By Carlos Costa

BANGKOK, Thailand  --  Panamanian challenger Leroy Estrada arrived in Thailand today (April 25) ahead of this May 2 battle against undefeated WBC Minimumweight world champion Wanheng Menayothin (49-0), the man with the mission to tie the historic 50-0 unbeaten record of retired boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather.   

The collision will be Wanheng Menayothin's 9th defense of the world title he won in late 2014.    Last year (2017), the 32 year-old Thai college graduate made five consecutive world title defenses, all successful; he is also known as Chayaphon Moonsri.

"The Thai must be really good, and Thais are great warriors.   But as far as I am concerned, he (Menayothin) is not going to tie any record of anyone," said  the softly spoken Estrada at his hotel, the Prince Palace in downtown Bangkok. 

"Because I respect him, but am going to defeat him.   I came all the way here for that.   I trained so hard for so long, I am ready and I will take the belt with me to Panama."

Nicely said.   But will the 23 year old Leroy Estrada (16-2, 6 KO's), not known for having damaging power in his blows, be able to accomplish such a feat?

The Menayothin-Estrada 12-rounder rumble will unfold in the City of Khorat in Nakhon Ratchasima Province (260 Km northeast of the Thai capital Bangkok) on May 2 at 3 pm (Thai Time).

Estrada  -   who is rated # 1 by the WBC  -   made his 31-hour-journey to Thailand from Panama together with his experienced manager veteran man of boxing Melchor Herrera Espinoza and his head coach Celso Chavez, a former fighter who has been a winner of the "Trainer of the Year Award" by the Panama Boxing Commission.

The Menayothin vs Estrada title clash for the WBC Minimumweight world title is a production of legendary Thai promoter Virat Vachirarattanawong, head Thailand's Diamond Boxing. 

The author Carlos Costa is boxing reporter and photographer based in Cebu, Philippines, covering Asian boxing.   Carlos can be reached by email: Carlos 512@hotmail.com or by Whatsapp +639184538152.