Tasana Salapat (Petch CPF) vs. GuiMing Li & Panya Pradabsri (Petchmanee CPF) vs. Mehran Sadeghi RBR

Li with some overhands rights falling in, hitting the chest and shoulder of Salapat. Right hooks by Salapat leaning over to his right, bending aside deeply at the waist. Li catching Salapat coming in with single right hand blasts or 1-2s. Salapat jabbing his way in but hitting leather. Very tight defense by Li. Wild swing and miss with a right hook by Salapat. 1-2 by Li. Jabs traded. Li ducks a southpaw 1-2. BIG right hand by Li.

10-9 Li

38-38

 

WBC open scoring through four:

40-36 x2
39-37

...for the home fighter.

 

Both men taking turns throwing three punches or fewer stepping in, then putting their guards up. Pretty even. Salapat with several unanswered jabs. Right hand by Li. Salapat with a flush southpaw 1-2. Li dispensing with the jab and just repeating the lead right. Salapat parrying off his left arm and throwing the 1-2.

10-9 Salapat

48-47 Salapat

 

Li remembering to jab now, using it to pave the way for the right cross as he counters down the pipe when Salapat opens up charging in. Li consequently scoring well again. Salapat flashing out light jabs in front of him, not reaching Li. 1-2 by Li falls short.

10-9 Li, close

57-57

 

Li warned for ducking too low, as his head was briefly at Salapat's waistband level. Ref calls time and Salapat rushes in and dusts Li with a combination. Salapat very busy, throwing 4-5 shot combos high and low - mostly blocked but keeping Li from developing any offense. Salapat standing straight and then doing a warrior pose lunge to land his southpaw 1-2. Clash of heads, both men cut and hurt. They quickly blink it off and resume with a sporting glove touch. Fierce exchange before the bell, Salapat with a bunch of body shots but eating a left hook.

10-9 Salapat

67-66 Salapat

 

Salapat is getting skewered with a right cross on the navel after blocking Li's high jab. Li backing Salapat up. Salapat stands his ground with some right jabs. Li walks into a big left hand, snapping his head back. Salapat catches a pair of Li right hands on his own right arm curled around his abdomen, then counters with a left. Lots of shots from both men falling short. Salapat connects with a left cross. Another. Big shoeshine flurry by Salapat up top. Li reaches in with a right hand and Salapat bats him away with a jab. Straight combo to the face by Salapat.

10-9 Salapat

77-75 Salapat

 

WBC open scoring through eight:

78-74
79-73 x 2

all for Salapat

 

Salapat jabbing away busily, then plugs Li with an uppercut on the belt. Li leaning back, left arm low, trying to ride Salapat's punches but getting hit. Li shooting the jab off his hip, but Salapat stepping just out of reach before retaliating with long lunges. They saw away at each other at mid-range, both jabbing, lots of middle-arm contact. Li ducks a 1-2. Salapat buries a straight left downstairs. Li right hand falls short as Salapat ducks and pulls away.

10-9 Salapat

87-84 Salapat

 

Li going for it, probably knowing he's down on scorecards. HEAVY right hands by Li. Salapat beats a hasty retreat, popping the right jab out ahead of him. Li scores with more right hands even as Salapat pulls back and covers up. Commentators sound agitated by this sudden burst of pressure. Li slips a couple of jabs and RAKES Salapat with a looping right after taking a partially blocked counter right hook. Salapat desperately fights free of a corner. Salapat with quick flurries, Li with thudding shots. Both going to the body as Salapat has his back to the ropes. Li putting together left hooks and right hands up top. Salapat backing up, tossing light straight combos into the guard. Li walks into a big left hand at the bell.

10-9 Li, close

96-94 Salapat

 

Official cards:

Kijwipat Boonpuen 98-92
Aran Nuchklang 97-93
Somsee Poosee ( ) 97-93

UD for Salapat

 

Now, you could say GuiMing Li was better than his 6-5-1 (now 6-6-1) record suggests. And maybe he was a bit. IMO, however leaving it at that is a take which very generously flatters Salapat, because you could just as easily say that it shows his true level when he's going life & death with greenhorns like GuiMing Li, Chēnghào Luō, and Tô Phi Vinh.

Remember - the one time he fought a ranked opponent was Takuma Inoue, and he lost a wide UD.