PONGSAKLEK READY TO GIVE MUKAI A REMATCH AND AVOID FILIPINO CHALLENGERS
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 27 Dec 2011
World Boxing Council flyweight champion Pongsaklek Wonjongkam is ready to give Japan?s Hirofumi Mukai a rematch which the inexperienced Japanese has said he wants following their title fight which ended in 47 seconds of the opening round at the 11th Infantry Regiment in Bangkok last Saturday.
In the process the Thai champion appeared to be avoiding WBO champion Brian Viloria and several other Filipinos who are ranked higher and are more experienced than the Japanese youngster.
Viloria told the Manila Standard he wishes to to engage Pongsaklek in a unification bout next year. Viloria is coming off a rousing 8th round TKO victory over former light flyweight champion and Ring Magazine No. 9 pound for pound fighter Giovanni Segura.
Whether Pongsaklek?s handlers will accept the Viloria challenge or give the inexperienced Mukai who was previously beaten by the Philippines Rocky ?Road Warrior? Fuentes in an Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation title fight remains to be seen.
Mukai, with a record of only 5 wins and 1 loss with no knockouts was given the title shot against Pongsaklek despite the fact that several other Filipinos besides Fuentes are ranked much higher than Mukai who is ranked No. 15 by the WBC..
Behind Fuentes who is ranked No. 3 are Milan Melindo No. 6, Sonny Boy Jaro No. 8, Froilan ?The Sniper? Saludar No. 10 and Richie Mepranum No. 11.
Pongsaklek retained his title following an accidental head-butt which opened up a nasty cut on the right eyelid of Mukai that bled profusely.
The Bangkok Post reported that the ring doctor did not allow Mukai to continue ?because the cut was so serious.?
The fight was declared a technical draw.
Pongsaklek said "It was clearly an accident." He added "I did not have a cut because it was my head against his face."
It was the second draw in Pongsaklek?s career against 83 wins and only 3 defeats with 44 knockouts. The 26-year-old Japanese was disappointed that his first title shot ended so soon because he had prepared for the fight for several months.
Pongsaklek wins over Japan's Kogawa in this file photo.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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