By Ronnie Nathanielsz
A report from Thailand says that undefeated IBF Pan Pacific bantamweight champion Thangthong Kiattaweesuk will defend his title against the Philippines Bogie Delada in the southern Thai city of Had Yai on July 17.
The Thai fighter’s promoter Ekkarat Chaichotchuang has claimed that a win over Delada would pave the way for a possible world title shot at Australia ’s Vic Darchinyan should Darchinyan beat champion Joseph Agbeko of Ghana in Florida on July 11.
The question that the Philippine Games and Amusement Board as well as the IBF need to answer is how a fighter who has been inactive for 18 months based on the boxrec.com records which lists Delada’s last fight being on December 16, 2007 when he scored a 1st round knockout over Isidro Balatbat after suffering a 5th round TKO at the hands of Danilo Pena on March 3, 2007.
Thangthong who has a record of 11-0 with 7 knockouts won the vacant IBF Pan Pacific 118 pound title with a twelve round unanimous decision over I-Hon Kim of South Korea on November 23, 2007.
In his last defense Thangthong scored a 3rd round TKO over Irfan Ogah of Indonesia . The Thai champion had earlier successfully defended his regional belt against Filipinos Jonel Alivio over whom he scored a unanimous decision over twelve rounds on July 25, 2008 and Dexter Mendoza whom he knocked out in the 2nd round on October 24, 2008.
The report by the Thai media said the fight between Thangthong and Delada is scheduled at the Jiranakorn Stadium and will be presided over by Deputy Interior Minister Tavorn Senniem and the local officials.
IBF representative of Thailand Sompong Atchanukroh said Thangthong must show an outstanding performance in the match as IBF vice president Ray Wheatley has agreed to have Thangthong fight Australia ’s Vic Darchinyan, if Darchinyan wins the world title.
Thangthong’s promoter Ekkarat Chaichotchuang said the Thai boxer’s path to the world title is “quite bright” but only if he is able to win the upcoming match in Had Yai first.
However, Thangthong’s promoter said that should he fail in his bid as a bantamweight, he still has a chance to move up to super bantamweight to bid for the world title which is currently vacant.
