Thai Wars: Nawaphon and Amnat set to collide

Former IBF world flyweight champion Amnat Ruenroeng (18-2-0) faces off against his compatriot Nawaphon Nakornluang (40-1-0) on Saturday the 21st of April at the WorkPoint TV studios, on the outskirts of Bangkok.

The fight is for Nawaphon’s WBC Asia super-flyweight (115lbs) title, a belt he claimed back in 2017 against Indonesian boxer Frans Damur Palue.

38-year old Amnat is coming off a loss in his most recent outing in the ring against unbeaten Chinese boxer Wenfeng Ge — a contest the steely veteran lost via a unanimous points decision.

Amnat hit the heady heights of world title glory back in 2014 when he was crowned the IBF flyweight (112lbs) champion of world by beating Philippines boxer Rocky Fuentes — a title he would then go on to defend a total of 5 times,  before finally losing the strap to John Riel Casimero from the Philippines, in 2016.

He lost the world title in devastating fashion when Casimero knocked the Thai title holder out from a venomous left hook to the body in the 4th round. This fight was billed as ‘revenge or repeat’ as Amnat had successfully defended his title a year earlier, to the Philippines boxer.

On a side note: Amnat is a former Olympian and former high level MuayThai fighter who fought under the name Petch Sor Burapha, for Petchyindee promotions.

26-year old Nawaphon for his part was touted as a huge prospect during the early rise in his professional career, winning 36 fights in a row,  until that impressive winning streak came a thunderous halt last year when he collided with Mexican boxer Juan Hernandez Navaratte for the vacant WBC world flyweight champion belt.

The bout took place last March in Bangkok, it was to be Hernández’s day when he stopped Nawaphon in the 3rd round after a ferocious barrage of unanswered punches forced the referee to call a halt to the bout.

Since then Nawaphon has picked himself up, dusted off the disappointment of that shattering loss, he has fought four times in the last ten months, winning all four of those contests — and is now ready for the formidable challenge his fellow countryman will bring.

The upcoming contest is promoted by WP Boxing in conjunction with Nakornluang promotions.