WBC Special Preview: Panya Pradabsri vs. Norihito Tanaka II
WBC STATISTICS
WBC Strawweight World Championship
June 28, 2023 / Rayong, Thailand
PETCHYINDEE BOXING PROMOTIONS PRESENTS:
PANYA PRADABSRI (Thailand)
WBC Strawweight World Champion, 4th Title Defense
Age: 32 / Date of birth: February 21, 1991
Residence: Bangkok, Thailand / Birthplace: Nam Yuen, Thailand
Record: 39-1, 23 KOs / Total rounds: 248 / World championship fights: 4-0, 0 KOs
Height: 5’4″ – 162cm / Stance: Right-handed
Manager: Kokiet Panichyarom / Promoter: Kokiet Group Promotions
NORIHITO TANAKA (Japan)
Ranked WBC No. 9 at Strawweight
Age: 38 / Date of birth: February 21, 1985
Residence, birthplace: Tokyo, Japan
Record: 20-9, 10 KOs / Total rounds: 176 / World championship fights: 0-2
Height: 5’0.5″ – 154cm / Stance: Right-handed
WBC STRAWWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONS
1. Hiroki Ioka (Japan) 1987 – 1988
2. Napa Kiatwanchai (Thailand) 1988 – 1989
3. Jeum-Hwang Choi (Korea) 1989 – 1990
4. Hideyuki Ohashi (Japan) 1990
5. Ricardo Lopez (Mexico) 1990 – 1998
6. Wandee Chor Chareon (Thai) 1998 – 2000
7. Jose Antonio Aguirre (Mexico) 2000 – 2004
8. Eagle Kyowa (Japan) 2004
9. Isaac Bustos (Mexico) 2004 – 2005
10. Katsunari Takayama (Japan) 2005
11. Eagle Kyowa (Japan) * 2005 – 2007
12. Juan Palacios (Nic.) Interim 2008
13. Oleydong Sithsamerchai (Thai) 2008 – 2011
14. Kazuto Ioka (Japan) 2011 – 2012
15. Xiong Zhao Zhong (China) 2013 – 2014
16. Osvaldo Novoa (Mexico) 2014
17. Wanheng Menayothin (Thai) 2014 – 2020
18. Panya Pradabsri (Thai) 2020 –
* Regained
WBC TOP TEN
1. Ricardo Lopez (Mexico)
2. Oleydong Sithsamerchai (Thai)
3. Wanheng Menayothin (Thai)
4. Hideyuki Ohashi (Japan)
5. Eagle Kyowa (Japan)
6. Wandee Chor Chareon (Thai)
7. Jose Antonio Aguirre (Mexico)
8. Hiroki Ioka (Japan)
9. Napa Kiatwanchai (Thai)
10. Kazuto Ioka (Japan)
GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE STRAWWEIGHT DIVISION IN WBC HISTORY
17 world champions have been recognized by the WBC, of whom only one has regained the title: Eagle Kyowa (Japan).
83 strawweight world championship bouts have been held in WBC history.
Ricardo “Finito” Lopez of Mexico holds the division record for successful title defenses with 21.
MEMORABLE WBC STRAWWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHTS
Aug. 31, 2022 Panya Pradabsri W12 Norihito Tanaka – Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
Mar. 29, 2022 Panya Pradabsri W12 Wanheng Menayothin – Nakhon Sawan, Thailand
Nov. 2, 2021 Panya Pradabsri W12 Danai Ngiabphukhiaw – Nakhon Sawan, Thailand
Nov. 27, 2020 Panya Pradabsri W12 Wanheng Menayothin – Nakhon Sawan, Thailand
Oct. 25, 2019 Wanheng Menayothin W12 Simpiwe Konko – Chonburi, Thailand
May 31, 2019 Wanheng Menayothin TW8 Tatsuya Fukuhara – Chachoengsao, Thailand
Aug. 29, 2018 Wanheng Menayothin W12 Pedro Taduran – Nakhon Sawan, Thailand
Nov. 25, 2017 Wanheng Menayothin W12 Tatsuya Fukuhara – Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
Aug. 2, 2016 Wanheng Menayothin W12 Saul Juarez – Chonburi, Thailand
Nov. 6, 2014 Wanheng Menayothin TKO9 Oswaldo Novoa – Chonburi, Thailand
Feb. 5, 2014 Oswaldo Novoa TKO5 Chaozhong Xiong – Haikou, China
Nov. 24, 2012 Chaozhong Xiong W12 Javier Martinez Resendiz – Kunming, China
Feb. 11, 2011 Kazuto Ioka TKO5 Oleydong Sithsamerchai – Kobe, Japan
Nov. 29, 2007 Oleydong Sithsamerchai W12 Eagle Kyowa – Bangkok, Thailand
Aug. 6, 2005 Eagle Kyowa W12 Katsunari Takayama – Tokyo, Japan
Apr. 4, 2005 Katsunari Takayama W12 Isaac Bustos – Osaka, Japan
Dec. 18, 2004 Isaac Bustos TKO4 Eagle Kyowa – Tokyo, Japan
Jan. 10, 2004 Eagle Kyowa W12 Jose Antonio Aguirre – Tokyo, Japan
Jul. 7, 2000 Jose Antonio Aguirre KO5 Jose Luis Zepeda – Villahermosa, Mexico
Feb. 11, 2000 Jose Antonio Aguirre W12 Wandee Chor Chareon – Samut Sakhon, Thailand
May 4, 1999 Wandee Chor Chareon TKO12 Wolf Tokimitsu – Kurashiki, Japan
Aug. 23, 1998 Wandee Chor Chareon W12 Rocky Lin – Yokohama, Japan
Nov. 13, 1998 Ricardo Lopez W12 Rosendo Alvarez – Las Vegas, Nevada
Mar. 7, 1998 Ricardo Lopez TD8 Rosendo Alvarez – México City, México
Sep. 17, 1994 Ricardo Lopez TKO1 Surachai Saengmorakot – Las Vegas, Nevada
Dec. 18, 1993 Ricardo Lopez KO11 Manny Melchor – Stateline, Nevada
Oct. 25, 1990 Ricardo Lopez TKO5 Hideyuki Ohashi – Tokyo, Japan
June 8, 1990 Hideyuki Ohashi W12 Napa Kiatwanchai – Tokyo, Japan
Feb. 7, 1990 Hideyuki Ohashi KO9 Jum-Hwan Choi – Tokyo, Japan
Nov. 12, 1989 Jum-Hwan Choi TKO12 104¾ Napa Kiatwanchai – Seoul, South Korea
Nov. 13, 1988 Napa Kiatwanchai W12 Hiroki Ioka – Osaka, Japan
Oct. 18, 1987 Hiroki Ioka W12 Mai Thomburifarm – Osaka, Japan
Second bite at the cherry: Panya Pradabsri vs. Norihito Tanaka II
By James Blears
World Boxing Council Straw Weight Champion Panya Pradabsri (39-1,23 Ko`s) defends his title for the fourth time, in Rayong, Thailand on June 28th, and on this occasion against a familiar face, as he`ll be fighting Norihito Tanaka (20-9, 10 KO`s).
These two clashed on August 30th last year and the champion won a UD. The scores were 118-110, 116-112 and 119-110. On paper it appears a comfortable, easy victory, but studying the tape of the fight proves otherwise. For a golden oldie veteran, Japan`s Tanaka led Panya a spritely merry dance, attacking from the first bell to the last clarion chime in the twelfth.
Panya who`s five feet four inches tall is four inches loftier than the short compact Japanese fighter, who had to get in real close to land his punches. In so doing he was precisely even surgically picked off by the champion, who caught him to the head with combinations, uppercuts and went downstairs with an effective body attack. But this didn`t, judder, slow or deter the sturdy veteran, who kept coming and landing some of his own punches, especially the right hook. It proved to be a spruce, demanding workout for Panya, who kept his wits about him and prevailed. Easy and plain sailing, it wasn`t.
Panya was supposed to fight Yudai Shigeoka on April 16th, at the Yoyogi National Gym in Tokyo. The only other time he`d ever strayed and ventured outside of his homeland of Thailand, was when he lost a MD to ex WBC Champion Chaozhong Xiong, way back on October 3rd, 2017 at Datong University Gym in China. But before this scheduled fight against Shigeoka, Panya fell ill, being hospitalized with strep throat and a fever. Shigeoka fought anyway, defeating Wilfredo Mendez for the WBC Interim title, by seventh round KO. If Panya wins this upcoming bout, Shigeoka who`s waiting patiently, must be next on the list.
Tanaka who`s tenth ranked by the WBC has previously unsuccessfully twice contested a world title. This is his third and final try. If he wins aged thirty eight and four months, he would shatter Hozumi Hasegawa`s record as the oldest Japanese world champion at thirty five years and nine months. Carefully weighing up the dotage challenge he says: “Considering my age, this will be my last chance to win a world title. I`ve been training well and I`m going to give it my all to take the belt from him.”
Not an easy task ahead for an oldie and goldie who`s no longer green! While Panya, who`s still thirty two, has already accumulated a wealth of experience. He fought more than two hundred Muay Thai bouts before switching to boxing. In November 2020, he won a convincing UD, to shear the title from the head of vastly experienced Wanheng Menayothin who was then 54-0, 18 KO`s and in a rematch , delayed by his own Father`s passing and the following period of mourning, he repeated the feat, but even more impressively on the scorecards.
At this weight category there aren`t exactly an ample, boundless or endless multitude supply of opponents. But one of the biggest challenges, is strictly and unwaveringly maintaining the weight. Years ago, the great Ricardo “Finito” Lopez confided, that he followed a Spartan oriental type of diet. No chocs, nor bread potatoes or any hint of dessert. And strictly no lapses, even on Christmas Day or New Year`s Eve. Ricardo who was relatively tall for the category at almost five feet six, was never more than a couple of pounds above the division`s stipulated limit out of competition, come rain or shine. Refraining from weight drain. It was never an issue, his enemy or rival. He made sure of that.
Ten months ago Tanaka caught too much leather incoming, before he was able to land any meaningful reply punches of his own. The ratio appeared at least three to one. To stand any chance he`ll have to attack sooner and in a more sustained manner. Panya is a highly intelligent fighter who learns quickly.
This time he`ll avoid being driven to the ropes, backed up or cornered, and resist the temptation to fight toe to toe, by using his longer reach to pick off the short stature five footer. His superior hand speed, timing and ring generalship should serve him better second time around. It`s going to be tougher for the veteran!
Panya got hit with some decent shots last time, but he didn`t panic or instinctively retaliate, patiently biding his time and picking his openings with care and effective guile. On this occasion he will need to establish himself appreciably earlier and soften up the ageing Japanese fighter with more numerous clusters of sinking body shots.
Tanaka can consider himself rather lucky to get this second bite at the cherry and a windfall opportunity in the twilight of his career. For him it must now be absolutely all or nothing. A good attempt/wild stab in the dark, won`t be anywhere near enough. Unless the Old Man takes big risks to hook and reel in the prize catch, he`ll be all at sea…and he well knows it!
Again, on paper, this should be plain sailing on a light sea breeze for Panya. But when an opponent hasn`t got time left, has nothing to really lose, but absolutely everything to gain, it can be a dangerously unpredictable scenario.
Is Hasegawa`s record in jeopardy? We`re soon going to find out.
Related posts
test