Workpoint 23: Thattana Luangphon vs. Panya Uthok & Wisaksil Wangek vs. Ekkawit Songnui RBR

Yeah, everybody has probably seen him if they've been following the fly range long enough, although most would recognize him under the name "Kwanthai Sithmorseng". He challenged Muhammad Rachman, Ryōichi Taguchi, and Kazuto Ioka for world titles - but they all knocked him out.

He's now 38.

He is 100% getting sparked tonight.

 

Just looked up my RBR for Ioka vs. Songnui, had forgotten that he actually did alright while he lasted:

...but that was in 2013.

Granted, one could also say that it was versus a prime Ioka, while today's Wangek is, even if still capable and dangerous, hardly prime himself (and that's setting aside the question of whether you put Wangek on Ioka's level)

 

Wisaksil Wangek vs. Ekkawit Songnui, 10 rounds @ super flyweight

 

I'd make the over/under for this 1.5 rounds, honestly. Songnui has been stopped thrice in the last few years, all by regional talents (one Japanese, one Chinese, and one Filipino) - all of whom you would not call world class either because they are too green, as in the case of Jayson Mama, or because they have failed at that level already (Wulan Tuolehazi and Masahiro Sakamoto) - all in under four rounds.

 

Lame, why isn't Songnui's title at stake? (he is Thailand super flyweight champ - a meaningless bauble in the grand scheme of things, especially in light of Wangek eyeing a third world title run vs. the Chocolatito vs. Gallo II winner - but on principle, this is a battle for domestic supremacy and the hardware to show for it ought to be in the kitty)

 

Round 1

Songnui covering up and performing some undulations, swaying as he absorbs the power of Wangek's uppercuts in his palms and then gyrating above the hip. A few poking jabs and slapping hooks thrown in counter by Songnui on the backfoot; no serious attemps to exchange. Wangek just building up a lather of right jabs into the guard, right hooks to body and then head, and combining uppercuts with straights to peck at Songnui's defenses, probing for a weak spot.

10-9 Wangek