Thiranan Matsali vs. Edison Berwela RBR

Hold on.

Hold on, hold on, hold on.

Berwela is a full-time rank-and-file coach. At the Elorde Gym in Manila. That is his day job, he trains other fighters (and laypeople) and occasionally works their corner. For instance, he was the chief second for Mark Anthony Geraldo for at least one night, when Geraldo fought on the Rigondeaux vs. Anusorn Yotjan (aka Sod Looknongyangtoy) undercard in Macau. Geraldo is no joke. He boasts a win over Jerwin Ancajas. He wouldn't have just any scrub running his corner.

Even though he turned pro and got stopped in his first try, and then lost his next one, and then righted the ship the following year and ever so briefly held an overall winning record, for like 2 months, only to plummet below the .500 mark, never regaining it since - in spite of all this, while being a trainer, just for love of the game Berwela has averaged 5 matches a year for the last dozen years.



I want this guy's autograph.

 

@CST80 well that didn't take long...

This content is protected

 

Look at that, Berwela went up to him just after the opening bell, seeking to start things off with a sportsmanlike glove touch and Matsali was like "nah old man fuck off" and Tomato geezer's all "well alright mate if that's how you want it..."

 

The guy that scored the first KO6 in the card opener was Nawaphon Kaikanha aka Nawaphon Por Chokchai. Still no clue who the opponent was but surely another soft touch as Kaikanha has subsisted on since his unsuccessful WBC flyweight title bid last March.

This content is protected

 

BoxRec still hasn't updated, except with the result of the main event (and they hilariously swapped the positions of Matsali & Berwela, putting the latter on the left hand side where the favorites go when Matsali was there yesterday, because the editors always like to pretend they are impervious to surprise and KSAB. )

Still erroneously says Ch3 even though it aired on Ch7.

Still don't have Nawaphorn's bout listed, so we still have no idea who the opponent was...nor the combatants on the rest of the card (two pro bouts, one am.)

 

Oh man, the folks @ ThaiRec are salty as hell about last night! Tomato Man has sent a shockwave rippling across their scene.

This is their main page write-up on Matsali vs. Berwela:

Falling to heaven, another warlord of the new generation of Metropolitan City Promotion. The 18-year-old striker is not ready to step up. If you look at the game today, it is a judgment. See many holes. Sensitive to feel like not awake. Fighting with zombie boxing. Slow in getting out; the guard is also loose. Time to punch out - why the Infinite Light does not rush back? So what? The flea is usually lower than the tip of the chin itself. That is, the home of the Infinite Light must be corrected. It is a weakness of itself. I do not know if it's M-150's fault or so. If you love to be a good fighter. How about the tribe of Thailand? It's still a hoax and a loop in honor. If anyone comes to insult Thai players, do not point. Worthlessness... I do not like the Light.

From my (admittedly limited) ability to piece this rough translation from Google together, it sounds as if they've basically disowned the kid and called him a disgrace to his nation for not refining his skills enough to not lose in such humiliating fashion at this level.

There was another thumbnail on the site for a different op-ed piece where the headline (or at least the English translation) was just "I don't really know what to say about this". You'd expect that in a forum post, but these are sports journos, completely stumped at how to process this.

This content is protected

This content is protected

 

Siridetch Deebok, now improved to 15-4-1 (13) & Nattawut Saisopa, now improved to 19-10 (12), were the ones that scored the other kayos. Beyond that still no details.

 

I'm very confused.

This article confirms that Berwela did in fact win the WBC ABC title:

http://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1022314

“Masayang masaya po ako at nag-champion ulit ako (I am very happy to be the champion again),” said Berwela, who was assisted at the corner by trainer Jayvee Alipio of Highland Bangkok Gym.

...but then look at this on the event's BoxRec page:
vacant WBC Asian Boxing Council Bantamweight Title (supervisor: Thanapol Bhakdibhumi)

Berwela was over the bantamweight limit of 118 lbs; Title only at stake for Matsali.
Matsali down once in Round 3 and Round 6.