January 13, 2003
TOKYO, JAPAN-Fast-moving Thailander Sirimongkol Singwancha, 130, kept his WBC super-feather belt as he impressively made best use of his left jab and footwork to make himself so elusive as to avert desperate retaliations of ex-WBA ruler Yongsoo Choi, 130, Korea, winning a lopsided decision over 12 heats at the Korakuen Hall, Tokyo.
Scored: Richard Flaharty and Lou Filippo both 119-109, and Julie Lederman 118-110, all for the slick-punching champ. Referee was Frank Cappuccino. All the officials came from the US. Despite the seemingly onesided tallies, it was a good fight.
Sirimongkol, 5 years his junior at 25, began to display his superior speed in outjabbing and outlegging the flat-footed Korean in the opening canto, when his stinging lefts had Choi’s right optic swollen. Choi, ex-WBA champ who had kept it seven times, attempted to come close to the elusive jabber, who kept moving to-and-fro and jabbing with precision.
Choi, in the 5th, connected with some right shots, but Sirimongkol outpunched him with sharp jabs and smashing rights. It became a Tom-and-Jerry game that the elusive champ kept Choi from catching himself with his footwork and accurate counterpunches. Choi showed his best in the 9th, when he almost caught the champ with his non-stop rallies, though the champ kept his cool and averted Choi’s retaliations with his defensive skills.
The last two sessions saw the champ outbox and outpunch the fading opponent with his still sharp jabs and quick combos. The fine victory boosted the unmarked champ’s credentials to 40-1, 23 KOs. Choi, a good loser whose fighting spirit was praised by the crowd, fell to 29-4-1, 19 KOs. Sirimongkol will make his mandatory defense against the top contender Jesus Chavez, Mexico, in his next bout.
Hironari Ohshima (17-4, 12 KOs), 140, avenged his previous defeat by eking out a close but unanimous nod over Kazuhito Misaki (10-7-2, 1 KO), 140, over 10.
Promoter: Teiken Promotions in association with Cheyenne Hasegawa Gym.
Matchmaker: Joe Koizumi.
(1-13-03)