FALL OF A GREAT ASIAN WARRIOR
By Dr. Allan Recto
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 03 Sep 2008
Chathai Sasakul.
MONTERRY, Mexico - "If I just had been 27 years old today (August 31), the story would be completely different. I know how to fight. My mind knew what to do, but my body did not respond. I'm old and Mijares is a great boxer."
Thus said the fallen warrior Chatchai Sasakul (64-4-0, 39 KOs) from Bangkok, Thailand who lost his last opportunity to obtain the WBC and WBA super flyweight belts last August 30 from defending champion Cristian Mijares of Torreon, Mexico (36-3-2, 15 KOs) at the Arena Monterrey here, the norther state of Nuevo Leon, Mexico in front of a jam-packed crowd of at least 14,000.
It was Sasakul who fought Filipino boxer Lito Sisnorio last March 30, 2007 where the Filipino died of injuries. Sasakul quickly stated referring to the Sisnorio fight:"It was an accident. I hope it doesn't repeat tonight."
On December 4, 1998, Sasakul lost his WBC flyweight title to Manny "PacMan" Pacquiao in Tonsuk College Ground, Phuttamonthon, Thailand, from where the PacMan became the youngest ever Philippine boxer with a WBC belt. "Whew, it was a long time ago...Pacquiao is a great boxer...we became good friends...Tell Pacquiao I miss him!" said the Thai boxer during my visit to his room at the Hotel Amerisuite Cintermex a few hours prior to his fight against Mijares. He further stated that Pacquiao has the heart of a champion and wishes him good luck against Oscar De La Hoya.
Mijares who was at the lobby of the same hotel looked relaxed, calm, smiling all the time and looked confident he was going to win. He said he came prepared and has trained well. My assignment as WBC Chief Ringside Physician made it easy for me to evaluate the fight. Mijares did not have a hard time dealing with Sasakul in the ring. He received a few punches but that was it, he was always in control of the action and was never really hurt. Sasakul knew it was going to be a tough fight. He got his first knocked down on the second round. At the last second of round two, Mijares connected with with a left straight to the chin and down went Sasakul who was able to get up after falling down again to his corner. He received the mandatory 8 count and recovered in his blue corner stool just to be saved by the bell.
Top photo: Sasakul on the canvas during his fight with WBC/WBA superfly champ Cristian Mijares in Monterrey last Saturday.
Sasakul (L) and Mijares during his fight with WBC/WBA superfly champ Cristian Mijares in Monterrey last Saturday.
The author checks with Sasakul during the fight with Mijares.
The author (R) poses with Sasakul in Mexico.
The referee raises the hands of Mijares after Mirajes kayoed Sasakul in the 3rd round of their contest last Saturday at Arena Monterrey in Monterrey, Nuevo Le?n, Mexico.
Mijares became more aggressive at the start of the third round; started throwing punches to the body and to the head. He connected with right and left uppercuts where Sasakul went down for the 2nd time. He was thrown to the canvas from where he did not recover. He looked dazed and confused. The referee Toby Gibson called the stoppage at 1:05 minutes of the Third Round. A brief medical evaluation of Chatchai Sasakul showed he physically recovered well right after the fight.
After the fight, Sasakul recognized that Mijares was the more superior fighter, had a better night and was more prepared for the fight. "I'm old, almost 39 years. I'm going to retire now and attend to my snooker (pool) business back in Thailand," Sasakul added at the short post-fight conference. He was a true warrior and a gentleman to accept defeat. Now, after almost 18 glorious fighting years in which he fought 64 times, lost 4, no draws and 39 KO's in 423 rounds boxed, with a KO percentage of 57.35, Sasakul has finally decided to hang up his gloves and put an end to his boxing career. Mijares plans to fight Vic Darchinyan for this IBF Super flyweight crown in October 2008.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Dr. Allan Recto.
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