In the main event of the 154th Phoenix Battle held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo on the 13th, IBF light-flyweight champion Thanongsak Simsri (Thailand) secured a second-round knockout victory over top-ranked challenger Sergio Mendoza Cordova (Mexico). The official time of the stoppage was 2 minutes and 32 seconds, marking Thanongsak’s first successful defence of the world title.
強敵メンドサをKOしたタノンサック
Thanongsak, who captured the vacant title in June last year, finished the highly-touted Mexican prospect—widely regarded in his home country as a future world champion—with a brilliant early onslaught.
In the opening round, Thanongsak applied pressure with straight right hands to the body, while the tall southpaw Mendoza countered with left body uppercuts. In the second, Thanongsak initiated an exchange with short rights, but Mendoza landed a sharp right hook that momentarily stunned the champion. Unfazed, Thanongsak immediately responded with a right followed by a left hook to floor the challenger.
Although Mendoza managed to regain his feet, Thanongsak relentlessly pursued the finish. Trapping his opponent against the ropes, he drove home a powerful right hand that sent Mendoza twisting to the canvas. Mendoza struggled to his feet once more, but as he remained heavily staggered, the referee proceeded to complete the ten-count.
“I had been training for four-minute rounds in anticipation of a long fight, so I am pleased to have finished it early. I want a unification bout next,” said a smiling Thanongsak. He expressed his desire to face rival champions Rene Santiago (Puerto Rico, WBO/WBA) and Shokichi Iwata (Teiken, WBC). Thanongsak (25) improves to 40-1 (35 KOs), while Mendoza (26) falls to 27-1 (23 KOs).
