The 112 pound division is loaded with good talent from all over the world, but the most noticeable name in this Division with his record of 83 wins, 3 losses, 2 draws and 44 wins by KO, is the WBC and Ring Magazine Champion from Thailand named Pongsaklek Wonjongkam.
Wonjongkam regained his WBC belt and became the Ring magazine’s flyweight champion when he defeated Koki Kameda of Japan by a 12-round majority decision.
Not just loaded with talent, the flyweight division has a plethora of proven champions like the “Hawaiian Punch” Brian Viloria. Viloria defended his WBO flyweight belt in brutal fashion last Dec. from one of the feared champions of Mexico Giovanni Segura, and since then, together with his management team, have been very vocal about wanting to unify the belts at 112.
Wonjongkam holds the WBC’s green belt and is recognized as the Ring Magazine’s 112 Champion, which makes him Viloria’s primary target. The question is, will Wonjongkam step up to the challenge? Or will he just stay in Thailand and fight and defend his belt against lesser competition.
If “yes”, the next question would be where? Though Wonjongkam already has 83 wins under his name, he hasn’t fought outside Thailand other than Japan (8 times), and in a small island in Cambodia named Koh Kong once.
With all the good boxers at 112 spread throughout the global landscape that who want to be a World Champion and make a name for themselves this 2012, how long will Wonjongkam remain in hiding? I hope the Thailander Champ won’t duck competition.
Milan Melindo is another one of those potential challengers. The ALA wonder kid strung impressive victories in 2011, and is a boxer to watch out for in 2012. Also in the list is the 112 OPBF Champion Rocky Fuentes, the up-and-coming Froilan “The Sniper” Saludar, and the tactical boxer from Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions named Richie Mepranum.
All of them would give Wonjongkam a run for his money.
Will Wonjongkam step up to any of these challenges?
Boxing is a sport wherein a boxer fights another boxer to show who’s the better fighter; a sport that requires a lot of discipline and talent to prove that you’re the best. Being named a “champion” suggests that you rose up to the challenge and fended off all comers that wish to take your crown.
But for some, boxing has become something totally different. With champions fighting inferior competition and ducking their true challengers just for the sake of saying that they’ve defended their title, and of course for a easy payday, the meaning of the word “boxing champion” has definitely diminished from what it used to signify.
What good is being a champion if you took the “easy road”? What legacy are you leaving for yourself? How do you want people to recognize you after you retire?
I hope these champions, especially at the lower weight classes, would stop ducking our top Filipino boxers. As they say, they all have two fists just like anyobdy else. Anything can happen, so why not fight the best for the fans, for the sport, for your legacy?
From the most-avoided minimumweight fighter Denver Cuello, up to welterweight champ Manny Pacquiao, let’s hope that champions who claim they are the best, earn and deserved the title they proudly claim.
For Wonjonkam who has 2 of his 3 losses coming at the hands of a Filipino named Jerry Pahayahay, this year could be a perfect year for him to further his legac and exorcise his Filipino demons. Will he man up, or is he simply to afraid of the tough Filipino warriors who have their eyes set on him?
