Wanheng MATCHES Mayweather

THAILAND’S “Dwarf Giant” Wanheng Menayothin successfully matched the world record of 50 straight wins by Floyd Mayweather by outclassing Panamanian contender Leroy Estrada to defend his WBC minimumweight title in Nakhon Ratchasima yesterday. 

The 32-year-old from Maha Sarakham, who has gone unbeaten since January 2007, ended his 23-year-old opponent’s challenge with a vicious uppercut in round five at the makeshift ring outside the Provincial Hall of the northeastern town.

“I expected a harder fight as he is younger and is a tough boxer,” Wanheng said in a post-fight interview. “But he missed and allowed me to land a few punches first. So it was a bit easy from then on,” said Wanheng, after scoring his 18th win by knockout.

“But I never wrote off his chances as it was a 12-round fight. It wasn’t until the referee stopped the fight that I was convinced I had won,” added the diminutive fighter, who stands just 158 centimetres tall.

After an even start, Wanheng began showing superior skills in the second round by unleashing a barrage of punches with his right hand that buckled the younger rival. The pressure paid finally dividends in the third round as the local fighter sent the Panamanian to the floor twice with powerful rights, only to see the tough Central American beat the count each time.

The roar of fans grew louder in the fourth round as both fighters launched fierce counter-punches, but it was the slower Estrada who took most of the punishment but again showed durability under pressure. Wanheng, shrugging off a cut on his left eyebrow, upped the aggression and sent Estrada to the floor two more times before the bell saved him. But the gritty Panamanian was visibly wilting in the face of Wanheng’s relentless attacks, forcing the referee to stop the fight in the fifth round to save Estada from further punishment.

Wanheng is now one win away from breaking the record of the retired Mayweather. After fighting his whole career on home soil, he would now like a chance to defend his title overseas.

“I’m happy to match his [Mayweather’s] record but breaking it is not what I have in mind right now. I need to focus on my training first in order to win my next fight. I’d love to fight abroad as well but it all depends on my promoter,” said Wanheng, who received a special commemorative watch from WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman after the fight. 

Wanheng’s coach Suparb Boonrod is convinced his fighter can rewrite the record books despite his age.

“He is 32 but still very strong. He is very disciplined and is a hard-working man, so winning his 51st consecutive match definitely not out of reach,” Suparb said.