By Ronnie Nathanielsz
WBC flyweight Interim champion Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (72-3-1, 38 KO’s)will defend his title against tough Japanese challenger Takahisa Masuda (20-8-3, 5 KO’s)in a battle of southpaws in the northern province of Chiang Mai, Thailand on August 28.
Pongsaklek’s promoter Piyarat Washiraratanawong himself has told the Thai media that Masuda will be a “tough opponent.”
Piyarat noted that the 30 year old Masuda will have an advantage because of his height of 5' 6 1/2" compared to THE 5'3 3/4" of the 32 year oldPongsaklek. In addition, Piyarat said the Japanese boxer is an agile southpaw that Pongsaklek often has trouble dealing with, so the Thai must not underestimate his opponent.
Masuda was known in Thailand for being one of the potential opponents to WBA flyweight champion Denkaosan Kaovichit of Thailand, although their planned match at the beginning of this year was cancelled. Masuda, 30, is a former OPBF title holder who has a fight record of 20 wins, eight loses, and three draws.
Pongsaklek won the interim title with a victory over Mexico’s Julio Cesar Miranda. He first won the WBC world title with a 1st round TKO over Malcolm Tunacao of the Philippines on March 2, 2001 and had 18 successful title defenses before losing the crown by a unanimous twelve round decision to Daisuke Naito in Tokyo on July 18, 2007.
In a rematch also in Tokyo, Naito retained the title with a twelve round draw on March 8, 2008.