Champions range from Pone to Pongsaklek and Panomrunglek could be next
Story by EDWARD THANGARAJAH
Thailand has produced many outstanding world flyweight boxing champions, starting with that great pugilist, the late Pone Kingpetch who won the World Boxing Council flyweight title in Bangkok.
He defeated world-famous Argentine champion Pascual Perez, who was unbeaten in 17 title defences from 1955 to 1959.
That great day was on April 16, 1960. Pone registered a thrilling points victory over Perez.
Inspired by that historical success, Pone went to Los Angeles and defended his title against the same man, winning via an eighth round knockout victory on September 22, 1960.
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| The late Pone Kingpetch. |
Though Pone lost his title to Japan's Masahiko Harada via a kayo in round 11 in Japan on October 10, 1962, he regained it in Bangkok on January 12, 1962.
He lost a third time to another Japanese fighter, Hiroyuki Ebihara, in a one round knockout in Tokyo on September 18, 1963 and won it back in Bangkok on January 23, 1964.
Thus Pone not only made history for the Kingdom, he also became the first flyweight in the world to regain the world title three times.
Thailand's second world champion, Chartchai Chionoi also created history for the sport. Watched by His Majesty the King at the Lumpini Stadium, he beat the first British world flyweight champion in more than 15 years, Walter McGowan, via a ninth round kayo.
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| Photos by Surapote Phongjivanich Panomrunglek aims to be the next WBC flyweight champion. |
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| WBC youth champion Panomrunglek, left, looks for an opening against Irfan Ogah on Friday. Pictured in the centre is referee Franz Marti of Switzerland. |
McGowan couldn't continue after 50 seconds of the ninth round due to a deep cut on his nose.
His Majesty the King presented Chartchai with his world championship belt. Also watching the award ceremony, was The Ring editor Nat Fleischer, who was one of the judges of the fight.
Chartchai was also the second Thai to regain the title three times. Among his memorable fights were the battles against Mexico's Effren Torres. Chartchai lost the title via an eighth round knockout on February 23, 1969 to him and regained it on March 20, 1970.
Even today, veteran Mexican boxing fans and scribes talk about the two clashes.
I attended a champions get-together in Los Angeles a few years ago, and present on the occasion was Chartchai. He was mobbed by Mexican scribes and boxing veterans, who recalled the two great fights.
Venice Borkorsor, Berkrerk Chatvanchai, Sot Chitalada, Muangchai Kittikasem, Chatchai Sasakul, Medgern Singsurat, Saen Sor Ploenchit, Sornpichai Kratingdaenggym, Pichit Sithbanprachan and Pongsaklek Wonjongkam are the other Thai world flyweight champions who have made history for the Kingdom in boxing. They have added glittering chapters to sport.
Pongsaklek is still going strong. He will be leaving for Tokyo tonight, to bid for his title which he lost in a surprise defeat on July 18, 2007 to Daisuke Naito. This will be their third meeting
The fight is scheduled for Saturday and Pongsaklek claims he will bring the WBC belt back with him.
"I have trained hard for this fight and I am very confident that I will be able to overcome the Naito on March 8," he said.
Fast on his heels, bidding to be a future champion in the flyweight division is Panomrunglek Kratingdaengym, a rising star who has carried the WBC youth flyweight title with pride. He had his last youth fight on Friday, against a tough Indonesian, Irfan Ogah.
Panomrunglek is aiming to be the next world champion after Pongsaklek.
Also rated highly and aiming for world honours is Denkaosan Kaovichit.
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