Pongsaklek Wonjongkam may have a real fight on his hands when he defends his “interim” WBC flyweight title against Takahisa Masuda in Chiang Mai tomorrow.

Masuda stands 169cm tall, which is seven centimetres taller than the Thai, and is said to be quicker than Pongsaklek.

Promoter Piyarat Wachirarattanawongse believes Pongsaklek (72-3-1,38KOs) will have to be at his best to win, even though the challenger is ranked 22th in the 112-pound division. The promoter said that Pongsaklek, 32, must see off the 30-year-old Japanese to make sure he gets a fifth fight with champion Daisuke Naito. According to the contract, Daisuke must fight Pongsaklek within 90 days after the Japanese first defends his title late next month.

The Nakhon Ratchasima boxer scored an impressive win against Mexico’s Jose Cesar Miranda in his most recent fight in April to capture the “interim” belt.

The belt is supposed to be used when the champion is unavailable to fight, but Naito defended his WBC flyweight title soon afterwards.

That means little to Masuda, who told the press in Japan that he is really looking forward to the contest.

“I am confident of winning in Thailand,” said the former OPBF light-flyweight champion.

He said that he had been training hard since June.

Masuda (20-8-3, 5KOs) was supposed to challenge WBA flyweight champion Denkaosan Kaovichit earlier this year but the fight could not be made.

He outscored Wandee Singwangcha last year but was beaten by compatriot Takayasu Kobayashi, currently ranked 15th in the 112-pound division, in his last fight in June.

Writer: KITTIPONG THONGSOMBAT  BANGKOK POST