BOXING/WORLD TITLE FIGHT:POONSAWAT KRATINGDAENGGYM, now for linguistic reasons affectionately known as "The Thai", might not be the ideal opponent for Bernard Dunne's first defence of his WBA Super Bantamweight world title. Recent experience, however, has taught fans to never again doubt the qualities of the Irish champion.
Dunne will make his first defence at the O2, Dublin, on Saturday, September 26th when he faces the number one-rated contender and the fighter the WBA told promoter Brian Peters his man must face in a mandatory challenge.
Poonsawat has fought 39 times and lost just once when he fought outside his own territory in Germany. Of his wins, 27 have come in the way of knockouts. There was broad agreement yesterday between Dunne, Peters and trainer Harry Hawkins that he is a technically proficient and tough fighter.
“We would have preferred a voluntary defence,” confirmed Peters. “But the WBA ruled against it and said we first had to look after Poonsawat. We’d talks with (Cellestino) Caballero and (Israel) Vasquez, which shows that Bernard Dunne is up to fight anyone.”
Poonsawat will represent a genuine threat, although, after taking Ricardo Cordoba to 12 rounds to win the title, few can doubt Dunne’s durability. The Dubliner was on the canvas twice against Cordoba before coming back to heroically win a contest that had a truly epic sweep to the way it unfolded.
“He has been sitting in the mandatory position for 18 months,” said Dunne. “I said let’s fight him, put him to bed. He’s always going to be there. But he has to come to my home town to take my belt in front of my fans. That’s a tall order for any fighter.
“He’s all action. I won’t have to chase him around the ring, that’s for sure. But I feel technically I can handle anyone in the world and physically I’ve shown what I am capable of too. It is huge compliment that he is being referred to as Thailand’s Manny Pacquiao. Pacquiao is the best fighter in the world so hopefully those comparisons are not accurate.
“I hope to keep him on the outside. I’ve a three-inch advantage and I’m a better boxer than a fighter. Mentally, after coming back twice against Cordoba I know what I’m capable of.”
Mike McGurn, the former rugby physical trainer and the man shaping Dunne’s training regime, believes the 29-year-old can improve three-fold even on the Cordoba performance. But equally Poonsawat also holds a win over Cordoba. The Thai figher’s sole defeat came three years ago, when he lost a close decision to then WBA World Bantamweight Champion, Wladimir Sidorenko. That loss clearly hasn’t put him off travelling to Europe once again in the hope of ripping the title from Dunne. “I’ve been waiting for this chance for a very long time but I’ve kept busy and I am very determined to finally get what I deserve,” said the 28-year-old before predicting, “I believe that I will knock Dunne out inside seven rounds.”
Poonsawat added that he’s reserving judgment on the strength of the Irishman until he steps into the ring with him in Dublin, although, it has not stopped him from engaging in the first round of trash talk. “I watched that fight and both Dunne and Cordoba are good boxers but I’m not sure Cordoba was in the best of shape for that fight. I fought him before and I know he’s not an easy guy to knock down. So either he came in to that fight in poor condition or else Dunne must be a very big puncher.
“Clearly Dunne has a great fighting heart but I don’t see him as a very skilled boxer. He proved against Cordoba that he has a big heart and maybe he is a big puncher too but we will see what happens next month.”
The fight represents Poonsawat’s chance to finally have a chance at snatching one of the world belts. There is no doubt he is one of the boxers the champion would have preferred to fight after he’d had a couple of successful defences.
In Dunne’s favour, the only blemish on his record was when he was asked to travel to Europe. Dublin will be even less welcoming than Germany. But even Hawkins respects his ability.
“He’s very, very skilful, great head movement and he has a punch. But Bernard has the skills and he can take a lot of pluses with him from the Cordoba fight. If he goes 12 rounds, he will win this fight.”
Dunne will not wish for another 12-round war. His understatement yesterday that after the Cordoba fight he was “sore the next day” illustrates that the Panamanian almost brought as much to the fight as the Dubliner.
“I was a challenger that day who wanted it very much,” said Dunne. “He’s been chomping at the bit for 18 months and now he has the fight he wants. It’s been great being a world champion but I want to stay there. I still have the hunger.”
