Knockout in no mood to lose his title
WBA minimumweight title-holder Knockout CPF and challenger Byron Rojas are both confident of victory in their clash in Chon Buri today.
The fight, along with other bouts, will take place at a makeshift ring outside Chon Buri’s provincial hall and will be televised live by True4U from 6pm.
Both hit the scale at 104.5 pounds at yesterday’s weigh-in.
Nicaragua’s Rojas will be seeking revenge after he was dethroned by the Thai, whose real name is Thammanoon Niyomtrong, in Khon Kaen in 2016.
“I am very confident that I will win back the title,” said the 28-year-old challenger.
“I am here to take the belt back to Nicaragua.”
Earlier, Rojas, who has a record of 25 wins, three losses and three draws, said he had watched the tape of his loss to Knockout “about 200 times” over the past two years to study his own mistakes and his rival’s weaknesses.
Unbeaten Knockout, also 28, said Rojas looked faster than he was two years ago.
“I think his punches are not hard enough to knock me out. I am sure that I will still be champion after the fight,” said Knockout, who has won all his 18 bouts.
Knockout is one of Thailand’s only three reigning world boxing champions, with the other two being WBC minimumweight title-holder Wanheng Menayothin and WBC super-flyweight king Srisaket Sor Rungvisai.
Meanwhile, reigning UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov said his potential fight with undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather would be twice as interesting as Conor McGregor’s bout with the American.
“Our fight will be twice as interesting. Two unbeaten fighters, it will be interesting to see which one falls or takes a step back,” he said.
The Russian called out Mayweather in October but UFC president Dana White said they could only face off in a mixed martial arts fight and not inside a boxing ring as was the case with Irishman McGregor who lost to Mayweather last year. Thailand’s WBA minimumweight champion Knockout CPF, left, and Byron Rojas of Nicaragua face off during yesterday’s weigh-in in Chon Buri.