By Rey Danseco
LITTLE known Filipino boxer Bert Gawat shocked the Thai crowd when he scored a unanimous decision win over hard-hitting rated fighter Narindech Sakchatree in a controversially match-up in Thailand recently.
Gawat, a lost command – called for those who have no manager -- boxer from Butuan City, visibly dominated Sakchatree to make sure the Thai judges would be shamed to install another hometown decision in their six round bantamweight fight on Wednesday, October 4, at Wat Ban Rai in Nakorn Ratchisima.
The fight served as one of the supporting bout where Panamanian Celestino Caballero won the WBA super-bantamweight title after a third-round demolition of champion Somsak Sithchatchawal.
The Philippine No. 9 flyweight contender came to the fight as substitute to RP No. 3 flyweight Ryan Maliteg, who refused to fight in Thailand to prioritize the anticipated 10-round bout against Olympian and RP No. 2 flyweight Danilo Lerio on Sunday, October 8 in West Rembo, Makati City.
Gawat improved to 11-11-2 win-loss-draw records with only four by way of knockouts in his career. Sakchatree, who is rated No. 7 bantamweight by the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Asia Pacific, dropped to 10-2-2, 7 KOs.
In the same card, brothers Jake and Janrey Verano were both came out short in their respective six round bouts.
Jake, rated No. 2 super bantam in RP, lost to Kosol Sor Vorapin while Janrey faltered in the fight against reigning WBO Asia Pacific light fly king Kaichon Sor Vorapin.
Meanwhile the Philippine Games and Amusement Board (GAB) is puzzled why Gawat and Janrey had exchanged their opponents.
This writer learned that matchmaker Leonil Lazarito of Bukidnon has informed and then took an authority from GAB that Gawat would face Kaichon and Janrey would meet Sakchatree.
A crowd of around 5,000 mostly rural farmers watched the fight in the grounds of the Buddhist temple in Thailand's impoverished northeast.
Somsak is trained by Filipino guru Bobby Villaver, who was responsible for the Thai fighter’s victory over champion Mahyar Monshipour in Paris in March.