TOKYO (AFP) – Former Thai champion Pongsaklek Wonjongkam successfully regained the World Boxing Council flyweight title when he outpointed holder Koki Kameda of Japan on Saturday.
Two judges counted it 116-112 and 115-112, while the other judge had it 114-114.
Pongsaklek became the champion in March 2001 and defended the title 17 straight times, a record in the WBC flyweight class, stretching his winning streak to 56.
But he lost to Japan's Daisuke Naito by a unanimous decision in July 2007 before becoming the interim champion in April last year.
Pongsaklek bettered his record to 75 wins, including 39 KOs, against three defeats and a draw.
Pongsaklek overcame Kameda with a superior technique and calm fighting, connecting a right hook in the second round to lead 39-37, 40-36, 38-38 after the fourth round.
Although Pongsaklek lost a penalty point with an accidental batting in the fifth round, which cut Kameda's right eyelid, the Thai boxer unleashed a right hook and straight right to lead 77-75, 77-74 and 75-76 after eight rounds.
Pongsaklek hit a couple of lightning right upper cuts in the 11th round, which drew blood from Kameda's nose, forcing the Japanese to fight desperately in the final round.
For notorious "bad boy" Kameda, it was his first defence of the title he took from Naito in November last year, and it was his first tast of severe defeat after winning 22 straight bouts, including 14 KOs.
In October 2007, Kameda's younger brother Daiki challenged Naito with dirty tactics, wrestling the champion to the canvas in his failed title bid.
Daiki was suspended for a year and Koki was reprimanded by the Japan Boxing Commission for urging his brother to fight dirty. His father Shiro Kameda, then trainer, was also banned from being a cornerman.
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