KANCHANABURI, THAILAND--Thai speedster CHATCHAI DUTCHBOYGYM outpunched rugged Korean YONGSOON CHANG and finally sank him with a vicious body shot for the count at 2:54 of the 5th session in a scheduled 12.
Chang, ex-OPBF junior fly champ, had failed to win the WBA fly throne, losing a unanimous decision to the then champ Saen Sow Ploenchit in Thailand in Jan., 1996. For Chatchai, it was his 2nd defense since he dethroned previously unbeaten Russian Yuri Arbachakov in Sapporo last Nov.
Chang fought aggressively from the start, but Chatchai made good use of his quick left hand and swift footwork. The champ kept his composure, outjabbing and outpunching the Korean opponent.
The 5th saw Chang turn loose and land a wicked shot to the solar-plexus. Down went Chang in agony to be unable to beat the count. Chatchai raised his mark to 33-1, 24 KOs. Chang, 27, fell to 21-3, 14 KOs, following his defeat by Gabriel Mira over 12 rounds on the undercard of the Chavez vs. Gonzalez WBC super-light elimination bout in Mexico on Mar. 7.