Yodsanan “Thai Tyson” Sor Nanthachai Ready for Jaca, Title Shot!

June 26, 2008

By Scott Mallon / Photo: Scott Mallon

Sor Nanthachai and Kietyongyuth training side-by-side at the Sithyodtong camp

It’s been three long years since Thailand’s Yodsanan Sor Nanthachai (55-3-1, 44 KOs) lost his WBA super featherweight title to Vicente Mosquera (24-2-1, 12 KOs) in Madison Square Garden. In all-out slugfest that saw Sor Nanthachai hit the deck three times and Mosquera once. Sor Nanthachai, also known as Yodsanan 3K Battery and Yodsanan Sithyodtong, proved he had a granite chin, while Mosquera proved he deserved to be at the top of the heap.

Mosquera went on to hold the title for just over a year before suffering a tenth round knockout at the hands of Edwin Valero. He has been inactive since then. Sor Nanthachai has racked up eleven straight victories since the loss to Mosquera, and on Friday, in Pattaya, Thailand, he’ll face his toughest opponent in years when he goes up against Jimrex Jaca (28-4-3, 13 KOs) of the Philippines in a lightweight battle.

Jaca, best remembered for his bloody nine-round battle with Juan Manuel Marquez, should present a stiff test for the Thai. Although Jaca hasn’t been the same fighter since losing to the Mexican - in his four subsequent bouts to the Marquez contest he’s scored one victory, one defeat, and two draws – he’ll act as a measuring stick to see where Sor Nanthachai stands in the lightweight and super lightweight divisions.

Currently ranked 8th by the WBA in the super lightweight division and 12th by the WBC and IBF at lightweight, Sor Nanthachai, 33, is ready to make another run at a world title.

When asked if there were one champion he would prefer to fight, Sor Nanthachai replied flatly, “I don’t care who I fight or whether it’s at 135lbs or 140lbs. I’ll fight anyone; I just want a title shot.”

Also on the card, superb prospect Saddam Kietyongyuth (14-0, 10 KOs) faces JR Sollano (13-7, 9 KOs) of the Philippines for the vacant ABCO title. In his last bout, on the undercard of Chris John-Roinet Caballero, Kietyongyuth engaged in an all-out war with Indonesia’s Alex Bajawa (36-3-2, 11 KOs) before finally knocking out the veteran in the fifth round. Kietyongyuth hopes to land a bout with Australian-based Filipino fighter Ranee Ganoy.

This event is the first staged by fledgling promoter Asia Box Promotions.

Visit Boxing in Asia and Far East Photos