IBF Pan-Pacific bantamweight champion Thangthong Kiattaweesuk is “nearly 100%’ ready for the match to defend his title against Dexter Mandoza of the Philippines, says promoter Ekkarat “Jimmy” Chaichotchuang.

The promoter said Thangthong, also spelled Tangtong, who was a national boxing athlete of Thailand and a muaythai champion, has been training at the Bonanza Camp at Khao Yai together with the national boxing squad. He said the physical conditions of the fighter are “nearly 100%” ready for the match with Mandoza who is ranked fourth in the IBF bantamweight category and has a record of eleven wins and one loss.

“Although Thangthong has extensive experiences with the muaythai and amateur boxing rings, the match with Mandoza must not be underestimated. It is considered a tough battle,” said Ekkarat.

The promoter also said the match would be crucial to the professional boxing career of Thangthong as International Boxing Federation (IBF) vice chief Ray Wheatley, who would come to Thailand to watch the match, would allow Thangthong to challenge IBF champion Joseph Agbeko of Ghana for the world title within the next year if the Thai boxer was able to defend his pan-pacific title.

According to the Thai promoter, Wheatley said Thangthong has maintained an impressive performance in the IBF matches but would have to start climbing up the rank all over again if he lost the fight against Mandoza.

The match will be held at a makeshift stadium at Petkasem Management Science School in Nongkham, Bangkok, at 3.00 p.m. on Friday October 24. Part of the “Suek Yod Muay Lok Tan Ya Septid” event (Battle of World Boxing Against Drug Use), the bout will be broadcasted by the Channel Seven network.

Principal Orapan Sinprasong, who will preside over the event, said she wanted the event to encourage the youth to participate in sport instead of drugs as well as to support the Thai boxers in world title bouts.

News: global-repor