BoxRec

... is Pongsaklek Wonjongkam versus Daisuke Naito IV, WBC flyweight championship.

Bit of a throwback in a way, 'cos it must have been the Chacon-Limon fights since we had a four fight rivalry for a world title in the western hemisphere -- obviously, they do things differently on the other side of the Pacific.

A strange fight to call: in 2002 ago Naito got flattened in thirty something seconds by the Thai southpaw with the cool moniker, then three years later lost hugely on points in a seven round technical decision (clash of heads).

Then came their third fight, nine months ago, & Naito survived a bit of a pasting in the ninth (looked like a 10-8 round without a knockdown to me) to come back & outwork the Wonjongkam down the stretch to get a decision. The Thai looked twice as old as his thirty years that night, & reportedly had to lose weight before the weigh-in.

Wonjongkam has an eye-popping record (67-3, 35 early), but received criticism during his seven year reign, because the only serious defences he made were against Japanese fighters & Hussy Hussein, whom he outpointed.

Since they last fought Naito has looked great, pasting the over-rated & kerrazzee Kameda.

But can he do it to his bogeyman again? Was it a once-in-a-lifetime performance? Is Wonjongkam shot?

Almost as many intangibles as the Haye-Macacaca & Maskaev-Peter fights. Although both these lads combined will weigh about as much as David Haye on Sunday morning, natch...

It is an excellent and intriguing fight. Naito only got his third shot at Pong because the champ was given virtual carte blanche to defend against whomever he liked, due to his fame and marketability at home (a bit like Hatton's MEN-WBU run). He can be forgiven complacency against a guy he'd beaten handily on two previous occasions, but Naito obviously rose to the occasion, and evidently he's been one of those guys who's improved simply from BEING champion, as his Kameda win shows (Daiki, despite his inexperience, is a tremendous young talent).

So, was it that Pong was over-complacent, or has he reached the end of the road after a long championship career? Is Naito genuine title class, or did he just get Pong on the right night, and am I mistaken about Kameda and that result flatters Naito too? Will the location of the fight have any bearing, the first having been in Naito's Japan and the rematch in Pong's Thailand?

Excellent and compelling fight. If I HAVE to pick a winner, I'll tentatively go for Naito, but really, anything could happen.

It looks good from their records. It's a shame I won't be able to watch it.

Datsue wrote: Bit of a throwback in a way, 'cos it must have been the Chacon-Limon fights since we had a four fight rivalry for a world title in the western hemisphere -- obviously, they do things differently on the other side of the Pacific.

Closest I can think of Azumah Nelson vs Jesse James Leija - but one of their 4 was only for an IBA belt.

Good call.

"T.M.K"

Got one!

Veerapol Sahaprom with his WBC Bantamweight title fought a guy 4 times, 2 of them were draws.....

"T.M.K"

The Chacon-Limon series was not always for a world title.

Cheers, TMK & Bennie!

Sorry about the inaccuracies, was a bit of a rush job.

I've plumped for Naito in a squeaker.

How's about you guys?

& Oliver: Yeah mate, hard to get a read off of it, isn't it? I s'pose I shall be trawling the interwebnet Sunday, looking for a download link...

Datsue wrote:Cheers, TMK & Bennie!

Sorry about the inaccuracies, was a bit of a rush job.

I've plumped for Naito in a squeaker.

How's about you guys?

& Oliver: Yeah mate, hard to get a read off of it, isn't it? I s'pose I shall be trawling the interwebnet Sunday, looking for a download link...

Enjoy the fight, Datsue.

Pep-Saddler.

Wonjongkam to get revenge for my money. The first fight saw Naito work him out and pull away late. Pong had already KO'd him twice previously and got complacent IMO

And the winner is...

NOBODY!

It's a draw!

Looks like we're getting a chapter FIVE!

oliverfennell wrote:And the winner is...

NOBODY!

It's a draw!

Looks like we're getting a chapter FIVE!

Yikes. Have any other World class boxers fought each other as many times?

It's a wasted career by Pong Wong, having a loss and a draw to a man he KO'd and outclassed before. This is what can happen when you don't move forwards. I feel something like this was begging to happen to Joe Calzaghe in 2004/5.

http://sports.yahoo.com/box/photo?slug= ... b&prov=afp

Damn what does Naito doe to make weight, his chest looks awful?

Autobarn wrote:It's a wasted career by Pong Wong, having a loss and a draw to a man he KO'd and outclassed before. This is what can happen when you don't move forwards. I feel something like this was begging to happen to Joe Calzaghe in 2004/5.

Good call, Pong was wasted away making 19 defences against nobodies mostly. How did they get away with it? I read once that after Pong had knocked a novice out early he was already scheduled in for a rematch against the same man in a few months time.

steve689 wrote:

Autobarn wrote:It's a wasted career by Pong Wong, having a loss and a draw to a man he KO'd and outclassed before. This is what can happen when you don't move forwards. I feel something like this was begging to happen to Joe Calzaghe in 2004/5.

Good call, Pong was wasted away making 19 defences against nobodies mostly. How did they get away with it? I read once that after Pong had knocked a novice out early he was already scheduled in for a rematch against the same man in a few months time.

Basically he had TV and sponsors locked down regardless of who he fought, so was guaranteed x-amount of money. I believe boxing matches are FREE ENTRY in Thailand (events paid for by sponsors), so live gate receipts don't come into it. Having already proved his place as number one flyweight, he was just sitting on it, cashing in, and setting the division record.

But yeah, while those may be the reasons, he definitely could have made more of his career. It wasn't for lack of ability he was matched carefully. He WAS the best flyweight, absolutely.