Pungluang Sor Singyu: ‘I have learned from the past’

Aug

Last Friday, Pungluang Sor Singyu (51-3, 35 knockouts) regained the vacant WBO bantamweight title, stopping Ryo Akaho (26-2-2, 18 KOs) in two rounds.

Pungluang gave his fans at the Central Stadium in the Ratchaburi Province something to cheer about when he dropped his Japanese opponent along the ropes, after coming out of a clinch and moving Akaho toward the corner. When Akaho moved back, he was caught with his hands down by a combination that dropped him to his knees. He was unable to recover and was counted out by referee Robert Byrd at 1:08 of the round.

The 27-year-old former Muay Thai fighter has enjoyed some well deserved rest since the win but is now back in the gym.

“I am back training,” Pungluang humbly told RingTV.com through Dr. Siraphop Ratanasuban. “I am waiting for my mandatory in 90 days to fight again.”

Pungluang seems unfazed when faced with the considering his next challenge: “I have come back and will concentrate on only boxing training.”

The Thai champion had previously reigned for five months in Oct. 2012 until March 2013 when he traveled to Namibia to face Paulus Ambunda. He then attempted to regain his strap when he fought Tomoki Kameda in Las Vegas last summer but was stopped in seven rounds.

“I will keep this title as long as I can,” he said proudly. “I have learned from the past. Now I will train hard before I relax too much.”

Thai fighters are notoriously tough to beat at home, though generally poor travelers. Although Pungluang first won the WBO strap in the Philippines, his three losses have all come on the road. It would appear to suggest that if his paymasters are able to back him financially at home, he could reign longer than in his first tenure.

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