By REY DANSECO
WBC super flyweight champion Suriyan Sor Rungvisai and 3rd ranked challenger Yota Sato will fight on March 27 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
Sor Rungvisai will put his title on the line for the second time before facing his mandatory and top ranked challenger, WBC silver super flyweight king Silvester “Birador” Lopez of the Philippines, in his third title defense.
The 22-year old Thai champion has 20-4-1 with 7 knockouts while Sato, 25, sports a menacing 23-2-1, 12 KOs.
SURIYAN Sor Rungvisai poses with his WBC super flyweight title belt and T-shirt.
YOTA Sato makes his crack at a world title.
TOP ranked contender and mandatory challenger Silvester Lopez pointing out the embossed words "World Champion" in his newly acquired WBC silver super flyweight title belt. PHOTO BY: REY DANSECO
After taking the crown from Mexico’s Tomas Rojas in August 2011, Sor Rungvisai successfully defended the title against former WBA World super flyweight champ Nobuo Nashiro of Japan in November both with unanimous but close decisions in Thailand.
Sor Rungvisai’s manager Suchart Pisitwutthinan confirmed the fight.
“We have signed a contract,” Bangkok Post quoted Pisitwutthinan as saying Sunday.
“It will be tough for Suriyan but a good opportunity for him to prove he is a true champion.”
The pride of Nakhon Ratchasima is looking to spar more or less 220 rounds against different mates.
Reigning Japanese super flyweight king since October 2009, Sato stands 171 cm (5-foot-7 ½”) and about is 4 ½ inches taller than Sor Rungvisai. The Japanese is five-year senior than the 22-year old Thai.
The winner of the fight will be expected to face Lopez (18-3-1, 14 KOs) in the middle of the year. But Bangkok Post reported Pisitwutthinan will try to find a way to defy WBC’s order during the 49th Annual Convention in Las Vegas.
The newspaper reported that despite the WBC made an official announcement that Suriyan must face Lopez of the Philippines in a mandatory fight after making one more title defense, the Thai manager insisted that “it had not yet been finalised and the fight might not take place.”
“It depends on how well we negotiate with concerned parties,” said Pisitwutthinan, referring to Lopez’s handler Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde Jr.
“But a mandatory fight with Sylvester does not worry us. I think fighting Sylvester would be easy for Suriyan.”
Lopez, who stands 5-foot-6, has stopped his last four opponents, including Mexico’s Oscar “Ceviche” Ibarra in the 8th round round last September to win his current title and captured the top spot in WBC ranking.
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Rey Danseco is the Boxing Judge of the Year 2010 in the Philippines at the 11th Gabriel ”Flash” Elorde Memorial Boxing Awards-Banquet of Champions in March 2011. Aside from being one of the most active boxing judges from Asia, he is the Sports editor of one of the Philippine leading newspapers called Bagong Tiktik (Spy) and television boxing commentator.
EMAIL: reydanseco@yahoo.com
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