Filipino superstar boxer Manny Pacquiao has defeated challenger Joshua Clottey of Ghana by unanimous decision to retain his WBO welterweight title.

Pacquiao enjoyed quite a one-side slaughter against the defensive Clottey at the WBO match held in Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Texas, on Saturday March 13.

The first round was a slow start as Pacquiao’s attempts to strike were mostly blocked by the well-guarded Clottey. The Filipino ramped up his attacks in the second round but none hit, while his opponent used straight punches to counter his aggression.

The third round was remembered for Clottey’s strike that landed on Pacquiao’s face, although the Filipino’s punches started to get through Clottey’s guards as well. In the fourth round, Pacquiao clearly gained control of the fight and was able to land hits to the midsection.

In the fifth and sixth round, the champion mostly kept his distance but tried to use his flurries on Clottey, who started to show some action in the seventh round with some nice hit to midsection in the middle of the round.

Thailand’s PABA light flyweight champion Wisanu Pornobnum has successfully retained his title by beating Indonesian challenger Ichal Tobidal by decision, while his manager is looking to have him challenge the interim WBA champion Juan Carlos Reveco of Argentina.

In an event held in the town of Kamphaeng Phet in Thailand on March 12, Wisanu defeated Tobidal by unanimous decision with scores 119-110, 118-109 and 117-110, while his fellow Thai boxers Pigmy Muangchaiyaphum and Wandee Singwangcha also defeated their respectively Indonesian opponents.

In the female boxing matches, two Thai pugilists Buarimbueng Kokietgym and Duennapa Kiatkriangsak emerged as winners in the bouts despite the tragic death of their manager Kosit Chuayboonsong after a car hit earlier on the same day.

Filipino boxing king Manny Pacquiao is confident that his agility and pure force will let him defeat challenger Joshua Clottey of Ghana.

Pacquiao is convinced his superior agility and power will ensure victory, although he is expected to be on the disadvantage side due to his shorter reach when he faces Clottey at the WBO welterweight title planned in Dallas, Texas, on Saturday March 13.

The Filipino superstar praised Clottey for being very skilled, strong and much taller than him, but he said he would not underestimate his opponent and would produce the best performance to please his fans.

Clottey said he was not just a replacement for Floyd Mayweather Junior, whose planned match against Pacquiao was cancelled, and would make sure the champion have tough time fighting him.

Thailand’s Pongsaklek Wonjongkam will have a tough time fighting WBC flyweight champion Koki Kameda of Japan, says the Thai boxer’s sponsor.

Pongsaklek, now holding an interim title, should aim for a knockout as he does not have much chance to win by decision, said Pong Visedpaitoon of Charoen Pokphand Food on his visit to the Petchyindee Gym of promoters Wirat and Piyarat Wachiraratanawong.

“Pongsaklek’s fight is most worrisome. In this match, I want him to remind himself that he has to fight many opponents at the same time. Besides Kameda, he will also have to face three judges and the referee. This is like fighting five opponents at the same time,” said Pong.

Thailand’s Denkaosan Kaovichit may have a chance for another rematch against Japan’s Daiki Kameda whom he lost WBA flyweight belt to earlier, although the Thai boxer will first have to beat Filipino Rey Migreno in a match at the end of this month, says his promoter.

Niwat Laosuwannawat said although Denkaosan has lost his WBA title to Kameda last month, he is still at the second place of the WBA flyweight class and can exercise his right for a rematch, which Niwat plans to be held in Thailand at the end of this year.

However, he said such rematch is only possible if Denkaosan defeats PABA flyweight champion Migreno at an event in the Thai town of Uttaradit on March 26. Migreno claimed the PABA title in December last year when he knocked out Thailand’s Fonluang Sor Tanapinyo.

WBC president Jose Sulaiman says the judges in the much-anticipated WBC flyweight match of champion Koki Kameda of Japan and interim title holder Pongsaklek Wonjongkam of Thailand will be from the U.S. and Europe.

Sulaiman, currently staying in Thailand to receive an honorary degree from a Thai university, promised fairness of officials in the upcoming WBC flyweight match that will be held in Japan on March 27, despite earlier incidents involving members of the Kameda family. The judges, in particular, will be recruited from the US and Europe, and not from Asian countries, according to him.

The 79-year-old WBC chief also expressed that he wished to perform the match supervisor role but would have to assign a representative instead due to his age and health issues.

WBC president Jose Sulaiman has arrived in Thailand where he will be awarded an honorary doctorate degree from a local university.  

The 79-year-old WBC chief, who travelled to Bangkok with his son Fernando Sulaiman, was warmly received at Suvarnabhumi airport on February 25 by WBC governor Edward Thangarajah, Thai promoter Wirat Wachiraratanawong and his two WBC champions flyweight “interim” title holder Thai Pongsaklek Wonjongkam and stawweight Oleydong Sithsamerchai. 

Sulaiman will attend a degree awarding ceremony in Bangkok on March 1 for a doctoral degree in physical education and leisure from Bansomdejchaopraya Rajabhat University.

PABA minimumweight champion Kwanthai Sitmorseng of Thailand will defend his title in the Laotian capital Vientiane on April 27, says his promoter Niwat Laosuwannawat.

Niwat said the negotiation on Kwanthai’s PABA title defense on April 27 has been finalized and the Vientiane match will be sponsored by a number of Laotian businesses. It will be live broadcasted in both Laos and Thailand, according to the Thai promoter.

Niwat said the Laotian sport authorities asked him to continue arranging more boxing matches there, but he had not decided on the details. He is planning to hold a press conference in Vientiane on the subject soon.

WBC president Jose Sulaiman is planning an eight-day visit to Bangkok in early March, during which he will be awarded an honorary doctorate degree from a Thai university.

Sulaiman, who has been to Thailand several times, will attend the degree awarding ceremony at Bansomdejchaopraya Rajabhat University on March 1 for his physical education degree as well as paying a visit to Siriraj Hospital where His Majesty the King resides.

He will be accompanied by a number of former and current Thai WBC champions such as former bantamweight champion Veeraphol Sahaprom, flyweight “interim” title holder Thai Pongsaklek Wonjongkam and stawweight champion Oleydong Sithsamerchai in his hospital visit.