## VEERAPHOL KEEPS WBC BANTAM TITLE NINE TIMES

May 1, 2002

NONTHABURI, THAILAND-WBC bantam champ Veeraphol Nakhonluang-Promotion, Thailand, kept his belt as he dropped Colombian Julio Colonel in the second, and whipped him with accurate shots to pound out a unanimous decision over 12 in Nonthaburi, Thailand.

It took place on the Rama 5th Bridge under rain, which made the canvas very slippery.

Scored: Sergio Silvi (Italy) 117-110, Takeaki Kanaya (Japan) 117-109, and Paolo Scarso (Italy) 118-109, all for the defending champ.

Veeraphol, 33 year-old veteran after winning plenty of Muay-Thai (traditional Thai kick-boxing) titles, proved too more ringwise than the game but less experienced opponent who had upset then world-rated Vernie Torres by a 6th round KO last September.

Colonel made a good start to take the opening canto. But the champ caught him with a well-timed left hook, flooring him on the deck in the second.

Veeraphol was in command with more accurate punches, piling up points. The Colombian took back the initiative only in the 5th and 7th when he turned loose and threw more punches than the champ. Midway in the 7th, Veeraphol sustained a cut over the left optic, so Colonel was penalized a point by Korean referee David Chung due to the WBC rules.

The Thailander, making his 9th defense, dominated the contest from the 9th session on as he connected with better shots with precision.

Colonel fought well, but Veeraphol, whose reign started in December 1998, showed his superiority in jabbing and counterpunching, though it was not his best performance.

Colonel displayed his gameness and fighting spirit to wrest the title, but won the praise of the Thai crowd despite his defeat. The champ raised his mark to 37-1-1, 26 KOs.

(5-1-02)

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