Pradabsri, Ngiabphukhiaw Make Weight for WBC 105 World Title Clash in Thailand

By Carlos Costa

Nakhon Sawan, THAILAND – The WBC World Championship for boxing’s smallest weight-class – the 105 pounds division – will be on the line tomorrow, Tuesday Nov 2, here in Nakhon Sawan, Kingdom of Thailand; and the two combatants have already successfully made weight.

Ranked # 1 strawweight fighter in the world by Boxrec.com, the 30-year-old reigning champion Panya Pradabsri (a.k.a. Petchmanee CP Freshmart), the very same Thai fighter who defeated long-time titlist Wanheng Menayothin (54-1), claiming his crown and preventing Menayothin to break Floyd’s unbeaten (50-0) record, weighed-in today at 104.71 lbs. (47.50 kilos), looking confident and in fantastic shape – more-than-ready for his 2nd world title defense.

His first defence was a round four demolition work over fellow Thai warrior Pattharapong Rueangsilanon last March; and after getting his first hurdle out of the way Panya now feels that the sky is the limit.

Panya’s tomorrow challenger, 21-year-old Thai compatriot WBC # 19 Danai Ngiabphukhiaw (9-2, 5 KO’s), looked also in great physical condition while at the scale, stopping the needle at identical 47.50 kilos (104.71 lbs); and now Thai boxing-loving fans just can’t wait for the sound of the first bell.

Betting fans in this awesome Kingdom have Panya as their clear favorite. Indeed placing their hard-earned Bahts on the fists of the more accomplished defending world champion; though fans know too well, that in boxing nothing is written on stone… absolutely anything could happen.

Will solid fighter Panya Pradbsri (36-1, 23 KO’s) make a successful second defense, brutally scalping his younger challenger, rocking mercilessly, stopping him till third man Dr. Thawuth Pluemsamran halt the onslaught?

Or will the unheralded, shy-looking, quiet Danai Ngiabphukhiaw be the one to shock, stalk, outclass and overpower the over-confident Strawweight champion of the world? Who is destined for victory?

Let’s find out what will unfold tomorrow (Nov 2), here in Thailand, the magical “Land of Smiles.”

The Pradasri vs Ngiabphukhiaw world title battle will be broadcast live here in Thailand on open TV on True4U Channel 24 at 6 PM(Thailand Time, GMT +7).

Boxing fans around the world may check the network’s official live signal here: www.true4u.com/live/

If the link doesn’t work in your region, then other links carrying the True4U live signal are easily available online.

WBC Ringside Judges are Royal Thai Army Colonel Pongpan Rattanasutorn and Associate Professor Visuth Yongaupagarn. Fight supervisors for the WBC are Surapote Phongjivanich of Thailand and Kevin Noone of Ireland.

Pradasri vs Ngiabphukhiaw WBC Strawweight world title clash unfolds tomorrow, Nov 2, in Thailand, May the Best Man Win!

Photos by Carlos Costa

The author Carlos Costa of Panama is a veteran fight reporter with a lifetime passion for the sport of boxing. Carlos can be reached at carlos512@hotmail.com, and whatsapp +639184538152