Welcome to the premiere edition of Boxing in Asia, where each month The Sweet Science will preview, review and examine the oft-forgotten Asian boxing scene. The lighter weight categories are chockfull of outstanding fighters from Thailand, Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines, and while you may not always be able to pronounce some of the fighters names, they’re every bit as exciting and skilled as the more well-known fighters in North America and Europe. With names like Wongjamkam, John, Hasegawa, Rachman and Seehaprom in the mix, there’s no shortage of quality boxers or quality fights in Asia. We’re here to keep you up to speed and make certain none of the boxing in Asia flies under the radar.
News and Notes
From Beijing, China – St. John Wins, Butterbean Drops Another to Craven
In what was billed as China’s first-ever, professional, championship boxing card, millions of Chinese boxing fans around the country witnessed three IBA title fights as well as the one and only King of Four-Rounders, Eric “Butterbean” Esch. Before I elaborate on this monumental occasion, am I the only one whose head is swimming trying to keep up with all the “organizations” and their “world titles?” The event was deemed a historical one by the Chinese, however the reality is the fights were all relatively meaningless and rather lopsided. Perhaps I’m a little old and jaded, but the fights on this card weren’t anywhere near the caliber of what I’d call “world title fights.” Ali-Frazier, Hagler-Hearns, or for you youngsters, Corrales-Castillo, now those fights are world title fights and those fighters deserved to be remembered in the historical sense.
The Results from the Capital Gym in Beijing
Antonio Davis (19-1, 9 KOs) breezed to a 12 round unanimous decision over Frankie Zepeda (15-1, 9 KOs) to win the vacant IBA Super Featherweight Title. Scoring: 120-107, 120-107, 119-109
Miriam Brakache (3-2, 1 KO) coasted to a unanimous decision victory over Cristy Nickel (7-4, 4 KOs) to win the vacant IBA Women’s Light Middleweight Title. Scoring: 100-91, 99-91, 98-92
Fresh off her August 9th no-show at Camp Pendleton in Southern California and apparently recuperated from her back injury, Mia St. John (42-5-2, 17 KOs) won a 10-round unanimous decision over South Carolina’s Donna Biggers to win the vacant IBA Women’s Lightweight Title. Scoring: 99-91, 96-94, 99-91.
In what was supposed to have been one of the highlights of the evening for the Chinese viewers, Eric “Butterbean” Esch ended up dropping a unanimous decision to archrival Kenny Craven. The two fighters have met a total of four times with Craven winning the last two bouts, evening the score at 2-2. While the much anticipated Butterbean KO never materialized, people still like to see the big guys go boom when they hit the deck and thus the Butterbean train will keep-a-rolling as long as he has his punch.
Wongjamkam Set to Defend in Japan
Longtime WBC flyweight champion Pongsaklek Wongjamkam (57-2, 31 KOs) of Thailand has signed on the dotted line to fight WBC #3 ranked Diasuke Naito (27-1-2, 19 KOs) in a rematch to be held at the fabled Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan on October 10th. In April of 2002 Wongjamkam flattened Naito with one punch, ending the fight only 34 seconds into the first round and scoring the fastest knockout ever recorded in flyweight history. Since his lone defeat, Naito has been pining for a rematch with Pongjamkam and has reeled off eight straight victories.
Guilty Boxing Wins Purse Bid
In the saga of the on again, off again IBF strawweight title fight between champion Muhammad Rachman (50-7-4, 22 KOs) of Indonesia and Mexican Omar Soto (14-2-1, 10 KOs), Guilty Boxing has won the right to promote the bout with a purse bid of $26,001. Originally slated to be held in Jakarta, Indonesia on August 23rd, the fight was rescheduled to September 6th, only to be postponed once again when Rachman’s promoter Dondo Sugiarto was unable to obtain sponsorship for the fight. As of yet the date and venue of the fight have yet to be finalized, however there is a chance the bout will be a televised, main event at The Orleans Hotel and Casino.
Upcoming Bouts
The majority of big fights for the next few weeks will be in Thailand, which along with Japan has been the hotbed for Asian boxing of late.
August 25 – Chainart, Thailand
Veeraphol Seehaprom (48-2-2, 34 KOs) – Joel Bauya (15-8-3, 8 KOs)
Former WBC bantamweight champion Veeraphol Seehaprom looks to work his way back into title contention in this bout with Filipino Joel Bauya. The 36-year-old Seehaprom defended his WBC bantamweight title fifteen times before finally losing to unheralded Hozumi Hasegawa in April of this year in Tokyo. Seehaprom should easily defeat Bauya, who has lost five of his last six. If the aging Thai can’t get past Bauya, he’ll have nowhere left to go but up because he’ll have already reached bottom.
David Lookmahanak – Rey Llagas
WBC Asian Boxing Council Super flyweight title
August 26 – Saraburi, Thailand
Oleydong Sithsamerchai vs. Yang Chao
WBC Youth Minimumweight Title
WBC Asian Boxing Council Minimumweight Title
Panomroonglek Kratingdaenggym vs. Yu Cheng Bin
WBC Asian Boxing Council Flyweight Title
August 31 – Rajdamnern Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand
Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym (22-0, 15 KOs) – Ricardo Cordoba (25-0, 17 KOs)WBA Interim Bantamweight Title
This could be the best fight of the month in Asia and is a bit of a hidden gem. These two fighters are undefeated and have good KO power, and this is the first major test for both of them. It promises to be an explosive encounter, and should Poonsawat win it could set up a battle with fellow countryman and WBO titleholder Ratanachai Sor Vorapin. Neither Poonsawat nor Cordoba has fought outside of their respective countries (Thailand and Indonesia) and as the fight is in Thailand’s rowdy Rajdamnern Stadium, I’ll give the edge to Poonsawat and pick him by a close decision. Definitely a pick-em fight though.
September 10 – Los Angeles, CA
Manny Pacquiao (39-3-2, 32 KOs) vs. Hector Velazquez(42-10-2, 31 KOs)
Former WBC flyweight and IBF super bantamweight champion Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines returns in his first fight since his devastating loss to Erik Morales in March of this year. Pacquiao will be facing experienced veteran Hector Velazquez of Mexico in a 12 round super featherweight bout. Not many give Velazqueza chance of winning the fight although he may hang in a little longer than expected.
Who’s Hot, Who’s Not
Who’s Hot?
WBA Featherweight Champion Chris John (36-0-1 20 KOs)
Undefeated in 37 bouts, the “Indonesian Thin Man,” WBA featherweight champion Chris John, is a fighter to keep your eye on. He recently dismantled a game but overmatched Tommy Browne (18-4-1, 7 KOs) in Sydney, Australia, stopping him in round ten to make the fourth defense of his featherweight title; before this he easily outpointed former champion Derrick Gainer. U.S. fans may get their first look at John as he is tentatively scheduled to fight on the undercard of the third Jones-Tarver bout. Don’t be surprised if he eventually faces Juan Manuel Marquez or newly crowned WBC champion Humberto Soto and wins against either of them.
Biggest Wins: Ratanachai Sor Vorapin UD10, Oscar Leon SD12, Osamu Sato UD12, Derrick Gainer UD10
Who’s Not?
WBO Bantamweight Champion Ratanachai Sor Vorapin (Thailand)
Earlier this month, WBO Bantamweight champion Ratanachai Sor Vorapin squeaked by number one contender Mauricio Martinez in a bout he could have very easily lost. Stunned numerous times by the hard-punching Martinez, Sor Vorapin seemed to lack focus throughout the bout and was extremely fortunate to come away with the victory. He’s fought a plethora of top-tier fighters and champions, unfortunately losing to all but a faded Danny Romero.
If Sor Vorapin ever decides to leave the comfort of Thailand and face the likes of a Rafael Marquez, Diego Morales or Wladimir Sidorenko, he won’t be holding the title much longer. I don’t foresee this happening anytime soon though; after all, since winning the title seven out of his last eight fights have been non-title fights against, shall we say, less than formidable opponents.
Notable Loses: Chris John UD10 , Tim Austin UD12, Mark Johnson UD12, Gerry Penalosa TKO6, Yoddamrong Sityodtong Dec. 10
