Knockout CP Freshmart wins the vacant WBC light flyweight title in Bangkok

On the last night of the World Boxing Council Convention in Bangkok, Knockout CP Freshmart defeated Junior Zarate by a convincing UD for the vacant WBC light flyweight belt.

Carlos Cañizales can’t travel outside Venezuela, so he’s champion in recess. Zarate came all the way from Argentina to fight Thai Freshmart, on the second floor of the Marriott Marquis, Queens Park, Bangkok.

Junior is of slender waif like build and an elegant boxer., While shorter CP is barrel chested and broad backed. After a quiet opening round Junior was snapping out the left jab, but CP was going for the body, drove him to the ropes and unleashed the heavier punching power.

But everything that Junior was doing was being countermanded and counteracted by the squat bow legged, but more powerful Thai fighter, who has been a world champion at straw weight.

By the midway point, he was throwing punches in clusters and Junior was pallid from the effects of crunching body punches, Yet by the tenth Freshmart wasn’t that fresh. He was noticeably running out of steam while Junior had gained his second wind. He buffeted CP with some dazzling combinations, making good use of neat footwork. It was his best round, but the moment came and went.

In the eleventh, CP crashed a short left hook into Junior’s head and neatly, smartly and deftly avoided incoming potential retaliation. Occasionally switching to southpaw hadn’t helped Junior’s cause, making him more vulnerable,

In the final round after a brief hug, Junior pumped out piston like punches but the combinations to body and head from the sturdy Thai negated finesse and silky boxing skills. CP had outfought and out muscled a brave, skilled but noticeably lighter hitting opponent.

Ryutaro Nakagaki from Japan defeated Thai Kitidech Hirunsuk by split decision from the five judges ringside, to win the WBC International Silver super flyweight championship, after ten absorbing rounds.

The well schooled Japanese southpaw had to contend with some fierce early attacks and some flailing right hands, but he soon settled into his rhythm, with his precise right jab finding the mark more often than not. And following in with an array of effective lefts, particularly to the head.

As both tired down the stretch the fighting became shorter range and more ragged with clinching. The power of the Thai, who landed less was still in evidence from the Japanese fighter’s puffy cheekbones, but he stayed composed and held it together, although he was under increasing pressure in the championship rounds.