Pongsaklek-Arce Bout on the Horizon

Big news in the flyweight division out of Bangkok, Thailand. Negotiations are now underway for a WBC flyweight championship showdown between longtime champion Pongsaklek Wongjamkam and “interim champion” Jorge Arce. According to WBC representative and Bangkok Post journalist Edward Thangarajah, WBCPresident Jose Sulaiman has given the two fighters until October 30th to negotiate the specifics of the fight. If an agreement can’t be reached the contest will go to a purse bid.

Both Wongjamkam and Arce were victorious in recent bouts and the former light flyweight champion Arce has been extremely vocal, calling out numerous fighters in the junior flyweight and flyweight divisions, including Wongjamkam. The fight had been scheduled to take place in July on the under card of the Christy Martin-Lucia Rijker confrontation, but the bout failed to come off and the entire card was later cancelled.

Promoter Virat Vachchiraratanawongse and the Pongsaklek camp would like the bout to be held in Thailand if financially feasible. Insiders from the Pongsaklek camp have stated Arce was offered $100,000 to come to Thailand after the July fight was cancelled and declined the offer.

While the matchup is eagerly anticipated and long-awaited by fans and the boxing community alike, the addition of the “interim title” has made the already confusing world title situations even more confusing. Below are two more examples of the WBC’s infinite wisdom, logic and (fill in the blank).

The WBC recently stated at their annual convention in La Linea de la Concepcion, Spain:

”Flyweight: World champion Pongsaklek Wonjongkam of Thailand must next fight #1 ranked official challenger Rosendo Alvarez of Nicaragua”

Why would they publicly state “Pongsaklek Wongjamkam of Thailand must next face #1 challenger Rosendo Alvarez” while also stating an agreement must be made with Jorge Arce who is the mandatory challenger? How many mandatory challengers can one division have? Granted, the Wongjamkam-Arce fight looks to be an explosive encounter, but that’s irrelevant. What about the #1 ranked, official challenger Rosendo Alvarez and his promised opportunity? Perhaps this demonstrates good reason why NOT to have an interim title.

Also stated at the WBC’s annual convention:

”The winner of the fight between world champion Diego Corrales of the United States and No. 1 ranked Jose Luis Castillo of Mexico was approved for a voluntary defense in December, then must fight No. 2 ranked Sirimongkol Singwancha of Thailand.”

A day after the convention ended Jose Luis Castillo knocked out Diego Corrales. He may or may not have won his fight with Diego Corrales on the scales, but if you read a little deeper into the WBC’s recent declaration, it seems Corrales is in danger of being stripped if he chooses not to defend against Castillo.

October 13, 2005 – Düsseldorf, Germany – From WBC President Jose Sulaiman:

Rule WC-13 (b), which relates to non-compliance with the championship weight limit, clearly states that a champion wins by default and retains his title when the challenger does not make the statutory weight of the division during the official weigh-in ceremony, or within a two hour period thereafter.

Therefore, in accordance with the WBC Rules and Regulations, Diego Corrales retained his WBC Lightweight Championship of the World on October 8, 2005, when Jose Luis Castillo could not make the prescribed weight of 135 pounds (61.235 kg.).

However, due to the circumstances of the victory by Jose Luis Castillo in the ring, I am taking a vote with the Board of Governors of the institution, to order a rematch with no intervening defenses, with the following conditions:

1. That Jose Luis Castillo obtains a medical approval that he can make the lightweight division without harmful physical sacrifices.

2. That Diego Corrales takes the required medical resting period and medical examinations as prescribed by the Medical Board of the Nevada State Athletic Commission, where the bout was held.

3. That both boxers accept to be subjected to the WBC mandatory extra official weigh-ins to be held 30 and seven days prior to the official weigh-in 24 to 30 hours before their bout, with no more than 10 percent and five percent, respectively, of excess weight over the limits of the lightweight division.

“I am taking a vote with the Board of Governors of the institution, to order a rematch with no intervening defenses.”

”Both boxers must accept this ruling, if so voted in favor by the WBC Board of Governors, for the WBC to continue extending its official recognition to the WBC championship.”

Jose Luis Castillo doesn’t make weight for a championship fight which is crime enough and there’s really no excuse for it. If he can’t make weight he shouldn’t take the fight. It’s not only unfair to the public and the opposing fighter; it can also have lethal consequences.

Then his camp cheats and gets caught red-footed. After stating in the WBC convention that the winner of the bout is approved for a voluntary December defense, you now state you are “taking a vote to order a rematch. Both boxers must accept Ruling WC-13 (b), if so voted in favor by the WBC Board of Governors, for the WBC to continue extending its official recognition to the WBC championship.

”Corrales may want to fight Castillo in a rematch and both fighters may very well meet your guidelines but that’s immaterial. It seems pretty clear if Corrales decides not to fight Castillo, the WBC will no longer extend its official recognition to the championship.

Instead of rewarding Castillo with a second chance at the title, shouldn’t you consider giving Corrales his voluntary defense? He did after all retain the title.

If he didn’t technically defend his title, why make a rematch mandatory? Castillo is the one ultimately responsible for not making weight, not Corrales. Regardless of what Diego Corrales wants or decides to do he should still be allowed to keep his title if he decides not to fight Castillo. Why not make the #2 challenger Sirimongkol Singwancha the mandatory? That would at least be understandable. Boxing is, after all, for the fans and the fighters, not for the benefit of the WBC or any of the other countless boxing organizations.

INDONESIAN bantamweight Antonius Rahayan has been released from the Christian University Hospital in Jakarta after having brain surgery to remove a blood clot. Rahayan was knocked out September 22nd in round six by a fighter known as “Saiman.”

ROY Doliguez of the Philippines will be fighting twice in one week in upcoming bouts. He’ll first meet Robert Allanic in the Philippines on October 29 and then travel to Thailand to meet highly rated former world champion Veerapol Seehaprom (Nakornluang). Should Seehaprom win he moves towards a possible bout with the winner of Hozumi Hasegawa and Diego Morales.

Quick Results

October 10, 2005 – Channel 7 Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand

Panomroonglek Kratingdaenggym UD10 Chris Dujali

October 13, 2005 – Bangkok, Thailand

Pornsawan Porpramook UD12 Carlo Besares (PABA Minimumweight Title)

October 13, 2005 – Indosiar Studio, Jakarta, Indonesia

Tia Koswara SD12 Immanuel Bay (Indonesian Light Welterweight Title)

October 14, 2005 – El Poliforo, Ciudad, Juarez, CHH, Mexico

Miguel Roman KO4 Reman Salim (WBC Youth Bantamweight Title)

October 17, 2005 – Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan

Sasha Bakhtin UD10 Masayoshi Tachiki (Japanese Bantamweight Title)

October 18, 2005 – Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan

Peter Mitrevski Jr. TD10 Yoshinori Nishizawa (Vacant OPBF Super Middleweight Title)

Upcoming Bouts

October 20, 2005 – Bangkok, Thailand

Crazy Kim vs. Somchai Chimrum (Vacant Asian Boxing Council [WBC] Light Middleweight Title)

October 24, 2005 – Thailand

Pakphum Chengphonak vs. Dondon Sultan (PABA Welterweight Title)

October 26, 2005 – Bangkok, Thailand

Carina Moreno vs. Nongmai Sor Siriporn (WBC Women’s Mini Flyweight Title)

October 28, 2005 – Sakaew, Thailand

Oleydong Sithsamerchai vs. Jerry Duaso (WBC Youth Minimumweight Title/Asian Boxing Council [WBC] Minimumweight Title)

October 29, 2005 – Tucson, Arizona, USA

Jhonny Gonzalez vs. Ratanachai Sor Vorapin (WBO Bantamweight Title)

Fernando Montiel vs. Pramuansak Phosawan (WBO Junior Bantamweight Title)

Hugo Cazares vs. Kaichon Sor Vorapin (WBO Junior Flyweight Title)

Daniel Ponce de Leon vs. Sod Looknongyangtoy (WBO Junior Featherweight Title)

October 29, 2005 – San Andres Civic & Sports Center, Manila, Philippines

Dexter Delada vs. Fernando Montilla (Philippine Lightweight Title)

Eric Barcelona vs. Celso Danggod (Philippine Super Flyweight Title)

October 29, 2005 Sports and Cultural Complex, Mandaue City, Philippines

Michael Domingo vs. Rolly Lunas (RP bantamweight championship)

Z. Gorres vs. Wisanu Pornobnom (OPBF Super Flyweight Eliminator)

October 30, 2005 – City Sogo Gym, Takasago, Japan

Masaki Kawabata vs. Pramote Sor Vorapin

Akinori Kanai vs. Hiroto Takeshita

Keiji Eguchi vs. Changsak Twinsgym

October 30, 2005 – Clover Plaza, Kashuga, Japan

Seishu Lida vs. Koji Otsuka

October 31, 2005 – Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan

Toshikazu Waga vs. Weerasak Chuwatana