With blows, Thai boxer Wanheng Menayothin (49-0) has carved out an impeccable career in the ring to stand on the threshold of the hall of fame, just one victory away from becoming a living legend of the boxing.
Known on the circuit as a “giant dwarf”, Wanheng – whose birth name is Chayaphon Moonsri – is looking for fifty wins without losses to equal the current undefeated record, held by American boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr (50-0).
To reach this milestone, the current world minimum weight champion, version World Council of Boxing (WBC), will have to beat the challenger, the Panamanian Leroy Estrada (16-2), in a twelve-round fight that takes place this Wednesday in the Thai city of Nakhon Ratchasima.
Like many young people in rural Thailand, Wanheng started at an early age in the world of fighting through Muay Thai, considered the national sport.
The son of farmers living in the northeastern province of Maha Sarakham, one of the poorest regions of the country, the fighter saw in the fighting a way to escape poverty.
With a powerful and agile punch with his legs, the young man forged with blood and sweat the recognition in the world of this martial art, also known as “the art of the eight limbs” since the fists, elbows, legs are used and knees during fighting.
After a hundred fights – in which he added a handful of losses – Wanheng decided at the age of 21 to put on the gloves as a professional boxer.
More than a decade later, the Thai is still unaware of defeat.
The boxer, who measures 1.57 meters and weighs 47 kilos, made his debut in January 2007 against the Filipino Roel Gade with a victory by unanimous decision.
Two bouts later, in March of the same year, he clinched the WBC youth light flyweight champion belt by beating China’s Ma Yi Ming by technical knockout, retaining him in eight fights.
In 2009 he added the Interim International belt to his collection and in 2011 the International Silver and the International absolute, all in the same category.
Although it was not until November 2014 that the Asian achieved his first world record of the minimum weight by beating the Mexican Oswaldo Novoa, after the withdrawal of the American in the ninth round.
He has managed to defend the title eight times, the last six months ago against Japan’s Tatsuya Fukuhara.
This latest victory allowed him to equal the record of the legendary Rocky Marciano (49-0), who remained unbeaten from his debut in 1948 until his retirement in 1956.
At 32 years old and also with an unblemished card, Wanheng will face Estrada, nine years younger than the Thai, with the aim of maintaining the title and writing his name among the legends of the world. boxing.
“I’m ready,” the Thai fighter confidently assured during the press conference to present the fight.
Although he does not foresee a prompt withdrawal and even affirms that he would like – to beat Estrada – to defend his belt outside the country, the Thai, with a degree in Art from the University of Bangkok Thonburi, would like to achieve a position in public administration as policeman or soldier hanging up the gloves. EFE
Known on the circuit as a “giant dwarf”, Wanheng – whose birth name is Chayaphon Moonsri – is looking for fifty wins without losses to equal the current undefeated record, held by American boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr (50-0).
To reach this milestone, the current world minimum weight champion, version World Council of Boxing (WBC), will have to beat the challenger, the Panamanian Leroy Estrada (16-2), in a twelve-round fight that takes place this Wednesday in the Thai city of Nakhon Ratchasima.
Like many young people in rural Thailand, Wanheng started at an early age in the world of fighting through Muay Thai, considered the national sport.
The son of farmers living in the northeastern province of Maha Sarakham, one of the poorest regions of the country, the fighter saw in the fighting a way to escape poverty.
With a powerful and agile punch with his legs, the young man forged with blood and sweat the recognition in the world of this martial art, also known as “the art of the eight limbs” since the fists, elbows, legs are used and knees during fighting.
After a hundred fights – in which he added a handful of losses – Wanheng decided at the age of 21 to put on the gloves as a professional boxer.
More than a decade later, the Thai is still unaware of defeat.
The boxer, who measures 1.57 meters and weighs 47 kilos, made his debut in January 2007 against the Filipino Roel Gade with a victory by unanimous decision.
Two bouts later, in March of the same year, he clinched the WBC youth light flyweight champion belt by beating China’s Ma Yi Ming by technical knockout, retaining him in eight fights.
In 2009 he added the Interim International belt to his collection and in 2011 the International Silver and the International absolute, all in the same category.
Although it was not until November 2014 that the Asian achieved his first world record of the minimum weight by beating the Mexican Oswaldo Novoa, after the withdrawal of the American in the ninth round.
He has managed to defend the title eight times, the last six months ago against Japan’s Tatsuya Fukuhara.
This latest victory allowed him to equal the record of the legendary Rocky Marciano (49-0), who remained unbeaten from his debut in 1948 until his retirement in 1956.
At 32 years old and also with an unblemished card, Wanheng will face Estrada, nine years younger than the Thai, with the aim of maintaining the title and writing his name among the legends of the world. boxing.
“I’m ready,” the Thai fighter confidently assured during the press conference to present the fight.
Although he does not foresee a prompt withdrawal and even affirms that he would like – to beat Estrada – to defend his belt outside the country, the Thai, with a degree in Art from the University of Bangkok Thonburi, would like to achieve a position in public administration as policeman or soldier hanging up the gloves. EFE