The ESB British Forum Encyclopedia

Hey Flea, awesome effort. I'm blown away by your dedication. Also, it's interesting that you decided to write about these guys now, as I just came off a month-long binge of watching nothing but a ****-load of action fights, with most of the ones you posted included among them. Honestly one of the most enjoyable months I've had as a boxing fan. Somewhere in there I even started questioning my love for the technical side of the sport in favour of high-octane slugging.

 

Hey, I should've given you credit in the prologue: your thread on these fights made me think, hey I could chuck all this together for peeps in the Encyclopedia and show them how great this era was and hopefully it will persuade people to give these fights a watch and enjoy them as much as you and I obviously have :thumbsup I was also conscious about doing one about someone not obscure, Asian, or overtly technical and just giving the boys some FIGHTS to watch, can't go wrong with these contests, and a more well-known fighter, Arguello gets a rundown as well.

I think there's enough technical work in these fights though....just enough so they don't come across as 'guilty pleasures', terrific fights, terrific fighters, and one ATG. Wrote itself really

As for my dedication, meh. I spent over a year on here being a negative ol' grouch and mouthing everyone off, I guess I'm making it up to this forum.

 

Oh, and if you haven't already, check out Boza Vs Elizondo; a quality scrap!

 

Agreed. Chacon, Boza-Edwards, and Navarette all had very solid skills to one extent or another. Limon fought like an orangutan, but he sure was an exciting *******.

Like Saad Muhammad, Lopez, and Johnson, these guys had the skills, but their warrior spirit seemed to take charge when it came down to it (not that they became sloppy brutes or anything). No complaints here.

 

Nice comparison of action-packed eras :good

Limon was a vicious caveman, 'nuff said.

 

Veeraphol Sahaprom

Height: 5'3

Boxing record
Total fights 72
Wins 66
KO's 47
Losses 4 (3)
Draws 2

This content is protected

Veeraphol Sahaprom was a well-organised and patient ring general with an accurate right hand who methodically broke his opponents down with accurate straight punches and could let fly with a variety of hurtful punches when he had his man hurt. Given the moniker 'Deathmask' for his stone-faced expression in the ring, this clinical Thai held a version of the World Bantamweight title twice in his career, but was most known for his reign as WBC Champion, where he made 14 defences.

Like many Thai fighters, Sahaprom started out as a hungry and vicious Muay Thai fighter, and achieved a high level of success as a 3 time Rajdamnern stadium champion (the other major stadium in Bangkok outside of Lumpini) and purportedly had over 180 fights.

He fought fellow Thai Samson Dutchboy Gym, who would go on to have a flawless professional boxing record of 43-0 (36) (against below average opposition at best) and made 38 defences of the meaningless WBU Super-Fly weight title. As young Nak Muay, Samson and Veeraphol went 1-1 with each other, with Samson brutally wasting Sahaprom the first time and Sahaprom getting off the deck in a very exciting matchup to savage Samson in the second round in their rematch. Both fights can be seen in the video below, and are highly recommended.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXy0ndjTe-w[/ame]

Sahaprom also fought the very good Silapathai Jockygym in defence of his 115lb Championship. This is an absolutely terrific and brutal finish, a one punch K.O from Hell (5:40)

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2QF8KNR0sw&feature=related[/ame]

Turning over to 'International' Boxing at the age of 29 in search of new challenges, Sahaprom made his debut in 1994 against Joel Junio, who any conoisseur of the lower weights will have seen against many top fighters from this era. Winning his first 3 fights inside the distance and like many Thai fighters pushed into first class opposition quickly, Sahaprom then took on another quality Thai fighter, and another smart and dangerous fighter, the southpaw Daorung Chuvatana, for the WBA Bantamweight title. Sahaprom won the title in only his 4th bout with a 12 round decision, and would have little time to relish his victory. In 1996 he would defend against the brilliant lower weight fighter, and former titlist, Nana Konadu, in a fight that would shape the rest of the Thai's career.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkYgMsol79k[/ame]

Despite scoring an early knockdown, the aggressive and free-throwing Sahaprom was blasted in the 2nd, and couldn't recover. Within five fights, Veeraphol Sahaprom had claimed, and lost a 'World' title.

After this fight, he would develop his mid-range game further, not letting his hands go unless he knew his had his opponent on the verge of going.

Between '96 and '98, Sahaprom built his confidence back up, scoring little wins of note but defeating future ranked Featherweight (and cult hero) Choi Tsevenpureev and faded former WBC light Flyweight champ' Rolando Pascua. sahaprom then got a chance to reclaim 118lb Gold, when he took on Japanese hero Joichiro Tatsuyoshi.

The Jap' was plagued with eye problems throughout his career, but was a capable operator. Sahaprom really displayed his efficient style here, patiently finding his range before dispalying his dealy finishing skills, destroying the brave Japanese and taking his WBC title. Sahaprom, with surgical precision, finishes Tatsuyoshi to claim his 2nd title

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_wAtEvrNuE[/ame]

In '99, the Jap' tried hard to reclaim his title, but was stopped again, victim of another efficient performance from a 'Champion' who was looking increasingly impressive.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpAjfnPNM0o[/ame]

In the year 2000, Sahaprom would meet another Japanese fighter in defence of his 118lb title, Toshiaki Nishioka, who is far more highly regarded today as the WBC Super Bantamweight Champion. Over the next four years these two would meet four times, with the Thai retaining his title via decision in two of the encounters, and two fights being ruled a draw (all contested in Japan.)

By the time the fourth fight came around, Sahaprom had figured his man out and Nishioka was struggling with the weight. The Thai displayed his superiority over his challenger and drubbed Nishioka over the 12 round distance. Sahaprom really displays how consistent and useful a tool his right hand was, especially against a bigger and faster southpaw opponent.

1st Meeting
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5BWg5fBBLw[/ame]

2nd Meeting
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2R0dEB42bI&feature=related[/ame]

3rd Meeting
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDzcznUuw7c&feature=related[/ame]

4th Meeting
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfkmJvzvhfs&feature=related[/ame]

Despite being a consistent title holder and a highly capable operator, Sahaprom was never regarded as the no.1 Bantamweight in the World, his reign coming in the times of highly regarded Bantams including Orlando Canizales and Johnny Tapia.

In 2005, the Thai finally lost his WBC title after nearly 7 years of wearing the belt. Defending against another Japanese southpaw of some quality in Hozumi Hasegawa, Sahaprom found himself down on the cards going into the middle rounds, and despite finding his range and dictating the pace, a late rounds surge by Hasegawa won the Jap' a deserved decision, building on the gameplan Nishioka had started but wasn't talented enough to implement.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qes5r-OZ9jU[/ame]

Sahaprom rebuilt with a 5-0(4) run, but was stopped for the first time in a decade by a peaking Hasegawa who had sorted out his balance and was hitting with real authority. In the 9th, Hasegawa walked Sahaprom onto a big right hand (6:40 of Part III) and laid him out.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ahh9JqGkdFc[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HN7L8WK-iqQ[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGDiIrmnm_k&feature=related[/ame]

Sahaproms prime was over, although he was still dangerous against average opposition and would go 14-1 (11) before he retired, his only loss to decent contender Vusi Malinga, who would go on to be starched inside a round by Hasegawa.

One of Sahaproms post-Hasegawa II fights
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sipTyglc6Rs&feature=related[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpQ5gXjtkFg&feature=related[/ame]

Whilst falling short of greatness, all in all Sahaprom was an astute boxer-puncher who made an easy transition rom Muay Thai into Boxing, and was one of the best Bantamweights of the last 20 years, and one of the most successful boxers from Thailand in it's history.

 

Wallet said he liked the original Fighting Harada entry, and I recalled it knock it off on a lunch break so went back and made it better. It's been heavily revised but keeps the original tone, I hope it doesn't spoil your perception of it Wallet :hey

 

Nice one Flea with Sahaprom :good. I've been wanting to look at some of Nishioka & Hazegawa's, especially Nishioka, older fights for a while now and with Sahaprom as a mutual opponent that entry is great. With the 4 fights vs. Nishioka, hopefully I'll get to know more about Sahaprom too

 

:good

Oh, you'll know a lot about Sahaprom if you watch the 4th fight between them :yep :deal

 

Ah i see from the first page someone's beaten me to doing Hopkins, fair enough I suppose I'm sure I said months ago I'd do him but haven't got the concentration for such a long piece.

Think I might do Rafa Marquez though soon, it would actually be a pleasure. Especially watching the Vazquez trilogy again

 

If you like Rafael Marquez, check out Jose Medal, I posted a lot of his fights in LPs Mexican thread :good

 

Marquez vs Austin/Johnson/Mabuza are 3 of my favourite fights. Love seeing Marquez **** someone else's **** up. Great fighter.

I anticipate the piece :good.

 

Cheers, think I'll do just that :yep

:scaredas: Pressure's on now then ! Seriously though, even if my descriptions aren't that good, just watching videos of Rafa fighting in his prime will show people what a beast he was. I'll try and do it by the end of next week

 

It's gonna be class (no pressure :yep). Just don't do a Gaz and leave us hanging till' next year :yep:good.

 

I've actually got quite a busy week on too so setting myself a deadline was a bit stupid!! But then again, it's no chore to rewatch a few of Rafa's fights so I'll try and make it a priority :good