By Carlos Costa

WBC Super Flyweight World Champion Yota Sato (26-2-1, 12 KO’s) of Japan and Thailand challenger Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (18-3-1, 17 KO’s) weighted-in 115 lbs in their first try at the scale, clearing the way for their world title clash tomorrow at Khonmuangsri Stadium in the northeastern city of Si Sa Ket, Kingdom of Thailand.

WBC officials in charge are: referee: Guido Cavalleri of Italy. Judges: José Juan Guerra of México, Jesse Reyes of Texas and John McKaie of New York. Fight supervisor is Alberto León of New Mexico, USA.

The 26-year-old hard-swinging Thailander Srisaket Sor Rungvisao is WBC No. 8, while the taller and faster Yota Sato, 29, has been world champ over a year, making tomorrow the third defense of the world crown he grabbed from Suriyan Sor Rungvisai at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.

Minutes before the weight-in, the fighters successfully passed the medical check-up, Srisaket boasting a pulse rate of 42 bpm, while the Japanese world champion Yota Sato had 41 bpm.

The fight card is a presentation of 24-year-old Thai promoter Thainchai Pisitwuttinan, the youngest man to organize and promote a boxing world championship fight.

UNDERCARDS: FILIPINOS VS THAIS

The preliminary fights will be festivals of knuckle between Filipino and Thai warriors, mixing it up in non-title international combats.

In the first one, undefeated 21-year-old Thailander Nawapol Sor Rungvisai (13-0, 10 KO’s) battles Filipino journeyman Rodel Tejares (20-26-4, 5 KO’s) of Kadingilan, Bukidnon.

Nawapol made 114.4 lbs (52 kgs), while the 28-year-old Tejares tipped the scale at 113.3 (51.5 kgs).

In addition, 24-year-old Filipino Jilo Merlin (13-15-2, 2 KO’s) of San Francisco, Agusan del Sur faces WBC No. 3 former WBC Super Flyweight World champion Suriyan Sor Rungvisai (25-5-1, 10 KO’s) in a 6-rounder in the bantamweight division.

Jilo Merlin weighted-in 121. 4 lbs (55.2 kgs), as the former champ Suriyan made 120.5 lbs (54.8 kgs).

In another clash, WBC No. 12 bantamweight Yodcharnchai Nakornloung (19-3, 16 KO’s) scaled-in 119.2 lbs (54.2 kg) for his battle with fellow Thai Yodpichai Or Kittima, who made 118.8 lbs (54 kg).

The Yota Sato-Srisaket Sor Rungvisa rumble for the WBC Super Flyweight World Title will be in the afternoon hours in Thailand (a new for Yota Sato who is used to fight in the evenings) and is scheduled to be broadcast LIVE in Thailand and Japan.