WBC Special Preview: PRADABSRI vs. CAÑIZALES II
WBC STATISTICS
WBC Light Flyweight World Championship
August 1, 2025 / Caracas, Venezuela / Poliedro de Caracas
VENEZUELA TOP BOXING PRESENTS:
PANYA PRADABSRI (Thailand)
· WBC Light Flyweight World Champion, 1st Defense
· Former WBC Strawweight World Champion, 4 Defenses
· Former Asian Boxing Council (ABCO) Strawweight Champion
· Former Oriental & Pacific Boxing Federation (OPBF) Light Flyweight Champion
Age: 34 / Date of birth: February 21, 1991
Residence: Bangkok, Thailand / Birthplace: Nam Yuen, Thailand
Record: 44-2, 27 KOs / Total rounds: 290 / World championship fights: 6-1, 1 KO
Height: 5’2” – 158cm / Reach: 64” – 162cm / Stance: Right-handed
CARLOS “CCC” CANIZALES (Venezuela)
· Ranked WBC No. 1 at Light Flyweight
· WBC Silver Light Flyweight Champion
Age: 32 / Date of birth: March 11, 1993
Residence, birthplace: Caracas, Venezuela
Record: 27-3-1, 19 KOs / Total rounds: 181 / World championship fights: 3-3-1, 1 KO
Height: 5’3” – 160cm / Reach: 64.5” – 164cm / Stance: Right-handed
WBC LIGHT FLYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONS
1. Franco Udella (Italy) 1975
2. Luis Estaba (Venezuela) 1975 – 1978
3. Freddie Castillo (Mexico) 1978
4. Netrnoi Sor Vorasingh (Thailand) 1978
5. Sung Jun Kim (Korea) 1978 – 1980
6. Shigeo Nakajima (Japan) 1980
7. Hilario Zapata (Panama) 1980 – 1982
8. Amado Urzua (Mexico) 1982
9. Tadashi Tomori (Japan) 1982
10. Hilario Zapata (Panama) * 1982 – 1983
11. Jungkoo Chang (Korea) 1983 – 1988
12. German Torres (Mexico) 1988 – 1989
13. Yulwoo Lee (Korea) 1989
14. Humberto Gonzalez (Mexico) 1989 – 1990
15. Rolando Pascua (Philippines) 1990 – 1991
16. Melchor Cob Castro (Mexico) 1991
17. Humberto Gonzalez (Mexico)* 1991 – 1993
18. Michael Carbajal (USA) 1993 – 1994
19. Humberto Gonzalez (Mexico)* 1994 – 1995
20. Saman Sorjaturong (Thailand) 1995 – 1999
21. Yosam Choi (Korea) 1999 – 2002
22. Jorge Arce (Mexico) 2001 – 2004
23. Eric Ortiz (Mexico) 2005
24. Brian Viloria (USA) 2005 – 2006
25. Omar Niño (Mexico) 2006
26. Wandee Singwangcha (Thailand) Interim 2006
27. Edgar Sosa (Mexico) 2007 – 2009
28. Rodel Mayol (Philippines) 2009 – 2010
29. Omar Niño (Mexico)* 2010
30. Gilberto Keb Baas (Mexico) 2010 – 2011
31. Adrian Hernandez (Mexico) 2011
32. Kompayak Porpramook (Thailand) 2011 – 2012
33. Adrian Hernandez (Mexico)* 2012 – 2014
34. Naoya Inoue (Japan) 2014
35. Pedro Guevara (Mexico) 2014 – 2015
36. Yo Kimura (Japan) 2015 – 2016
37. Ganigan Lopez (Mexico) 2016 – 2017
38. Kenshiro Teraji (Japan) 2017 – 2021
39. Masamichi Yabuki (Japan) 2021 – 2022
40. Kenshiro Teraji (Japan)* 2022 – 2024
41. Panya Pradabsri (Thailand) 2024 –
* Regained
WBC Top 10 Light Flyweight Champions
1. Humberto Gonzalez (Mexico)
2. Hilario Zapata (Panama)
3. Michael Carbajal (USA)
4. Luis Estaba (Venezuela)
5. Jungkoo Chang (Korea)
6. Saman Sorjaturong (Thailand)
7. Jorge Arce (Mexico)
8. Edgar Sosa (Mexico)
9. Yosam Choi (Korea)
10. Tadashi Tomori (Japan)
GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE LIGHT FLYWEIGHT DIVISION IN WBC HISTORY
35 light flyweight world champions have been recognized by the WBC, five of whom have regained the title: Hilario Zapata (Panama), Humberto Gonzalez two times (Mexico), Omar Niño (Mexico), Adrian Hernandez (Mexico), Kenshiro Teraji (Japan).
151 light flyweight world championship bouts have been held in WBC history.
MEMORABLE WBC LIGHT FLYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHTS
Dec. 26, 2014 Panya Pradabsri W12 Carlos Canizales – Bangkok, Thailand
Jan. 23, 2024 Kenshiro Teraji W12 Carlos Canizales – Osaka, Japan
Sep. 18, 2023 Kenshiro Teraji TKO9 Hekkie Budler – Tokyo, Japan
Apr. 8, 2023 Kenshiro Teraji TKO9 Anthony Olascuaga – Tokyo, Japan
Nov. 1, 2022 Kenshiro Teraji TKO7 Hiroto Kyoguchi – Saitama, Japan
Mar. 19, 2022 Kenshiro Teraji KO3 Masamichi Yabuki – Kyoto, Japan
Sept. 22, 2021 Masamichi Yabuki TKO10 Kenshiro Teraji – Kyoto, Japan
Apr. 24, 2021 Kenshiro Teraji W12 Tetsuya Hisada – Osaka, Japan
Dec. 23, 2019 Kenshiro Teraji TKO4 Randy Petalcorin – Yokohama, Japan
July 12, 2019 Kenshiro Teraji TKO4 Jonathan Taconing – Osaka, Japan
Oct. 7, 2018 Kenshiro Teraji TKO7 Milan Melindo – Yokohama, Japan
July 2, 2016 Ganigan Lopez W12 Yu Kimura – Kyoto, Japan
Apr. 6, 2014 Naoya Inoue TKO6 Adrian Hernandez – Tokyo, Japan
Feb. 8, 2014 Adrian Hernandez TKO3 Janiel Rivera – Huixquilucan, Mexico
June 19, 2010 Omar Niño W12 Rodel Mayol – San Juan del Rio, Queretaro, Mexico
Nov. 21, 2009 Rodel Mayol TKO2 Edgar Sosa – Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, Mexico
Apr. 14, 2007 Edgar Sosa W12 Brian Viloria – San Antonio, Texas
Feb. 18, 2006 Brian Viloria W12 Jose Antonio Aguirre – Las Vegas, Nevada
Sep. 4, 2004 Jorge Arce W12 Juanito Rubillar – Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
July 6, 2002 Jorge Arce TKO6 Yo Sam Choi – Seoul, South Korea
Jan. 30, 2001 Yo Sam Choi KO7 Saman Sorjaturong – Seoul, South Korea
July 15, 1995 Saman Sorjaturong TKO7 Humberto Gonzalez – Inglewood, California
Nov. 12, 1994 Humberto Gonzalez W12 Michael Carbajal – Mexico City, D.F., Mexico
Mar. 13, 1993 Michael Carbajal KO7 Humberto Gonzalez – Las Vegas, Nevada
Dec. 9, 1989 Humberto Gonzalez W12 Jung Koo Chang – Daegu, South Korea
Mar. 26, 1983 Jung Koo Chang TKO3 Hilario Zapata – Daejeon, South Korea
Sep. 18, 1982 Hilario Zapata W15 Jung Koo Chang – Chongju, South Korea
Feb. 19, 1978 Freddy Castillo TKO14 Luis Estaba – Caracas, Venezuela
July 18, 1976 Luis Estaba KOe Franco Udella – Caracas, Venezuela
Apr. 4, 1975 Franco Udella WDQ12 Valentin Martinez – Milan, Italy
Panya vs CCC rematch
By James Blears
Cool as a cucumber World Boxing Council light flyweight champion Panya Pradabsri fights a highly anticipated re-match against peppery CCC Carlos Canizales this Friday, at the Poliedro, Caracas, Venezuela.
Their first encounter which was for the vacant WBC light fly Green and Gold Belt, was on December 26th last year in the Rajadamnern Stadium in Bangkok, which was on Panya`s home turf. This occurred after Kenshiro Teraji had moved up to flyweight.
It was a hum dinger of a fight, with fortunes veering first one way and then swaying the other. Panya emerged with a MD victory, and Carlos was aggrieved. He felt he had been more aggressive and extra pro-active throughout. Panya`s people were equally convinced, that he`d been more calculating and significantly more effective, thus successful.
To be fair and to satisfy both sides, the World Boxing Council ruled that there must be an immediate rematch. WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman said: ‘’Canizales lost by a MD. It was a sensational fight. Their first fight was in Thailand and now the second is in Venezuela. This is a great story.’’
It must be pointed out, that it was the judges` decision which went the way of Panya. He fought his best fight as did Carlos. The judges, who had no axe to grind, saw it this way. They were ringside and on the spot, on the night.
Boxing is no stranger to very close decisions, controversy and the consequences, which can lead to fallout plus the bitter residual taste of bile and bad feeling lingering for decades, so best it`s nipped in the bud and the effective way to achieve this is a direct rematch. As you were, but it can never be quite the same, as each fight is unique with its own individual circumstances, quirks and characteristics.
Way back in 1971, a huge controversy started and never ended, after up and coming heavyweight Joe Bugner defeated veteran national hero Henry Cooper, who was British, Commonwealth and European heavyweight champion. Henry aged thirty- seven Vs Joe who was just twenty- one. The sole arbiter at the Empire Pool Wembley, was Referee Harry Gibbs. A tough, gruff, no nonsense, scrupulously fair referee.
After fifteen gruelling rounds, Mr Gibbs raised Joe`s hand. He said Joe had won the contest by quarter of one point. That`s the smallest margin there is.
All hell then broke loose. BBC Commentator Harry Carpenter famously said over the airwaves: ‘’He`s given it to Bugner. I find that amazing. How can you take the man`s titles away like that?!’’ The crowd who adored ‘’Our Enry’’ erupted. Mr Gibbs had to be escorted out of the arena by the Police. Pandemonium!
Joe who was innocent on all counts, was vilified and his reputation never recovered. He later said: ‘’I won but I lost. I was hated for it and never allowed to forget. When I beat Henry Cooper I was no longer British. I was a Hungarian refugee and I was just ridiculed.
‘’After the second fight with Muhammad Ali, all the same individuals said I was over in Kuala Lumpur on holiday. Ali was in hospital with dehydration. We went fifteen rounds in searing heat, but I was having the time of my life…apparently?’’
Joe climbed out of swimming pool there and had to endure the scalding, acerbic wit of award- winning Journalist Hugh Mcllvanney who said: ‘’In his prIme Joe Bugner had the physique of Greek Statue, but he had fewer moves.’’ Joe angrily retorted: ‘’Get me Jesus Christ and I`ll fight him.’’ To which Hugh languidly and acidly retorted; ’’Yes…but He`s got bad hands.’’
The World Boxing Council has taken the onus and impossible responsibility of judging, out of the capable and sound hands of the Referee. The WBC was the first boxing authority to reduce world title championship from fifteen to twelve rounds. The other championship bouts are reduced to ten rounds. In case of a very close fight, the best way to resolve it is for an immediate rematch. That decision is taken by a meeting of the WBC Board of Governors. This provides focus and simplicity which clarifies, sorting out any confusion and cutting through the Gordian Knot, avoiding the maelstrom of confusion Hedley Lamarr suffered in Blazing Saddles, when he snarled; ‘’My mind is a ranging torrent, flooded with rivulets of thought, cascading into waterfalls of creative alternatives.’’
How do things stand now? Panya`s record is 44-2, 27 KO`s. He is thirty- four years old. Carlos is two years younger. His record is 27-3-1, 19KO`s. Panya`s big chance came when he fought legendary compatriot Wanheng Menayothin in November 2020 for the WBC straw weight title and won a UD, Upsetting the apple cart big time. Cor!
Four successful defences including another UD victory over Wanheng. Then away from home in Japan, he lost the title to Yudai Shigeoka by UD. His next big chance came against CCC and he became WBC light flyweight champion, by the skin of his mouthguard. His only two defeats have been away from home.
Carlos fought WBA Champion Ryoichi Taguchi to a draw. Then three wins in Venezuela and back to Asia and three more. Surprisingly, he came badly unstuck against Esteban Bermudez who stopped him in six unravelling rounds. But he bounced back with four wins, including a fourth rounds KO of ex- champion Ganigan Lopez. Carlos then won a WBA eliminator against Daniel Matellon and fought Kenshiro Teraji for the WBC/WBA light flyweight belt, but lost a competitive MD. He won his next fight against Ivan Garcia Balderas by MD, before taking on Panya for the first time.
Both Panya and Carlos want to markedly prove a point and improve. Whereas Carlos seeks vindication, Panya wants to prove the first time wasn`t a fluke and to be significantly more decisive this time around.
Panya will aim to be more aggressive and possibly try to inflict an extra dosage of crunching body shots, to slow the advance of the high- volume punching Venezuelan. In front of his fans and in his home town, it`s now or never for CCC. The ingredients of a fabulous rematch are on the table, waiting to be gobbled up as the main course. Serviettes are not required. We`ve reached a fork in the road.
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