Singwancha Stops Ferdinandus in Three Rounds
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
WBC International super lightweight champion Prawet Singwancha (34-3-2, 20 KO's) of Thailand has retained his title with a 3rd round knockout of Indonesian challenger Stevie Ongen Ferdinandus (3-0, 1 KO) in the Thai city of Loei.
In another WBC International title fight flyweight champion Saenmuangloei Kingstar (3-1, 0 KO's) was held to an unexpected draw by Indonesian challenger Eric Diaz Siregar (9-8-2, 1 KO).
Siam Sport reported that fight fans witnessed some exciting exchanges between the 32 year old Prawet and the 28 year old Ferdinandus but the Thai champion dropped Ferdinandus with a hard right in the second round and then battered him with body shots to score a knockout at 1:01 of the third round.
In the other title match, the fight began with a slow first round as Saenmuangloei decided to use a wait-and-see approach against the Indonesian veteran Diaz, who had fought in Thailand several times before.
However, Saenmuangloei stepped up the pressure in round two and wore down Diaz with hard body shots. But despite what appeared to be a one-sided fight in the last three rounds the bout ended in a split decision with two judges scoring the fight even – 114-114 and 115-115 while the third judge had Saenmuangloei the winner 115-113..
Thai promoter Kokiet Panichayarom said he didn’t expect such a decision and said he believes Saenmuangloei was the clear winner. However, Kokiet chose not to file a protest.
In other matches also held at the Loei event, former world champion Somsak Sithchatchawal (59-3-2, 44 KO's) of Thailand defeated Indonesia’s Hendry Barongsai (8 by decision, while two Thai female pugilists Buarimbueng Kokietgym and Saomuangloei Chusakgym fought to a draw.