By Boxing Bob Newman
The vacant WBC light flyweight title was at stake tonight at the Marriott Queen’s Park Hotel Grand Ballroom. Champion-in-recess Carlos Cañizales has been named so due to the political climate in his homeland of Venezuela, preventing him from traveling abroad to defend his belt. Original Thai challenger Thammanoon Niyomtrong (aka Knockout CP Freshmart) faced late sub Junior Zarate of Argentina for the vacant belt.
Niyomtrong was the aggressor throughout, but there were loads of clinches dulling the action. After four rounds, per the WBC rules, the scores were announced 40-36 thrice, 39-36 for Niyomtrong, and even at 38-38. Zarate was ever so briefly stunned in the seventh courtesy of a left hook. After eight, the scores were 77-74, 76-75, 78-74 and 79-73 twice, all for Niyomtrong, who was keeping up the pressure. Zarate seemed to have renewed purpose for the first half of the 10th round, tagging Niyomtrong at will and even stunning him momentarily. It didn’t last for the second half of the round as the Thai turned the tables. It was too little too late for Zarate as Niyomtrong maintained his lead and won by scores of 117- 113 and four identical scores of 116-112, to win the vacant WBC light flyweight title and become a two-weight world champion. He improved to 29-1, 11 KOs. Zarate falls to 26-6, 9 KOs.
Ellie Boutell (GBR) stopped Chisakan Ariphipat, announced as Po Denman (THA), in the fourth round to take the vacant WBC Far East super bantamweight title. Boutell improves to 7-0-1, 3 KOs, while Ariphiphat falls to 21-2-1, 8 KOs.
Saensuk Ketsamphao (THA) and Lite Dawuxi (CHN) scrapped for the WBC Asia Silver featherweight title. The big punching Dawuxi imposed his power and stopped the Thai in the fifth to collect the belt and improve to 10-1, 7 KOs. Ketsamphao loses his first at 3-1, 2 KOs.
In the opening bout of the evening, Kitidech Hirunsuk (THA) took on Ryutaro Nakagaki (JAP) For the WBC International Silver super flyweight championship. Nakagaki chose to box behind his southpaw jab while Hirunsuk loaded up and went for the power shot throughout. Nakagaki was simply busier with more volume landed. The final scores were 96-94 twice and 97-93 thrice, all for Nakagaki who moves to 7-2-2, 4 KOs. Hirunsuk falls to 18-9-1, 11 KOs.
Tonghui Li (CHN) took on Victor Nagbe (AUS) for Nagbe’s WBC Asia and Li’s WBC Far East super welterweight championship- a unification of sorts. Nagbe pursued relentlessly as Li fought in retreat throughout, looking to counter. Whenever Nagbe got too close, Li would grab and hold, oftentimes resulting in him getting thrown to the floor by a frustrated Nagbe. In the 8th round, Li was deducted a point for the constant holding. Li was on the canvas no less than seven times and not one of them was ruled a legal knockdown. In the final round, Li sported a cut on the bridge Li’s nose, possibly from a clash of heads. The final scores were split: 95-94, 96-93, 96-93 for Li and 96-93 and 95-94 for Nagbe. Li wins by split decision and takes both belts. Li is now 16-2, 9 KOs. Nagbe falls to 12-2, 6 KOs.
*Editor’s note: The WBC used five judges in all of their title fights tonight as part of a test to reduce the possibility of controversial decisions and increase accuracy.
