Top-ranked Filipino minimumweight Rey Loreto (23-14, 15KOs) failed to capture the WBA World Championship from Thammanoon Niyomtrong (16-0, 7KOs), Saturday night at the City Hall Ground in Chonburi, Thailand.
Entering the match-up as the mandatory challenger to the Thai’s belt, Loreto started out strong early in the fight. The La Trinidad, Benguet-based boxer effectively used his range against the champion, causing the latter’s left eye to swell badly.
But the champion was able to pull the necessary stops middle in the fight, as he finally found his groove to land his counter shots against his taller challenger.
By the ninth round, Niyomtrong landed a timely right that further help him in his cause. Landero went for a last-ditch effort to knock the champion down, but Niyomtrong was able to get out of harm’s way to seal his victory and the title.
All three judges scored in favor of the champion 117-110, 117-110 and 115-113.
Loreto saw his seven-fight winning streak come to a halt.
