Wanheng set to defend title
WBC minimumweight champion Wanheng Menayothin is expected to face a tough task when he defends his title against Melvin ‘Gringo’ Jerusalem of the Philippines in Phitsanulok today.
The 30-year-old Thai, who has won all of his 44 fights with 17 knockouts, will be making his sixth title defence against a formidable opponent who is ranked ninth and also undefeated.
“We cannot underestimate him. He is powerful,” Wanheng’s manager Piyarat Wachirarattanawong said after watching Jerusalem train.
Jerusalem, 22, has an 11-0 record (7KOs). Piyarat is also worried that history could repeat itself.
“In the past, three boxers from our camp — Chatchai Sasakul, Medgoen Kratingdaenggym and Pongsaklek Kratingdaenggym — lost their WBC titles to Philippine boxers,” he said.
However, the Thai’s manager believes that if Wanheng from Maha Sarakham can do well in the early rounds he will retain his belt.
“He has to make full use of his experience and home advantage,’’ Piyarat said.
Wanheng took the title from Oswaldo Novoa in November 2014 and has since successfully defended the crown five times.
He last fought in August when he beat Mexico’s Saul Juarez in Chon Buri.
Meanwhile, Britain’s double Olympic champion Nicola Adams will make her professional boxing debut on April 8, after becoming the latest high-profile women’s fighter to quit the amateur ranks, AFP reported.
The 34-year-old was one of the faces of the London 2012 Games — when she made history as the first woman to win Games boxing gold — but her decision to go pro all but means she will not pursue a third Games gold at Tokyo 2020, having retained her title in Rio last year.
“I want to take women’s boxing to the next level, become a world champion and do great things,” the bubbly flyweight said on Monday, announcing she was turning professional.
“It’s going to be quite different: no headgear for one. I have to create my own team now, but I’m really excited about doing that.”
Adams, a hugely popular figure in Britain who has won pretty much every major title open to her as an amateur, signed a long-term promotional deal with Frank Warren and will make her professional debut at Manchester Arena against an asyet-unnamed opponent.