MANANQUIL HITS THAILAND TO CHALLENGE KWANPICHIT FOR WBO ORIENTAL FLYWEIGHT TITLE
By Carlos Costa
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 01 Aug 2013
Undefeated Filipino flyweight Ben Mananquil (9-0, 2 KO's) of Zamboanga del Norte, now living in Las Pi?as, Metro Manila, has arrived in Bangkok ahead of his tough clash against experienced world-rated Thai Kwanpichit OnesongchaiGym (22-0-1, 9 KO's) for the Thai's WBO Oriental Flyweight (112 lbs) belt this Friday (Aug 2) in Thailand.
The 21 year-old Mananquil arrived in Thailand with coach Erickson Asenjo (left on the photo), a trainer at the MP Gym. Also, guiding Ben Mananquil in the important mission is his compatriot "WBC Asian Promoter of the Year" Brico Santig of Highland Boxing of La Trinidad, Benguet.
The 12-rounder will be the 4th Oriental Title defense for the 31-year-old Kwapichit (a seasoned muay thai combatant), who is currently in the world rankings as WBO # 3 and WBA #11.
Kwanpichit has fought a number of Filipino boxers, including Golez and Ocon. Last year, I attended the battle of Kwanpichit vs Filipino Fernando Ocon in the paradisaical Island of Phuket. It was a 12-rounder affair won by the veteran Thai.
However, the skinny but tough Ocon didn't do too bad, scoring occasional blows on Kwanpichit, whose head movement is rather limited. Unfortunately, Fernando Ocon lacks a devastating power punch and could not hurt Kwanpichit.
But Kwanpichit could not hurt Ocon either.
That afternoon in Phuket, Ocon was assisted by trainer/cornerman Eper Tepura of the RWS Gym.
It seems that an acceptable fighter with decent pop in his knuckles and good boxing technique could walk over Kwanpichit, a boxer who has had a long muay thai career.
Invariably, Kwanpichit comes forward throwing punches without a great defense, a fact that makes him take punches, and Kwanpichit does not have fast hands. It seems that Kwanpichit hasn't adjusted himself from fighting in muay thai to fighting in boxing.
Nevertheless, this Thai never stops pressing the action, a good reason for Ben Maninquil to move to the sides (not a frontal war of attrition). Ben shall never become a steady target. The young Pinoy should use his right jab and straight left to land on the Thai and moves away from the power right hand by circling towers his left (because Ben is a southpaw, while Kwanpichit is orthodox).
Another point to think about is that Manaquil hasn't fought in nearly 8 months. So he might be a bit rusty, hopefully not; while the more active Kwanpichit (a boxer of the Onesongchai Promotions), fought last May, earning a knockout victory over unheralded Tunisia boxer Tarek Krab.
The fight on Friday is also the first time that the lefty Ben Mananquil battles away of his native Philippines and the first time he goes for 12 rounds, while Kwanpichit has fought the whole twelve yards a total three times.
But a bit more worrisome, is the fact that Mananquil seems to lack dynamites in his blows (hopefully I am wrong), but 2 knockouts in a total of 9 fights is not that impressive, though sometimes records could be deceiving (in this case let's hope so).
Only two knockout scored by Mananquil against a boxer like Kwanpichit who has fought hundreds of times as muay thai plus another 23 combats as boxer seems tough.
Anyways, Mananquil is growing and still developing power.
Also, the three judges and referee will be from the same nationality as Kwanpichit. This worries some of Ben's fans as unfair voting could occur.
Just last weekend a judge inexplicably voted against ALA boxer Genesis "Azukal" Servania in his battle against a Japanese fighter, while the other two judges, including the Japanese judge, correctly voted for the Filipino rising star.
If the very same judge sits down to score the fight of Kwanpichit vs Filipino Ben Mananquil, will the same baffling score be expected?
Therefore, it seems the only way Mananquil could win is by scoring a knockout. But we already know that Mananquil has scored only has 2 knockouts... Amigos, to win this one is tough, but let's hope that Ben Maninquil's boxing abilities, his speed and his youth will see him win the day.
Faith move mountains. I have seen with my own eyes how unheralded Filipinos score big wins in Thailand. I witness Roilo Golez's victory by KO. And I traveled to a far away corner of Thailand to be at ringside to see Pinoy Jose Ocampo wining by knockout. Then, in Bangkok I saw Filipino Rey Lorito scoring an awesome knockout win. Sonny Boy ate Pongsaklek for breakfast and then Rey Megrino rocked and knocked out Pongsaklek too.
In boxing everything is possible and Ben Mananquil is young, has good skills and learns fast. So let's keep our faith and wish for the best.
The Kwanpichit vs Mananquil for the WBO Oriental Flyweight belt is a production of Pariyakorn Rattanasuban of Onesongchai Boxing.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.
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