THAILAND WINS FIRST WORLD TITLE AFTER LOSING SEVERAL
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 06 May 2013
Srisaket wins world title for Thailand.
Thailand has won its first world boxing title after losing several in recent years, much like the Philippines who suffered painful setbacks to Manny Pacquiao, flyweight champion Brian Viloria and super bantamweight champion Nonito ?The Filipino Flash? Donaire although we still have world champions in IBF light flyweight king Johnreil Casimero, WBO light flyweight champion Donnie Nietes and newly crowned WBO minimum weight champion Merlito Sabillo.
The fighter who saved the day and regained some pride for the once powerful Thailand was Srisaket Sor Rungvisai who stopped champion Yota Sato of Japan in the eighth round to claim the WBC super-flyweight title.
In what the Bangkok Post described as a makeshift stadium in his home province of Si Sa Ket, the 26 year old Srisaket proved much too strong for the champion, who was beaten in his third defense of the title, thus giving Thailand its only world title at present.
The shorter Srisaket was the aggressor from the opening bell and connected with several powerful body shots that weakened Sato.
Srisaket was in almost complete control of the fight and almost finished off Sato in the seventh round but the Japanese was saved by the bell.
The end came in the next round when Italian referee Guido Cavalleri stopped the contest after the 29-year-old Sato absorbed a series of punches from the Srisaket. It was sweet revenge for Sor Rungvisai camp after Suriyan Sor Rungvisai lost the title to Sato in Japan last year.
Srisaket (19-3-1, 18KOs) had been picked to challenge Sato ahead of Suriyan because their handlers believed Srisaket was more powerful than Suriyan.
Srisaket said the title would change his life and he would try to keep it as long as possible.
"My wife is pregnant and the title is for her and the baby," he explained.
It was Sato's first fight outside Japan. He is now 26-3-1.
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