PUNCH LINES
JULIAN TURNER
It has been a dismal year for Thailand's professional boxers on the world stage but today's WBC strawweight showdown in Bangkok at least means 2007 will finish on a high note.
Japan-based Thai Eagle Den Janlapan defends his belt against Trang-born Oledong Sithsamerchai so no matter who is victorious a Thai will still be a world champion this evening.
At the moment, Eagle is the only Thai man who holds a world belt.
Five other Thai hopefuls failed in their bids for glory this year after travelling abroad.
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Eagle Den Janlapan
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Prawet Singwancha was the first to use his passport when he went to Puerto Rico in May to tackle Jose Cotto in his home country in search of the vacant WBA lightweight belt.
Prawet got a draw, although he looked to have edged it, so the belt remained vacant.
He gets another crack on December 29 in Germany against Nicaragua's Jose Alfaro so could still end up with a belt around his waist.
In reality, it is a meaningless strap because Julio Diaz holds the WBA, IBF and WBO titles at the weight but the WBA named him a 'super champion' so the 'normal' WBA title is available.
Is it any wonder casual fans struggle to follow the sport these days when madness like this goes on?
Next to leave Suvarnabhumi was light-flyweight Nethra Sasiprapa when he travelled to Argentina to face champion Juan Carlos Reveco in June for the WBA title.
He started superbly but mentally came apart after some fussy refereeing before being stopped in the eighth round.
Nethra is down to box for a regional WBO belt on Christmas Day so he could figure in the mix again in 2008.
His lack of experience let him down in South America but he looks talented enough to eventually make it.
There are question marks about the potential of Pornsawan Porpramook after he was outpointed by strong WBO strawweight champion Donnie Nietes in the Philippines in September. He froze on the big stage.
If he can overcome his nerves as soon as he leaves Thailand then he could be a force, but time is running out for the 29-year-old.
Fahsan Por Thawatchai flopped when he went to Canada to fight IBF super-bantam champion Steve Molitor a few weeks later and is at the end of the road after a long and hard career.
Fahsan let himself down with a timid display and it would be surprising if he got another chance before retiring.
The latest challenge fell to Denkaosan Kratingdaenggym when he flew to Japan earlier this month to fight WBA flyweight champion Takefumi Sakata.
Denkaosan lost a wafer-thin decision after he was controversially docked a point by the referee for holding in the final round.
The scorecards showed two judges thought he won the session, which made the crucial deduction even more baffling.
Denkaosan boxed brilliantly and has what it takes at elite level.
Those five failures were disappointing and compounded the misery Pongsaklek Wonjongkam suffered when he was relieved of his WBC flyweight belt by Daisuke Naito in Japan in July.
He is heading for a rematch early next year and should be able to get the belt back.
Stablemate Panomroonglek Kratingdaenggym is also waiting in the wings for a shot.
Likely title challengers for next year are Chonlatarn Piriyapinyo (WBC featherweight) and Terdsak Jandaeng (WBO feather).
First, Eagle and Oledong have to sort out their business this afternoon and although Eagle has travelled from his adopted homeland I believe he will retain his belt with a points decision.
Both men are really home fighters so the dreaded travel sickness is unlikely to strike again in this one.
TrueVisions have delivered this month by showing Shane Mosley v Miguel Cotto and Fernando Vargas v Ricardo Mayorga live.
It is a shame Vargas v Mayorga wasn't advertised in the magazine or on the website because many fans missed out. At least Hatton v Mayweather is getting the build-up it deserves.
juliant@bangkokpost.co.th
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