BOXING / ALL-THAI TITLE BOUT
WBC challenger ready for big chance
KITTIPONG THONGSOMBAT
Oledong Sithsamerchai hopes to become the first southerner to win a world boxing title. |
Oledong Sithsamerchai vows to topple champion Eagle Den Janlaphan to become the first southerner to win a world title on November 29.
Trang-born Oledong is now in intensive training for the all-Thai WBC strawweight clash to be held at the 11th Infantry Boxing Arena in Bangkok as a part the celebrations for His Majesty the King's 80 birthday.
''I have been waiting for this fight for five years,'' said Oledong, who turned professional in 2002.
''I am committed to winning for the people in the south because they have never seen their boxers get the title.''
The 22-year-old said he is in good shape and will spar more than 150 rounds as preparation.
''I am ready now even with a month to go,'' he said.
Oledong has been sparring with bantamweight Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym.
The southpaw said he planned a cautious approach against Den while searching for openings to use his left hand.
''He has more experience but is not powerful,'' said Oledong.
''He is also weak in the chin and that is what I will focus on.''
Den, 28, has only scored six knockouts out of 18 victories and has been beaten once in his career. Oledong is 24-0 with nine knockouts.
Although Oledong has had more fights than Den he has faced weaker opposition, and the Japan-based Thai is regarded as having a big advantage in experience.
Oledong plans to offset that his strength in one of the most eagerly-anticipated fights of the year.
The southern boxer played down the fact it was an all-Thai clash and said he was just concentrating on victory.''This all about sports and we have to do our best for the fans regardless of nationality,'' he said.
Den, born in Phichit, started his boxing career in Thailand and moved to Japan after the death of his promoter Sahasombhop Srisomvongse.
He won the WBC strawweight title for the first time in January, 2004 by beating Jose Antonio Aguirre. Eleven months later, he lost the belt in his second defence against Isaac Bustos.
In August 2005, he unanimously defeated Katsunari Takayama to reclaim the belt . He has since successfully defended the title four times with the latest victory in June when he outpointed Akira Yaegashi.
He had been known as Eagle Kyowa but had switched to Eagle Den Janlaphan for the fight in Thailand.
Oledong's manager Piyarat Vachiraratanawong said he expects the Oledong-Den match to be a cracker.
There are no options between the two because it was a mandatory fight.
Oledong earned the right to challenge Eagle after he outpointed Omar Soto in a final eliminator Saraburi in April.
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