Wonjongkam retains WBC Crown

By Dennis Principe

08.06 - It was never meant to be. Filipino challenger Randy Mangubat failed in his first attempt at a world crown, bowing out to Thai superstar Pongsaklek Wonjongkam yesterday at the BP Samila Beach Hotel and Resort in Songkhla, Thailand.

Mangubat’s confidence and hardwork before and during the fight did not match Wonjongkam’s superior boxing skills in losing by unanimous decision.

“We did our best. We gave the Thai the fight of his life but still, the judges saw it otherwise,” said Mangubat’s manager Yuki Murayama.

It was Wonjongkam’s seventh successful defense of the World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight belt since winning the title from Filipino Malcolm Tuñacao two years ago.

The win establishes the 25-year old Wonjongkam, a young-looking southpaw from Nakhon, Ratchasima, Thailand, as one of boxing’s superb competitors in the pound-for-pound level.

Before facing Mangubat, Wonjongkam repulsed six quality foreign challengers who had a combined record of 112-10-5, 75 KO’s.

The Thai hero, who feasted on Filipino boxers in padding his record to 47-2, 27 KO’s, holds the distinction of scoring the quickest knockout win in flyweight history by stopping Japanese Daisuke Naito in just :34 of the opening round on April 19, 2002 in Khonkaen, Thailand.

Since losing by 5th round KO to Filipino Jerry Pahayahay in 1996, Wonjongkam has now scored a winning streak of 38, 29 of which were against Filipino fighters.

Wonjongkam’s other loss was an 8th round Technical Decision also against Pahayahay which happened during their first encounter in 1995.

Mangubat, whose record fell to 31-18-11, 14 KO’s plans to bounce back from his latest debacle by defending his WBC International title at the soonest possible time.