November 7th @ Workpoint Studio. At stake will be the vacant WBC ABC featherweight title for which unbeaten Filipino prospect Jessel Mark Araula Magsayo widely outpointed Uthok last year. Both are former bantamweights, and Uthok a 2x belt-holder there; Ruenroeng was a world titlist down at flyweight. The older fighter most recently got beaten up by Wisaksil Wangek in August, managing to win only the first round on my card along with the moral victory of not getting stopped and making The Thai Tank look sort of ordinary (although Father Time may be owed an assist, there). Uthok, no spring chicken himself with nearly twice as many rounds on his odometer as Ruenroeng despite being nine years his junior, is coming off a mild upset kayoing countryman Campee Phayom for the WBA super featherweight Asian title last month - but is on a skid of 2-5 in his last seven. Ruenroeng is 3-4 in the same time span in boxing, but has also taken plenty of licks in other combat sports. Very probably the last potential 'name' scalp for either guy. So domestic bragging rights, basically - probably the bigger motivation than capturing the ABC title, something which honestly isn't going to springboard an unranked old geezer into a legitimate contending opportunity.
Great fight between 2 old school veterans. Ruenroeng will outwork him late to win by unanimous decision.
