FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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Boxing relegated to second place for world champ Srisaket

Boxing relegated to second place for world champ Srisaket

The only ring he wants to see is the one on his girlfriend’s finger.

Srisaket Sor Rungvisai thought for the briefest of moments as reporters asked him about his future plans.
As he celebrated another successful title defence at the Impact Arena, the world’s media wanted to know where and when his next world title defence would be – but Srisaket laughed it off.
“I don’t know about any of that,” he said. “My only plan is to get married!”
Thailand’s boxing superstar was delighted to announce next month’s nuptials with Nanchaya Suwannasit and could be forgiven for putting affairs of the heart before pursuing further fame and fortune.
He was speaking moments after convincingly outpointing brave Mexican challenger Iran Diaz in front of a thrilled packed house as the highlight of a spectacular night of action billed as One: Kingdom of Heroes.
They will be getting hitched on November 11, with ASrisaket giving his bride a dowry of Bt2 million in cash and 20 baht in weight of gold.
Saturday’s fight was the culmination of an eventful period in the life of the 31-year-old former rubbish collector from Sisaket province.
Since he took the WBC Super Flyweight title from Nicaragua’s Roman Gonzalez in March last year, he has become one of the most highly-rated fighters in the world. His fight record is now 47-4-1.
The Ring magazine now rates him No 7 in their top 10 of the best pound-for-pound fighters on the planet – and his third successful title defence against an opponent who had risen quickly up the ranks might see his star shine even brighter.
At the same time, however, his personal life has witnessed some upheaval, with the much-publicised break-up of a long-term relationship and a split with his previous manager, too.
He is grateful for quickly finding new love and is in no rush to return to the ring – but when he does he will surely hope to fight in front of his home fans again.
The rapturous support he received through his 12-rounder against Diaz made his first title defence at home all the more special.
“I never thought we would have such a great atmosphere,” he said. 

Boxing relegated to second place for world champ Srisaket
And well he might thank the fans for their support – the unanimous points verdict doesn’t tell the story of the gutsy challenge put up by Diaz. Resilience has always been the stock in trade of Mexican fighters down the years and it was no different on Saturday night.
While Srisaket dominated from start to finish there was always the nagging feeling that Diaz might suddenly shock him – and that’s exactly what he did in the eighth round, appearing to rock the champion with a flurry of punches.
The turnaround silenced the raucous fans but it didn’t last. 
Srisaket quickly regained his composure and although Diaz, realizing he needed a KO, threw everything he had at Srisaket in the 12th it was too little, too late.
The Thai, who had promised his home fans a knockout, paid tribute to his opponent for denying them that spectacle. “He was a great boxer – but he never troubled me,” he insisted. “I knew he didn’t have the punching power to cause me any problems.”
The fans went home doubly happy -¬ in the main event of the undercard, 20-year-old Stamp Fairtex from Pattaya, a veteran of 100 Muay Thai bouts, turned in a One Series debut to remember as she dethroned “Killer Bee” Kai Ting Chuang of China, also by a unanimous decision, to become the new ONE Kickboxing Atomweight World Champion.
Beaming with confidence, Stamp used her range and movement to out-strike her counterpart throughout the fast-paced five-round contest, sealed by a flurry of strikes in the final round.

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