WBC Asian Boxing Council (ABCO) lightweight champion Saddam Sam-k Battery has defeated challenger Serikzhan Yeshmagambetov of Kazakhstan in a technical knockout on Koh Pha Ngan, Surat Thani, on December 19.

The ABCO title defense bout was part of a boxing event held on the island, which was crowded with both Thai and foreign spectators who enjoyed the action-packed bouts that sent some boxers to the hospital.

Saddam Sam-k Battery, also known as Saddam Kietyongyuth, was the aggressor from the very beginning of the match, while the Kazakh fighter was initially able to counter his attacks with jabs and right punches, but later was hit in the face several times.

Denkaosan Kratingdaenggym is ready for the match against WBA flyweight Takefumi Sakata of Japan, saying he has prepared well and will be able to exact sweet revenge over the Japanese champion.

The WBA flyweight match of title holder Takefumi Sakata of Japan and Thai challenger Denkaosan Kratingdaenggym, also known as Denkaosan Kaovichit, will be held at Sun Plaza Hall in Hiroshima, Japan, on Wednesday December 31 and will be broadcasted via Channel Three network from 3.50 a.m. to 5.00 a.m., Thai time.

Before leaving for Japan on Tuesday December 23, Denkaosan had been training at Patthawikorn Gym under former WBA champion Khaosai Galaxy and trainer Durong Apollo. He had studied the recent fight of the Japanese champion and believed he has found a way to win his match.

WBA heavyweight champion Nikolai Valuev has defeated 46-year-old challenger Evander Holyfield by majority decision in his first title defense bout on November 21.

The heavyweight fight was held on the night of Saturday December 20, local time, in Zurich, Switzerland, pitting Russian belt holder Valuev, 35, against Holyfield, a 44-year-old former world title holder who was looking to return to glory as the fifth-time heavyweight champion.

Shorter in stature and reach, the U.S. boxer was utilizing his agility and the hit-and-run strategy in the earlier rounds, but the aggressive Valuev increasingly became more accurate with his jabs and was able to strike with hooks and uppercuts by rounds seven and eight.

The Asian Boxing Council (ABCO) has selected Kazakhstani pugilist Beibut Shumenov for the best boxer award and Russian German Titov for the best promoter of 2008.

The awards were announced at an ABCO meeting at Asia Hotel in Bangkok on December 16, which was presided over by council president Police General Kovid Bhakdibhumi and attended by various well-known Thai promoters including Kokiet Panichayarom, Naris Sinwangcha, and Pramuk Rojanatan.

Asides from Shumenov and Titov, Thailand’s Chonlatarn Or Piriyapinyo and Filipino Jaime Barcelona were given the best match award for their fight at Saraburi on November 22, in which Chonlatarn won.

Denkaosan Kratingdaenggym is confident of the match against WBA flyweight Takefumi Sakata of Japan in December, saying it is time for him to become the world champion.

The Thai boxer is preparing to leave Thailand for a training session in Tokyo before fighting Sakata in Hiroshima on Wednesday December 31. He said his manager Naris Singwangcha has bought him winter attires for the expected cold weather and snow in Japan.

The two fought in a somewhat controversial fight that ended up with a draw last year. Denkaosan is now in an intensive training program at Pattawikorn Camp under former WBA champion Khaosai Galaxy.

Nongmuay Kokietgym will fight South Korea’s Kim Dan-Bi on February 2 for the WBC female light flyweight title that was earlier held by Samson Sor Siriporn.

Citing that Samsan failed to fight in title defending matches for months, the WBC has granted her a “champion emeritus” status, while allowing the match of Nongmuay and Kim to be held at Nakhon Ratchasima on February 2 of the next year, which will be broadcasted by the Channel Seven network.

The Thai boxer, who is also known as Nongmuay Sithkruleor, has been training for more than two weeks at the facility at Samsen under Filipio mentor Ronny Cabannero in order to re-adjust her jab-heavy amateur boxing style to a professional that focuses on combinations and uppercuts, said promoter Kokiet Panichayarom.

PABA super flyweight champion Duangpetch Kokietgym has defeated Filipino challenger Ray Migreno on December 12, paving his way to the world title in the next year.

The Thai boxer, who is also known as Duangpetch Saengmorakot, was the aggressor while Migreno employed a strategy of counter-strikes throughout the 11 rounds of the match in La-ngu, Satun, on Friday December 12.

Migreno was able to hit Duangpetch’s face with a combination in the fourth round, causing the Thai fighter to shiver, but he quickly regained his position in the same round.

PABA super flyweight beltholder Duangpetch Kokietgym (Duangpetch Saengmorakot) will fight Filipino challenger Ray Migreno on December 12.

The match will be held as part of an event on Friday December 12 in La-ngu, Satun, to promote the tourism of the coastal southern province as well as encouraging the local youth to play sports, said event director Thiti Kongsuwattana. Channel Seven network will broadcast the match from 3.00 p.m. on.

In addition to the PABA title defense of Duangpetch, some other boxing and muaythai matches will also be featured including Pygmy Kokietgym vs. Eric Diaz Ciraygar of Indonesia, Decho Kokietgym vs. Jome Barcelona of the Philippines, and Pathomporn Kokietgym vs. Saensak Poesuwangym.

Superstar boxer Manny Pacquiao was greeted with a warm welcome from President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of the Philippines when he arrived at his home town Manila after the win over the “dream match” against American legend Oscar de la Hoya.

Pacquiao shared a boxing-glove-shaped cake that wrote “No. 1 World Boxer pound by pound” with President Arroyao at the Government House. The Filipino premier praised “Pacman” Pacquiao for giving an inspiration for the people of the Philippines. She also called the boxer a national “hero”.

The boxer, 29, was able to launch salvage beatings on the famed former world champion de la Hoya for eight rounds before the latter gave up the fight held in Las Vegas, the U.S., on December 6.