By Carlos Costa ringside in Thailand, notifight.com

In excellent match from start to finish, the flyweight world champion of the World Boxing Council (WBC), Pongsaklek Wonjongkam of Thailand, retained his title by winning a twelve round unanimous decision over brave Japanese challenger Takuya Kogawa in Hatyai, Thailand. It was a heated battle in which more experienced Pongsaklek had sufficient merit to claim victory.

The official scores were: Judge Stephen Blea of Colorado, 118-110, Judge Kim Jae bon of Korea, 116-112, and F. Martin, a Swiss resident in Thailand, voted 117-111. After this victory the world champion will face Mexico's Edgar Sosa, WBC international champion, who fights this Saturday in Mexico.

The young contender Kogawa was undoubtedly the fastest fighter in the ring and had the better technique when he fought at a distance. But the veteran Thai champion worked better with counters, capitalizing on the mistakes of his younger rival and properly placing his left hooks, which pounded the warrior from the land of the rising sun.

Yet the Japanese boxer never stopped throwing his hands, but never with the power and propulsion required to embarrass the veteran champion of the world. In contrast, Kogawa was put in several predicaments, especially when Wonjongkam threw very strong combinations which sent the Japanese boxer to the ropes where he continued feeling more leather.

Even with all this crossfire, neither of the two gladiators fell to the canvas. The Japanese challenger came close, but he took everything Wonjongkam shot. Both fighters were cut about an inch above their right eyes, a product of unintentional head butts.  Therefore, the experienced referee Dr. Lou Moret of Los Angeles, California, didn't take away any points.

Ultimately Wonjongkam was the more effective fighter. And he showed better management with the artillery in his tank and his technique impressed the panel of neutral judges appointed by the WBC.