BOXING
EDWARD THANGARAJAH
Veeraphol |
Veeraphol Nakonluang has retired. The former world bantamweight boxing champion made the announcement through his manager Suchat Pisitwuttinun yesterday.
Mr. Suchat told the Bangkok Post in an exclusive interview that the 39-year-old was hanging up his gloves and will bow out of active boxing, to pave the way for a young Thai fighter to take his place. He will also quit the Asian boxing title and will assist the Nakonluang Promotion to train boxers.
Mr. Suchat made the announcement at the Chandrphen Restaurant over lunch.
Veeraphol who won the world bantamweight title had 67 fights won 61, 43 via kayos, lost four (three via kayoes) and drew twice.
Born in Nakhon Ratchasimea, his real name is Teerapol Samranklang.
Veeraphol held the world bantamweight title for the longest period of time for a Thai boxer.
He won the title on December 29, 1998 via a sixth round knockout victory, over a well known Japanese hero, Joichiro Tatsuyoshi, at the Central Gymnasium in Osaka, Japan and defended it 14 times, until September 11, 2004.
Thailand had only one bantamweight world champion previously, and that was Khaokor Galaxy, but he did not last long
Veeraphol won three world titles. He was former WBC international super-flyweight champion, which was an honour he earned in his first ever fight in the Queensbury rules of boxing after his switch from Muay Thai. Veeraphol was also the WBA bantamweight champ for a short time.
He outpointed another Thai, Daorung Chuvatana but lost the title in his first defence in two thrilling rounds against Nana Konadu of Ghana. Konadu was dropped in the first round but in the second Veeraphol was knocked out.
After two years of campaigning in the bantamweight division he toughened himself up and convinced the late Sahasombhop Srisomvongse that he could challenge the then world bantamweight champion, Tatsuyoshi of Japan, on whom he had an option.
That was the beginning of a golden era for Thai boxing in the world bantamweight division. After his kayo victory over Tatsuyoshi, he registered five kayo wins, seven points decisions, and was held to two draws by Toshiaki Nishioka of Japan.
He lost his title to the current champion, Hozumi Hasegawa of Japan on April 16, 2005 via a points decision and his effort to regain the title on March 25, 2006 ended in a ninth round TKO defeat.
Last Thursday, he tried to make a comeback against a much younger opponent, 23-year-old Vusi Malinga of South Africa and was knocked out in the fourth round.
He also held the Asian Boxing Council bantamweight title, from which he has he retired, as of yesterday. A young boxer, Bandung Patavikorn-Gym who fought 13 times and has won 12, losing once, is being groomed to bid for the ABCO vacant title.
Meanwhile, Thailand's only world boxing champion, strawweight, Oledong Sithsamerchai will defend his title against Juinichi Ebizuoka of Japan in Phuket on Wednesday, June 18. The fight officials are: Referee: Malcolm Bulner (Australia). Judges: Hubert Minn (Hawaii), Gus Mercurio (Australia) and Tony Castellano (USA).
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