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| Poonsawat |
Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym is in danger of being denied his rightful shot at a world title thanks to the baffling actions of the World Boxing Association (WBA).
The Thai super-bantamweight is the mandatory challenger to WBA champion Celestino Caballero but his position took an unexpected turn for the worse last week because of the WBA's "KO Drugs" festival in Panama.
The WBA, which is based in Panama and Venezuela, had Caballero at the top of the bill in a voluntary defence, which he won in the first round via knockout.
Yet the main support was Panama's Ricardo Cordoba against Luis Perez, of Nicaragua, for the "vacant interim" WBA super-bantamweight title.
So the WBA had a championship fight and an "interim" championship fight on the same bill.
It is farcical and seriously damages the credibility of the WBA's titles, as well as the sport in general.
Interim titles were created in case a champion was unable to defend his title due to illness or injury.
The idea was the interim belts would keep other boxers in the division active and maintain interest in the titles instead of letting them stagnate.
But the sanctioning bodies now appear to use them mainly to generate extra cash.
Cordoba isn't a champion and Poonsawat beat him on points at Ratchadamnoen Stadium in August 2005.
I was ringside to watch that fight and although Cordoba was very skilful, Poonsawat figured him out and took control in the later rounds.
That match was down at bantamweight and the WBA classed it as a final eliminator to face then-champion Wladimir Sidorenko.
However, despite Cordoba losing the fight he was given the first shot at Sidorenko in Germany.
The WBA certainly operate in a strange way.
The Panamanian managed a draw, which meant Sidorenko retained his title, and then Poonsawat was given his shot next.
The Thai was outpointed over 12 rounds and then Cordoba was handed another chance only to draw again.
Poonsawat and Cordoba moved up a division to super-bantam, where Caballero knocked out Somsak Sithchatchawal at Wat Ban Rai in October 2006 to win the WBA title.
So the scene was set. Poonsawat kept winning impressively to stay high in the WBA's rankings and Cordoba, who holds a points win over Caballero in May 2004, did his part by staying active and victorious.
Poonsawat seemed to have taken a big step towards a title shot when he stopped Somsak in 11 rounds at Hua Mark Stadium in March to win the mandatory spot but that has now been undermined by Cordoba's "interim" win.
What happens next is anyone's guess but Caballero may be set for a unification fight with IBF champion Steve Molitor.
That would be a good fight, but it wouldn't help Poonsawat's cause in getting towards the title again.
Cordoba has signed a deal with a US-based promotional team and is said to be targeting WBC champion Israel Vazquez. Cordoba is ranked sixth by the WBC.
There are many possibilities but it's difficult to second-guess what the sanctioning bodies are going to do. The WBA didn't answer my request to clarify the situation.
What would make sense is for Poonsawat to fight Cordoba again, possibly in the USA.
Poonsawat has beaten him once and can do it again.
Another option would be to fight Thai rivals Napapol Kiatisakchokchai, Wethya Sakmuangklang or Sod Looknongyangtoy.
They would be a great matches and inject some much-needed excitement into a floundering year on the domestic front.Cordoba's new management team had the audacity on Monday to say they regarded him as the world champion because he has already beaten Caballero.
Following that logic, Poonsawat must be the real number one as he beat the man who beat the man.
Julian Turner is the Bangkok Post's Deputy Sports Editor.
Email: juliant@bangkokpost.co.th
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