Nop falls to power and experience of Cermeno
Nop Kratingdaenggym paid for his inexperience after being stopped by WBA super-bantamweight champion Nehomar Cermeno in China on Friday night.
In his first world title attempt, the 24-year-old Nop (Anurak Thisa), ranked 15th in the division, could not match the powerful champion.
The Thai started well in the first round, utilising his superior pace and movement.
He continued to do so until late in the second round when his opponent was saved by the bell.
However, the 36-year-old champion, who was defending his title for the first time, upped his game towards the end of the third round.
With 40 seconds remaining, Cermeno landed a heavy combination of punches before flooring the Thai with a lethal left hook.
Nop failed to recover in time and the fight was awarded to Cermano by knockout.
It was the first loss of Nop’s fighting career, which consists of 17 wins including five knockouts.
The champion from Venezuela improved his record to 25 wins (15KOs) against five l osses and one draw.
“I am sorry I could not take home the belt,” said a highly-disappointed Nop after the bout.
Meanwhile, his manager Taweesin Laosuwanwat said he believed the unfavourable result might have been caused by a weight problem.
“He was exactly at the required weight limit of 122 pounds when we arrived in China,” he said.
“And he did not eat much because he was afraid to go over the limit.”
In Japan, Kyodo reported that IBF’s fifth-ranked super-bantamweight boxer Yukinori Oguni will take his first crack at a world title against champion Jonathan Guzman in Japan on Dec 31.
The Kadoebi Houseki Boxing Gym said will hold a news conference as soon as a venue for the bout has been found.
The 28-year-old Oguni has 18 wins in 20 bouts including seven knockouts with one loss and a draw.
His 27-year-old opponent from the Dominican Republic is perfect through 22 fights for his career.
Guzman captured the vacant IBF super-bantamweight title in July, defeating Japan’s Shingo Wake by technical knockout.