Pungluang Wins WBA ASIA Belt

By Carlos Costa

Former 2-time WBO World Champion Pungluang Sor Singyu (aka Panya Uthok) – the very same Thai boxer who has battled tough Filipino fighters Marlon Tapales, Genesis Servania, Mark Magsayo and AJ Banal, among others – is still glory-hungry, winning belts.

Sunday evening Pungluang knocked out cold his Thai compatriot Campee Phayom (20-5-2, 12 KO’s) to claim the WBA ASIA Super Featherweight Title at the Blue Arena in Samut Prakan, Kingdom of Thailand. It’s an important title win that is likely to get him a place in the WBA world-rankings.

The defeated Campee Phayom, 22, was boxing acceptable well, edging Pungluang in the scorecards when half way thru the fight a sudden furious and darn effective power combination thrown by the more experienced Pungluang blasted Campee’s senses sending him spiraling backwards, landing flat on his back, slamming the back of his head with the hard canvas, right on his own red corner.

Lights went out for the brave Campee, for which medics fast and careful took him out of the ring in a stretcher.

Minutes later — thanks goodness — Campee regained consciousness. Boxing is such a beautiful, yet tough sport.

It was an impressive victory for the former 118-pound champion Pungluandg (54-8, 36 KO’s), though it remains to be seen if he could be competitive at a higher level in the hot 130-pound division.

CO-FEATURE: NATTAPONG RETAINS WBA ASIA SOUTH TITLE

In the co-feature, unbeaten 24-year-old Thai Nattapong Jankaew (6-0, 3 KO’s) scored a 10 round unanimous decision win over game compatriot Wittawas Basapean to retain his WBA ASIA South Super Flyweight.

Nattapong, a former amateur standout, boxed far better than his more tried out foe, employing an effective snapping left jab to set up his fast combinations, invariable of four to five punches at a time.

He paced himself well throughout the battle, and his counterpunching was effective at a times when the former WBC ABCO titlist Wittawas charged at him hard with bad intentions.

There’s a lot to polish in Nattapong’s boxing, though it was evident that quality, speed and spirit he has.

Supervisors and referees for the WBA ASIA were Thai officials Chalerm Prayadsab and Pinit Prayadsab.

Sunday’s WBA ASIA double header in Thailand was a production of Tan Telecom Promotions live on Thai Channel T Sports.

.
The author Carlos Costa is a Panama veteran boxing writer. Carlos can be reached by email: carlos512@hotmail.com and Twitter: @CarlosCostaBox.