FIL-AM TRAINER BEHIND SOMSAK'S WBA VICTORY
By Salven L. Lagumbay
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 22 Mar 2006
Unknown to many, a Filipino-American trainer was the chief architect behind the masterful win by Thai Somsak Sithchatchawal over Mahyar Monshipour for the WBA superbantam crown last March 18 in France.
Fil-Am Bobby Villaver, who lives in Hawaii but has been based in Thailand for the last four months training Somsak, has been credited for turning Somsak into a certified wrecking crew when he knocked down Monshipour en route to an incredible tenth-round stoppage at the Sport Hall Marcel Cerdan de Lavallois in Paris.
Fil-Am Bobby Villaver strikes a pose with his protege Somsak in Chiang Mai, Thailand one month before leaving for France to take on WBA king Mahyar Monshipour.
Prior to their departure for France, Villaver and Somsak were holed up in an extremely spartan training somewhere in Chiang Mai, which accounted for Somsak's terrific shape going into the fight.
"This was what Bobby had planned along. He wanted no distractions for Somsak months before the fight," revealed WBO Asia-Pacific chairman Leon Panoncillo, who convinced Villaver to fly from Hawaii to Bangkok to take charge of Somsak's training chores.
When interviewed in Thailand one month before the bout, Villaver had told this writer that his ward was in terrific shape and would most likely dethrone the champ in stunning fashion.
Somsak was a long-time PABA champion who worked his way into becoming Monshipour's challenger. With the win, he upped his record to 46-1-1, 37 KO's. Monshipour, who had been undefeated in eight years, announced his retirement after his loss to Somsak.
Villaver, who traces his roots in Carcar, Cebu, had also trained former WBO bantamweight king Ratanachai Sor Vorapin.
END
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Salven L. Lagumbay.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Allan Villanueva vs. Jyl Wright Headlines Peter Maniatis Event in Melbourne Oct. 3
Thu, 02 Oct 2025BUSTAMANTE AND JONES NAMED CAPTAINS FOR REYES CUP 2025
Thu, 02 Oct 2025Mike Tyson Joins BoltBetz as Strategic Investor and Promotional Partner to Usher in a New Era of Cashless Gaming
Thu, 02 Oct 2025BOXING LEGEND MANNY PACQUIAO LAUNCHES “MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS” IN THE UNITED STATES
Thu, 02 Oct 2025BOOTS HUNTING THE BIG FISH AT 154LBS
Thu, 02 Oct 2025IBA Unveils Historic 2025 IBA Men’s Elite World Championships as Part of a Spectacular Two-Week ‘Festival of Boxing’ in Dubai with Unprecedented $8 Million Prize Pool
Thu, 02 Oct 2025Final Bell for 2025 USA Boxing National Open Event National Open Event Concludes with 1,870 Registered Participants in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Thu, 02 Oct 2025THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 15: JOE FRAZIER’S PROFESSIONAL CAREER
By Maloney L. Samaco, Thu, 02 Oct 2025World Boxing relocates Congress 2025 to Rome
Thu, 02 Oct 2025Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: Behind the WBC Boxing Grand Prix
By Mauricio Sulaimán, Wed, 01 Oct 2025JOHANN CHUA BEGINS TITLE DEFENCE AGAINST IVICA PUTNIK AS DRAW CONFIRMED FOR 2025 HANOI OPEN POOL CHAMPIONSHIP
Wed, 01 Oct 2025CUBAN FUTURE CHAMPIONS YOENLI HERNANDEZ, ARMANDO MARTINEZ RABI & GUSTAVO TRUJILLO HEADLINE ‘FISTS OF FURY 8’
Wed, 01 Oct 2025USA Boxing Finishes Canada Duel Undefeated
Wed, 01 Oct 2025Dana White Seeks to Make Significant Changes in the World Boxing
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Wed, 01 Oct 2025THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 29 September 2025: Ferreira Retains IBF 135 Belt by Outpointing Moneo; Clavel Dethrones IBF 105 Champ Cudos
By Eric Armit, Tue, 30 Sep 2025