By Ronnie Nathanielsz

Edgar Gabejan has lost by a split decision in his WBC International light welterweight title fight against Thai champion Prawet Singwancha whose birth name is Pantan Narongwat, in Nakhon Rathasima province in Northern Thailand. 

Gabejan, a regular lightweight was moving up to 140 pounds to face the 34 year old Prawet who improved his record to 47-3-2 with 27 knockouts with the win while the 30 year old Gabejan dropped to 23-27-4 with 7 knockouts.

Thai judge Noppharat Sricharoen scored the fight for Prawet 116-112 while Swiss judge Franz Marti scored it for the defending champion 117-112.

However, Filipino judge Rey Danseco saw the fight obviously differently and had Gabejan winning 115-113.

Prawet’s last loss was way back on December 29, 2007 when he dropped a plit decision to Jose Alfaro of Nicaragua  in a clash for the vacant WBA lightweight title. Since then Prawet has won 17 straight fights.

Gabejan, on the other hand dropped a unanimous twelve round decision to Michael Farenas, a protégé of former two division world champion Gerry Penalosa in a Philippine lightweight title fight on October 1, 2011 but came back to win the Philippine Boxing Federation title against former world title challenger Balweg Bangoyan who retired in the 9th round.