Professional boxing in Thailand enjoyed a great year. The Kingdom’s pugilists figured in 43 fights, with the two world champions, flyweight Pongsaklek Wongjongkham and bantamweight Veeraphol Nakhonluang, extending their winning streaks. Both are now heading towards establishing world records in their divisions. According to boxing expert and statistician Andrew Eisele of the US, both are today among the top 50 pound-for-pound fighters in the world.
Pongsaklek, who has made 10 defences of the world flyweight title, defeated Malcolm Tunacao of the Philippines on March 2, 2001 via a first round technical knockout win in Phichit and is ranked 32 while Veeraphol, who has defended his world title 14 times, is ranked 34.
Veeraphol first won the world bantamweight title on December 12, 1998 via a sixth round technical knockout win over Japan’s Yoichiro Tatsuyoshi in Osaka.
The list is topped by the world middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins of the US and is followed by the lightweight champion Floyd Mayweather of the US.
But the fighter who has surprised everyone to soar high up in the top 50 list is the Philippines’ Manny Pacquiao, a knockout specialist who is campaigning in the featherweight division. He is ranked number three in this category.
A boxer with a big heart, Pacquiao was the former world flyweight champion and lost his title on the scales in Thailand. But he has grown up fast, both in physique and stature and recently knocked out Thai Fahsan Por Thawatchai in four rounds in his home country.
Jesus Chavez, who defeated Sirimongkol Singmanassuk, is ranked 35th.
Pongsaklek made two defenses this year, in Osaka where he outpointed Trash Nakanuma of Japan and in Khon Kaen where he registered a technical knockout win over Luis Angel Martinez of Mexico.
Veeraphol has defended his title three times. He registered a points victory over Toshiaki Nishioka in Saitama, Japan, and defeated two tough Mexicans in Thailand _ Julio Cesar Avila, whom he beat via a 12th round technical knockout in Nongkhai and Cecilio Santos, whom he outpointed in Chainart.
Thailand ended the year with three international champions, super-bantamweight Napapol Kiatisakchokechai who failed in his bid to win the world title from the current champion Oscar Larios of Mexico but defended his minor international title successfully by registering a fourth round technical knockout win over Allan Kamote of Tanzania.
Former world minumumweight champion, Wandee Chorcharoen took the WBC International light-flyweight title with victory over Ernesto Rubilar of the Philippines via an eighth round technical knockout win on September 9 and was held to a draw by Jun Arlos of Philippines on November 16.
Last week, at Nakhonchaisri, a new Thai fighter emerged, hard-punching Saddam Kiatyongyuth who took the vacant WBC International lightweight title via a fourth round technical knockout victory over Philippines’ Renato Inal.
Thailand also boasts of three WBC Youth champions, strawweight Oledong Sithsamerchai who has been very active, defending his title four times, flyweight Fahpetchnoi Sor Chitrpatana who has made three defences and light-flyweight Sarikalek O.Ekarin who has been inactive after winning the title on February 20, decisioning Federico Catubay. The chairman of the WBC Youth Championships, Rex Walker of Colorado, has allowed him time until Febraury 2005, to either defend his title or to quit boxing.
The Asian boxing scene, which has been very active since Pol Gen Kovid Bhakdibhumi took over as Asian Boxing Council President, saw 22 fights being held this year and it boasts of seven Asian champions, some of whom are new faces. They have graduated from the Muay Thai ranks.
Following the World Boxing Council’s decision to permit Muay Thai exponents with records of over 100 fights to fight in the Queensbury Rules ranks, many fighters are today seeking honours in the Asian title boxing scene, and hoping to go on and bid for world-title honours.
Asian champions, Flyweight Panomrunglek Kratingdaeng-Gym, super-flyweight David Nakhonluang, super-bantamweight Saenghiran Lookbanyai, featherweight Cholatarn O. Piriyapinyo, super 5-featherweight Saddam Kiatyongyuth and lightweight Fujimi Victory-gym are all future world title hopefuls.
Thai promoters are also very active. Virat Vachirarratanawongse and his nephew Piyarat, Suchat Pisitwuttinun, Attaporn Tangnusart, Naris Singwancha, Songchai Ratanasuban and his daughter Pariyakorn are doing a lot to popularise professional boxing in the Kingdom.
As a result many new faces are emerging in the boxing scene.
World Boxing Association’s Yosanon 3K Battery also did remarkably well, retaining his world super-featherweight title in the US by defeating Steve Forbes of the US in Las Vegas.
