Thai WBA # 1 Flyweight Sarawut Thawornkham Training in the Philippines for Artem Dalakian Battle

By Carlos Costa

WBA # 1 ranked flyweight Sarawut Thawornkham (20-1, 15 KO’s) of Bangkok, Kingdom of Thailand, has begun training in the seaside town of General Santos City, in southern Philippines for his world title battle against WBA Flyweight World Champion Artem Dalakian (18-0, 13 KO’s) of Ukraine.

Known in his native Thailand as “Dennapa Kiatniwat,” the 27-year-old Sarawut Thawornkham is the WBA highest ranked flyweight as well as the mandatory challenger to the throne of unbeaten WBA Flyweight World Champion Artem Dalakian. That’s why terms for their clash are being negotiated by the Thai and Ukranian camps.

Handled by Thailand’s veteran promoter Niwat Laosuwanwat of Galaxy Boxing (the man who managed the career of legendary power puncher Khaosay Galaxy), Sarawut Thawornkham gears up for exciting times ahead as he embarks himself in a collision course against the champion of the world.

“My boxer Sarawut Thawornkham will fight champion Artem Dalakian for the WBA Flyweight World title as a mandatory fight. We are negotiating with Dalakian team now, and negotiations should be concluded soon,” assured today Terry Laosuwanwat of Galaxy Boxing.

With that in mind, Laosuwanwat has sent his fighter Sarawut Thawornkham from Thailand to the training camp of Sanman Boxing Gym in the famed Filipino City of General Santos, the flourishing seaside town in southern Mindanao, known as the Tuna Capital of the Philippines.

There, award-winning promoter JC Manangquil, the head of Sanman Boxing Gym, welcomed the Thai warrior to his boxing facility.

“Sarawut Thawornkham of Thailand is at our gym to prepare for his upcoming big fight,” said JC Manangquil, referring Sarawut’s fight against Dalakian.

Venue and date for the world title rumble are still being worked out between the teams. But in the meantime, the Thailand fighter just keeps on working out with the goal of being as sharp, fast and strong as he could possibly be for a tough, talented champion as Artem Dalakian.

DALAKIAN VS THAWORNKHAM, WHO WOULD YOU BET FOR?

The challenger Sarawut Thawornkham has scored a total of twenty consecutive wins since the day of his one and only defeat, which unfolded in his first pro fight. It was a TKO loss in less than 3 minutes in Japan, nearly 5 years ago.

That was beginners bad luck, a tough loss for the Thailander.

But that was it. Because Sarawut Thawornkham hasn’t tasted defeat ever since.

However, all of Sarawut Thawornkham’s twenty consecutive wins have been over unheralded, unheard-of, weak opponents with unimpressive records, raising the eyebrows of boxing fans who wonder in social media about the real skills of the world’s # 1 challenger.

“Sarawut might be WBA # 1, but he has never competed against a world-class player, not even a second class one,” commente fight fan, stressing his belief that Sarawut Thawornkham’s battling capabilities at a world-class level are anybody’s guess.

Azerbaijan-born Ukrainian Artem Dalakian claimed the WBA belt a year ago at the Forum

In contrast, the world champion Artem Dalakian, 31, has battled better quality opposition since claiming the WBA Continental 112 pound belt back in 2015, outclassing all of his foes in a list that includes veteran former titlist Brian Viloria, as well as world-title defenses over experienced warriors Sirichai Thaiyen and Gregorio Lebron.

Should the Artem Dalakian vs Sarawut Thawornkham clash materializes (as widely expected), who would you bet your five bucks on?

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The author Carlos Costa is a Panama boxing reporter living in the Philippines. Carlos can be reached by email carlos512@hotmail.com and whatsapp/viber +639184538152.