by Ronnie Nathanielsz

Last minute substitute Joan De Guia has lost a one-sided decision in an eight round bout against undefeated Padjai Yiongyuth, the Pan Asian Boxing Association featherweight champion  in a fight card in Ampawa District, Samutsongram province, Thailand, Wednesday.

Boxing manager Dr. Rajan Yraola told the Inquirer that De Guia, a last minute substitute for Reynaldo Belandres (13-2-2, 8 KO’s) “ had his moments in the fight but came out short at the end due probably to the late notice to take the fight” after the original opponent of Padjai,  Reynaldo Belandres (13-2-2, 8 KO’s) had to be replaced at the last minute for unspecified “medical reasons.”

Scott Mallon of Top Rated International Promotions said that to find out Belandres was sick “two days before the show is a shame, but that’s boxing I guess.”

A boxing writer and photographer, Mallon said De Guia was four pounds overweight and had to run off the excess weight. He said it was disappointing not to see Belandres in action against Padjai.

With the win Padjai improved to 9-0-1 with 7 knockouts while De Guia dropped to 11-13-4 with 3 knockouts.

Mallon reported that De Guia was “in a shell making it hard to score a knockout but I was happy he (Padjai) got the work and came away unscathed.”

In the main event undefeated  27 year old Saddam Kietyongyuth showed his vaunted punching power to keep his  WBC Asian Boxing Council lightweight title with a smashing 2nd round knockout of Indonesian challenger Eddy Comaro.

Trained by veteran Filipino Jun Agrabio who helped “Marvelous” Marvin Sonsona win the WBO super flyweight title Saddam lived up to his fans expectations by overpowering Comaro with his devastating body shots. With the win Saddam improved to 21-0 with 17 knockouts while Comaro who was not ranked in the ABC top 15 as of December,  fell to 23-10-4 with 8 knockouts.