Earlier immediately in Perth, Australia, WBA strawweight champ Thammanoon Niyomtrong (who additionally fights beneath the identify Knockout CP Freshmart) retained his belt for a powerful twelfth time as he scored a 12-round majority choice win over native fighter Alex Winwood. It was a great, at occasions shut struggle, with it turning out that the 33 12 months outdated champion actually did want the 2 knockdowns he scored. Niyomtrong of Thailand dropped Winwood – who was difficult for a world title after simply 4 professional begins, all wins – in rounds seven and 9.
The scores learn 114-112, 114-112 for Niyomtrong, with the third choose having all of it even at 113-113. Most followers and observers felt Niyomtrong received by a far greater margin. Niyomtrong is now 25-0(9), whereas 27-year-old Winwood falls to 4-1(2).
It was a sluggish begin from Niyomtrong, however the older, much more skilled man bought stronger and stronger because the struggle went on. Winwood, quicker and faster, arguably swept the opening 4 rounds, however the champion then got here on. Niyomtrong scored a heavy knockdown within the seventh, and his harmful left hook was doing the injury. Winwood did nicely to get again up and he then did nicely to make it out of the spherical. Within the ninth, a Niyomtrong proper hand scored the struggle’s second knockdown, and from right here on in, it was all Niyomtrong, which made the ultra-close scores that rather more puzzling.
Niyomtrong is the longest-reigning male world champion, having held the WBA title since again in 2016. A fairly very good little large, Niyomtrong has given us some particular motion in his time (see his wilder than wild slugfest with Robert Paradero from December of 2021), and he has now proven he he unafraid to struggle away from residence, immediately’s struggle being simply his second exterior of Thailand. Nonetheless, after nearly being robbed of his belt as a consequence of these inaccurately shut scores, the 33-year-old could choose to return to combating at residence.
Winwood can come once more, in fact. It was fairly an audacious transfer, difficult for a world title after simply 4 professional bouts.
