Earlier at this time in Perth, Australia, WBA strawweight champ Thammanoon Niyomtrong (who additionally fights underneath the title Knockout CP Freshmart) retained his belt for a powerful twelfth time as he scored a 12-round majority determination win over native fighter Alex Winwood. It was a superb, at instances shut battle, with it turning out that the 33 yr previous champion actually did want the 2 knockdowns he scored. Niyomtrong of Thailand dropped Winwood – who was difficult for a world title after simply 4 professional begins, all wins – in rounds seven and 9.
The scores learn 114-112, 114-112 for Niyomtrong, with the third decide having all of it even at 113-113. Most followers and observers felt Niyomtrong gained by a far greater margin. Niyomtrong is now 25-0(9), whereas 27-year-old Winwood falls to 4-1(2).
It was a sluggish begin from Niyomtrong, however the older, much more skilled man received stronger and stronger because the battle went on. Winwood, sooner and faster, arguably swept the opening 4 rounds, however the champion then got here on. Niyomtrong scored a heavy knockdown within the seventh, and his harmful left hook was doing the harm. Winwood did effectively to get again up and he then did effectively to make it out of the spherical. Within the ninth, a Niyomtrong proper hand scored the battle’s second knockdown, and from right here on in, it was all Niyomtrong, which made the ultra-close scores that rather more puzzling.
Niyomtrong is the longest-reigning male world champion, having held the WBA title since again in 2016. A fairly excellent little big, Niyomtrong has given us some particular motion in his time (see his wilder than wild slugfest with Robert Paradero from December of 2021), and he has now proven he he unafraid to battle away from dwelling, at this time’s battle being simply his second exterior of Thailand. Nonetheless, after nearly being robbed of his belt because of these inaccurately shut scores, the 33-year-old could choose to return to combating at dwelling.
Winwood can come once more, in fact. It was fairly an audacious transfer, difficult for a world title after simply 4 professional bouts.
