Pongsaklek Wonjongkam is one of the best fighters you probably don?t know much about.
The 34-year-old Thai southpaw, THE RING flyweight champion, dominated No. 7-rated Mexican Edgar Sosa to retain his WBC title by a one-sided unanimous decision Friday in Bangkok.
That?s a familiar refrain. Wonjongkam (83-3-1, 45 knockouts) is now an astounding 22-1-1 in title fights, losing only to Daisuke Naito in 2007. He also has beaten nine titleholders.
Who wins 83 times these days? Who has 83 fights?
Wonjongkam?s other two losses came when he was a teenager. He is 74-1-1 since the second of those two losses.
Only Naito ? against whom he?s 2-1-1 ? has had notable success against him, although the loss and the draw (in 2008) both took place in Naito?s home country of Japan.
And get this: Wonjongkam has been in THE RING flyweight ratings for more than 10 years, a run of consistency that speaks to his remarkable ability.
What?s next? Sosa was only the second flyweight currently in THE RING ratings Wonjongkam has faced; he outpointed Julio Cesar Miranda in 2009. Thus, many challenges lay ahead if Wonjongkam chooses to take them.
And he has fought almost exclusively in the safe confines of his home country. We?d love to see him take on a top contender outside Thailand.
We have a feeling he?d do just fine.
RING RATINGS UPDATE
Pound for pound: Wonjongkam (No. 8 last week) switches places with Timothy Bradley (No. 7 last week) after his strong performance against Sosa.
Cruiserweight: No. 1 Marco Huck stopped Rogelio Rossi in six rounds on Saturday in Germany. He retains his position.
Lightweight: Miguel Acosta (No. 4 last week) was one of the top lightweights in the world halfway through his fight against Brandon Rios in February.
