Denkaosan gets past Nashiro after feisty fight
Veteran boxer Denkaosan Kaovichit took a significant step towards reclaiming the world championship after securing a split decision over feisty fighter Nobuo Nashiro of Japan to snatch the World Boxing Association's interim super flyweight title yesterday
The fight between the third-ranked Thai fighter and the Japanese, who was five places below him in the rankings, marked the first time the WBA used its half-point system for a championship bout in Asia. Under the new rules, three judges could not give a draw for each round of the fight.
Neither fighter wasted time in measuring up the other in a thrilling bout at the makeshift arena in the Suranaree University in Nakhon Ratchasima province. Both boxers stood toe to toe, trading punches in the middle of the ring from the opening round.
The 37-year-old Denkaosan landed more blows than his opponent in the second round amid loud cheers from the partisan crowd, but Nashiro made up for lost ground in the following two rounds with a couple of clean punches that found the Thai’s face.
In the second half of the fight, it was the Japanese who continued moving forward in a bid to finish off the home fighter, six years his senior. The Thai used his experience of more than two decades in the ring to hang on and managed to thwart his opponent by catching him with body blows at times.
Nashiro launched a final-round barrage but the Japanese lacked the power by this stage to trouble Denkaosan, who was eventually declared the winner with a 113-115.5, 116-113.5 and 116-114.5 verdict.
“I stuck to the plan, which helped things go in my favour. We knew he would keep coming until the end. I must admit that he’s very strong and resilient.
“If I had lost, I would have hung up my gloves,” said Denkaosan, who improved to 62 wins, one draw and three losses.
