Japan’s Takahisa Masuda is preparing himself to challenge WBC “interim” flyweight champion Pongsaklek Wonjongkam of Thailand at the end of this month, saying the Thai title holder has passed the peak in his career and is on a way down.

Masuda, who allowed the Japanese media to watch his last training session on August 17 before leaving for the match that will be held in Thailand, told the reporters that he has been preparing himself for two months for the fight and is now in a perfect condition.

He said he is not worried that the bout will be his first time to fight outside his home country, while saying that after watching records of Pongsaklek’s recent fights he came to believe that the Thai boxer has passed the peak in his career and is not performing as good as he was anymore.

Thailand’s former world champion Sirimongkol Singwancha has knocked out Uganda’s Mohammed Saleh in the second round in a match last week.

In the event held to honor Her Majesty the Queen’s birthday at the northeastern Thai city of Nakorn Ratchasima on August 12, Thai boxer Sirimongkol did not hesitate to beat his opponent Saleh down to the canvas for a count of eight by a right hook to the body in the middle of the first round.

Within the first 30 seconds of the second round, the Ugandan pugilist was again down to the canvas, this time by a left hook to the jaw. The referee ended the game and let Sirimongkol win with a technical knockout.

PABA bantamweight champion Tabtimdaeng Na Rachawat of Thailand is scheduled to fight Indonesia challenger Hari Suharyadi later this month.

According to a press conference in Bangkok on August 10, the PABA match of title holder Tabtimdaeng and the third-place contender Suharyadi will be held on Friday August 21 in the town of Pakkret in Nonthaburi province, Thailand, and will be broadcasted in the country by Channel Seven from 3.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m.

In addition to his PABA status, the Thai boxer, also known as Tabtimdaeng Sitluangporpoon, is at the fourth place in the WBA rank and has held the WBC Asia super bantamweight after beating Filipino Ariel Delgado earlier in April this year.

Thailand’s 40-year-old former world champion Veeraphol Sahaprom is fighting Indonesia’s Singo Kinaro while WBC Asia bantamweight champion Yodkhunpon Nakornluang Promotion is defending his title against Indonesian challenger Alex BS in an event today.

The two matches will be held the Northeastern Thai town of Khon Kaen and will be broadcasted in the country by the Channel Three network from 2.30 p.m. onward. All four boxers, two Thais and two Indonesians, have passed the weighting here yesterday.

Veeraphol, who won the WBC bantamweight champion title twice in 1995 and 1998, said he is looking to perform well today, which may help him to get a rematch with old-time rival Toshiaki Nishioka of Japan. The two have fought in four WBC bouts, resulting in two wins and two draws.

WBC “interim” flyweight champion Pongsaklek Wonjongkam of Thailand will defend his title against Japanese challenger Takahisa Masuda at the end of this month in Thailand.

Pongsaklek, who won the title after defeating Julio Cesar Miranda of Mexico earlier this year, will fight Masuda in the northern Thai province of Chiang Mai on August 28, according to a press conference held by his promoters on August 5.

Their match will be part of a large event that will also host a tournament of eight muaythai fighters, one of whom is the versatile Wanheng Meenayothin who holds the WBC youth strawweight title.

Thailand’s 40-year-old former world champion Veeraphol Sahaprom is still on track in his bid for a rematch with long-time rival Toshiaki Nishioka of Japan, says his promoter.

Veeraphol won the WBC bantamweight champion title twice in 1995 and 1998 and has defended his title against Nishioka four times, resulting in two wins and two draws.

His promoter Suchart Pisitwutthinan said there is “a high chance” for their fifth fight as he is currently negotiating with Nishioka’s promoter in Japan. Suchart said Veeraphol is ready and still physically fit for the match, despite his age.

WBA “interim” bantamweight title holder Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym will fight the ordinary title holder Bernard Dunne outside of his home country Thailand, as Dunne’s promoter has offered a higher bid, says Poonsawat’s manager.

Dunne’s promoter has won the right to host the event after offering about US$ 120,000 for the match, which will be held in either Dunne’s home country Ireland, Macao, or the U.S., although the date and time have not been decided.

Thai boxer Saenmuangloei Sor Kingstar is scheduled to defend his WBC international flyweight title in his home town Loei on August 25, says the event orginizer.

Saenmuangloei claimed the WBC international title by beating Indonesia's Bayu Anggoro earlier in April and successfully defend it from Filipino challenger Rodel Quilaton on July 10. His next title match will be part of an event at the Northeastern Thai town of Loei that will be organized by the local officials.

Thailand's Ratanapol Sor Vorapin has announced he would quit boxing after losing a PABA title bout by knockout to Filipino Rey Migreno yesterday.

Former world champion Ratanapol fought to defend his PABA flyweight title against Migreno in Phuket in Southern Thailand on July 10 as part of an event to promote local tourism. The Thai boxer started the game with his signature move, a leading straight right punch following by a left, which missed the target and was countered by Migreno's strike, sending Ratanapol down for a count of eight.

In the next rounds, Ratanapol tried harder but his Filipino was able to launch accurate counter punches. In the fourth round, Ratanapol was hit hard in his face by a right punch, and was again down to the canvas, but was saved by the bell.