Thailand is driving a wave of success on the worldwide boxing stage. Knockout CP Freshmart (25-0, 9 KO) just lately defended his world title in Australia towards Alex Winwood (4-1, 2 KO). Earlier, Thananchai Charunphak (25-1, 15 KO) claimed victory over Kento Hatanaka (15-1, 10 KO) in Japan, whereas Thanongsak Simsri (35-1, 32 KO) secured the OPBF Mild Flyweight crown in March by defeating Miel Fajardo (11-2-2, 10 KO).
But, probably the most vital problem for Thai boxing looms on the horizon, as bantamweight contender Tasana Salapat (76-1, 53 KOs) prepares to cement his legacy within the sport.
On October 14, the Thai southpaw often known as Petch CP Freshmart will step into the ring at Tokyo’s Ariake Enviornment to face Junto Nakatani (28-0, 21 KO), rated at No. 9 by The Ring at pound-for-pound, for the vacant WBC bantamweight title. It’s the second time Salapat will combat on overseas soil, a serious step in a profession that has principally been fought at residence.
Like many Thai boxers, Salapat started his fight profession in Muay Thai, competing on the nation’s highest ranges earlier than transitioning to skilled boxing. However his journey has been distinctive. At simply 16-years-old, the long run bantamweight title challenger made his skilled boxing debut in 2011, defeating Sarawut Pantayung, higher often known as Jomhod Eminent Air (7-4, 2 KO), a celebrated Muay Thai champion. His early profession was a whirlwind, as he fought 9 occasions in his first yr.
Between 2012 and 2018, the Thai fighter saved a powerful tempo, combating seven to eight occasions per yr, mixing it up with regional and youth champions, journeymen, and even debutants. The aim was easy: keep lively. Like many Thai fighters, he adopted an alias, “Petch CPF,” named after his sponsor, an area grocery chain that organizes month-to-month boxing occasions, retaining him busy with common fights. This sponsorship mannequin, widespread in Thailand, allowed him to remain sharp, typically dealing with the identical opponents a number of occasions. With 76 fights below his belt and just one loss, he has been one of many sport’s busiest boxers.
That one defeat got here in 2018, when he travelled exterior of Thailand for the primary time to face Japan’s Takuma Inoue (20-1, 5 KO) for the interim WBC bantamweight title. Regardless of placing in a robust effort, he misplaced by unanimous choice, marking the primary and solely blemish on his report. Now, the Thai veteran heads again to Japan to face an excellent larger problem in Nakatani.
Some of the intriguing elements of this upcoming bout is that it’s a southpaw vs. southpaw matchup. This provides a novel tactical aspect to the combat. Curiously, the final time Nakatani fought a southpaw was in April 2022 when he defended his WBO flyweight title towards Ryota Yamauchi (12-3,11 KO). Nakatani gained the combat by an eighth-round technical knockout, displaying his capability to deal with left-handed opponents successfully. This makes the upcoming combat with Salapat all of the extra attention-grabbing.
I had the prospect to go to him at his coaching camp in Pathum Thani province, situated simply on the outskirts of Bangkok. Skilled by famend coach and former WBC flyweight champion Chatchai Sasakul, Salapat was within the thick of preparations for the most important combat of his profession. It was a Thursday afternoon, and as I arrived, he was already busy shadowboxing, his focus sharp. The gymnasium radiated a optimistic aura, with the workforce nonetheless driving the excessive of Knockout CP’s latest win in Australia.
Sitting down with Sasakul as we watched the Thai fighter undergo his paces, the coach supplied an sincere evaluation of the problem forward.
“Junto, I believe it’s a really laborious combat for Petch,” Sasakul admitted. “However in boxing, something can occur. I can’t predict the long run, and I don’t understand how issues will go in Japan. However that is additionally not a simple combat for Junto. We’re working laborious, and I’ve a method. We’re following the plan.”
Curious in regards to the 2018 loss to Takuma Inoue, I needed to know what had modified since then. Sasakul mirrored on the expansion his fighter has skilled, explaining, “The very first thing he realized was expertise. It was his first time combating overseas. He was nervous, excited, and couldn’t carry out as easily as common. However now, he has matured. I believe this time he can management his feelings. However, you already know, Junto is excellent.”
When discussing Salapat’s strengths, Sasakul described him as well-rounded. “Petch is well-rounded. His ability, his punch energy—it’s not too laborious, not too comfortable. He has his robust factors, however I’m making an attempt to enhance them.”
After the coaching session, I sat down with Salapat himself to study extra about his journey. Rising up in a poor household, boxing was initially a method to assist help his family members. “My household was fairly poor once I was a toddler, so I considered methods to assist help them,” he shared. “At the moment, there was an area pageant on the temple close to my home, and so they organized Muay Thai matches. I went to observe and have become thinking about Muay Thai. The organizers allowed me to take part, and from that second on, I loved it and began coaching.”
Desirous to know extra about his inspirations, I requested if there was somebody who influenced him to pursue boxing. “My inspiration started once I began coaching in skilled boxing. It was Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (91-5-2, 47 KO) who I admired.”
With a storied profession spanning over a decade, I puzzled how he maintains his motivation in any case these years. “I preserve coaching constantly and keep disciplined,” he mentioned. “I by no means underestimate any opponent in any combat.”
Reflecting on his 2018 combat with Takuma Inoue, I used to be inquisitive about what classes he had realized from that have. “I realized quite a bit and gained useful expertise from combating overseas for the primary time. I introduced these abilities again and continued to develop myself additional.”
As for his upcoming bout with Nakatani, Salapat is approaching it with renewed confidence and dedication. “This combat means all the things to me,” he mentioned. “If I get the prospect, I’ll give all the things to carry the belt residence. It is going to imply a lot for my household and for the status of boxing in Thailand.”
His preparation has been rigorous, with considered one of his major sparring companions being Phongthep Homjui (14-1-2, 8 KO), a fellow southpaw who additionally has an upcoming combat in Seoul. The 2 have been pushing one another to the restrict, fine-tuning their abilities forward of their respective challenges.
With Sasakul’s steerage, the Thai fighter is set to go away his mark on the game. Because the clock ticks nearer to combat night time, there’s a way that he’s able to embrace the problem, irrespective of the result. He is aware of what’s at stake—each for himself and for Thailand.
