant light heavyweight championship. Balbi was put down twice in the second round and once in the fourth prompting referee Paul Thomas to stop the contest.

Up and coming lightweight sensation Amir Khan made quick work of Ryan Barrett, knocking him down three times before the referee stepped in and stopped the carnage at 1:51 of round one. In a post-fight interview promoter Frank Warren stated he thought Barrett might last five or six rounds and the early finish surprised him.

WBC Flyweight title fight goes to Petchyindee Boxing Promotions

Petchyindee Boxing Promotions of Thailand has won the purse bid for the WBC Flyweight title fight between Pongsaklek Wonjongkam and Monelisi Myekeni of South Africa. Petchyindee put forth a bid for $176,999 while Branco Sports Productions (BSP) bid $151,000. The champion is to receive 70% ($123,899) while the challenger receives 30% ($53,099). The amount is staggering for a flyweight fight in Asia; seldom do flyweight champions fighting in Asia receive more than $10,000 – $20000.

WBC President Jose Sulaiman has previously stated that due to the poor economy in Thailand some leniency has been extended to the champion with regards to his opposition. A winning bid of $176,999 would certainly refute this statement. It is my opinion that Wonjkongkam may have agreed with his promoter to slash his 70% cut from $123,899 to his normal purse of around $20,000 give or take, to make certain the fight is kept in Thailand. The fight technically must take place before October 1st but this and the venue have yet to be finalized.