By Francisco Salazar

WBC junior bantamweight titleholder Srisaket Sor Rungvisai stopped Young Gil Bae in the opening round of a non-title bout Saturday evening at the Workpoint Studio in Bang Phun, Thailand.

Both fighters weighed in at 120 pounds.

It was a stay-busy fight for Sor Rungvisai, a fight that did not last long, but thrilled the partisan crowd in attendance.

Sor Rungvisai (46-4-1, 41 knockouts) went on the attack from the opening bell, putting Gil Bae on the defensive and forcing him to fight off his back foot. The southpaw Sor Rungvisai repeated landed counter or lead left crosses to the head of Gil Bae, stunning him on several occasions.

Sor Rungvisai ended matters later in the round, trapping Gil Bae in a corner and ripping several punches to the head. An overhand left dropped Gil Bae, forcing an immediate stoppage at 2:50.

Gil Bae, who resides in Gimhae City, South Korea, drops to 28-7-2, 22 KOs. He is a former strawweight world title challenger.

It was the first time in almost five months that Sor Rungvisai appeared in a ring. In his last bout on Feb. 24, the 31-year-old Sor Rungvisai won a 12 round majority decision over Juan Francisco Estrada in Inglewood, Calif.

Sor Rungvisai is scheduled to defend the title on Oct. 6 against an opponent to be determined. 

It had been rumored Sor Rungvisai will appear on the 'SuperFly 3' card on Sept. 8 at Stubhub Center in Carson, Calif., but the popular Thai fighter will defend his WBC title at the Impact Arena in his Pak Kret, Thailand.

Fringe junior bantamweight contender Nawaphon Kaikanha won a 12 round unanimous decision over Likit Chane, who is also known as Yodsingdaeng Jor Chaijinda (16-8, 10 KOs).

In his previous fight on Apr. 21, Kaikanha (42-1, 33 KOs) stopped former world flyweight titleholder Amnat Ruenroeng in round five. Kaikanha has won his last six bouts since losing by knockout to Juan Hernandez Navarrete on Mar. 3 of last year. The vacant WBC flyweight title was on the line.

Francisco A. Salazar has written for Boxingscene.com since September of 2012 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (Calif.) Star newspaper. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing