By Ronnie Nathanielsz

 

The Philippines Roel Lagonero has lost in his bid to wrest the WBC Youth straw weight title from Thailand ’s champion Wanheng Meenayothin in a fight card in the northeastern province of Nakorn Ratchasima some 260 kilometers from Bangkok .

 

It was an action packed bout from the opening bell as both fighters went after each other in an evenly balanced bout.

 

The hometown fighter eventually won by a unanimous ten round decision due mainly to the fact that he threw the more accurate punches.

 

All three judges scored the bout for Wanheng by identical 97-93 scorecards.

 

It was the 23 year old Thai champions sixth successful defense of the title he won with a 1st round knockout over China’s Ma Yi Ming who had, according to boxrec.com, fought only once and lost.

 

In his last title defense Wanheng scored a unanimous decision over Adi Nukung on February 25.

 

Lagonero who carries the monicker “The Banker” failed to cash in on the opportunity and suffered his second successive defeat. He dropped a majority decision in a close fight against talented Michael Landero in a Philippine Boxing Federation title fight on December 27, 2008.

 

With the loss Lagonero fell to 7-4-2 with 4 knockouts while Wanheng remained undefeated with a record of 10-0 with 3 knockouts.

 

Wanheng’s promoter Pachiratanawong plans to get Wanheng to fight in muaythai bouts while waiting for his next pro fight.