BOXING
EDWARD THANGARAJAH
Thailand's Interim Youth bantamweight champion, Fahpetchnoi Sorchitrpatana, registered a lucky points victory over North Korea's Kim Hyok Jun yesterday at the open-air ring of the Santirat Vitayalai in Bangkok, before a large crowd of students and boxing fans. The fight was presided over by Chusak Sirinil, Minister of the Prime Minister's Office.
The referee, Noppharat Sricharoen stopped the fight, on the advice of the ring doctor, Dr Ekalarb Thongborisute, early in round seven, with Fahpetchnoi bleeding heavily, off a deep cut which he had suffered late in round six.
It was an entertaining contest and the North Korean dished out a series of strong punches which caught Fahpetchnoi all over his face and body.
In fact in the first round, which Kim won, the Thai was staggered by two strong punches to the head. All three judges, Banpote Senparb, Somsri Bhusi and Rachent Thornprasit gave the Korean the round.
But Fahpetchnoi rallied to win the second round and on two judges' score cards won the third too.
Kim rallied in the fourth, which he won, though Banpote gave it to the Thai and Somsri had it even at 10-10. But the Bangkok Post scored the round in favour of Korean, as did Rachent.
Round five was clearly won by Fahpetchnoi and round six saw Kim win decisively on all three judges score cards. It was in this round there was a clash of heads and Fahpetchnoi suffered the deep cut over his right-eye.
His cut-man could not stop the bleeding, though he came out to fight in round seven, he continued to bleed and the referee asked the ring-doctor Dr. Ekalarb to look at the cut and according to the new WBC rules, he showed the red-card, meaning the fighter wasn't fit to continue. It was evident that the Korean was gaining in strength and stamina as the fight continued and he could have toppled the champion, if the bout wasn't stopped.
Kim told his handlers he was cheated in a fight he should have easily won.
It was evident, right from the start, that Fahpetchnoi fought the wrong fight. Both were southpaws, and instead of moving to Kim's right his slow footwork took him straight into the Korean's punches and that's how he suffered many punches to the face and body.
Kim claimed that if the fight had continued he may have knocked out the Thai. He said he would like to have another shot at Fahpetchnoi to prove who is the real champion.
But Fahpetchnoi's handlers said that the Thai will have train hard before taking on Kim again.
Banpote scored the fight 67-65, Somsri 68-65 and Rachent 67-65, all in favour of Fahpetchnoi which wasn't a true reflection of the bout.
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