Pongsaklek Wonjongkam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pongsaklek Wonjongkam |
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Wonjongkam (left) and Daisuke Naito in March 2010
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| Statistics | |
| Real name | Pongsakorn Wonjongkam (พงศกร วันจงคำ ) |
| Rated at |
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| Height | 5 ft 4 in |
| Reach | 63+1/2 in |
| Born | 11 August 1977 Bua Yai District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province |
| Stance | Southpaw |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 98 |
| Wins | 91 |
| Wins by KO | 47 |
| Losses | 5 |
| Draws | 2 |
Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (born August 11, 1977) is a famous former professional boxer from Thailand. He is also a boxing trainer today. Pongsaklek was a world champion in the flyweight division two times. During his first time as world flyweight champion, from 2001 to 2007, he successfully defended his title 17 times against 16 different boxers. Both of these numbers set new records for the flyweight division!
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Pongsaklek's Boxing Journey
Pongsaklek Wonjongkam started his boxing career with a record of 9 wins and 2 losses. Both of his early losses were to a boxer named Jerry Pahayahay from the Philippines. However, Pongsaklek later defeated Pahayahay in a 10-round fight in February 1998.
After his second loss on July 11, 1996, Pongsaklek went on an amazing winning streak. He won 55 fights in a row, which was the longest winning streak in boxing at that time! This streak lasted until July 18, 2007.
On March 28, 1997, Pongsaklek won the World Boxing Union (WBU) Light Flyweight Championship. He knocked out Mzukisi Sikali from South Africa in just 48 seconds!
Becoming a WBC Flyweight Champion
On March 2, 2001, Pongsaklek Wonjongkam fought Malcolm Tuñacao for the World Boxing Council (WBC) Flyweight Championship. Tuñacao had won this title from Medgoen Singsurat, who had previously defeated the famous boxer Manny Pacquiao. Pongsaklek won the fight by a technical knockout (TKO) in the first round. He knocked Tuñacao down three times before the fight was stopped.
In one of his most impressive title defenses, on April 19, 2002, Pongsaklek knocked out Japanese boxer Daisuke Naito in just 34 seconds. This knockout set a record for the fastest knockout ever in the flyweight division!
On November 17, 2006, Pongsaklek defeated Monelisi Mhikiza Myekeni from South Africa. With this win, he set a new flyweight record for defending his title 16 times in a row. He then defended his title again against Tomonobu Shimizu, who stopped fighting between the 6th and 7th rounds. Shimizu was the 16th different boxer Pongsaklek had defended his title against, setting another record.
Losing and Winning Back the Title
Pongsaklek Wonjongkam lost his WBC Flyweight title in a surprising decision to Daisuke Naito in July 2007. This loss ended his long time as champion. Pongsaklek had beaten Naito twice before this fight. On March 8, 2008, Pongsaklek fought Naito again, and that fight ended in a draw (a tie).
In April 2009, Pongsaklek won the interim WBC Flyweight Championship by defeating Julio César Miranda from Mexico. He then defended this interim title against Takahisa Masuda. This set up a big fight against Koki Kameda, who was the current WBC Flyweight Champion.
On March 27, 2010, Pongsaklek fought Koki Kameda to combine the WBC Flyweight Championship and the interim title. Pongsaklek won the fight after 12 rounds by a majority decision, becoming the WBC and The Ring Flyweight Champion once again!
Later Fights
On March 2, 2012, Pongsaklek lost his WBC and The Ring Flyweight Titles in an upset to Sonny Boy Jaro from the Philippines. Pongsaklek was knocked down five times before the fight was stopped in the sixth round.
Pongsaklek Wonjongkam continued to box and won the vacant WBC International flyweight title on August 31, 2012. However, he lost this title to Rey Megrino on November 1, 2012. This was Pongsaklek's fifth loss. It was especially disappointing because Megrino had a losing record and Pongsaklek had beaten him twice before.
Titles Pongsaklek Won
Pongsaklek Wonjongkam held many important boxing titles during his career:
- Major World Titles:
- World Boxing Council (WBC) Flyweight Champion (he won this title two times!)
- Minor World Titles:
- World Boxing Union (WBU) Light-Flyweight Champion
- Lineal Championship Titles:
- Lineal Flyweight Champion (also won two times)
- The Ring magazine titles:
- The Ring Flyweight Champion
- Interim titles:
- WBC Interim Flyweight Champion
- Regional/International Titles:
- WBC International Flyweight Champion
Other Names Pongsaklek Used
Pongsaklek Wonjongkam was also known by a few other names during his boxing career, often related to his boxing gyms or sponsors:
- Pongsaklek Sitkanongsak
- Pongsaklek Singwancha
- Pongsaklek Kratingdaenggym
- Pongsaklek Petchyindee
- Pongsaklek Kaiyanghadaogym
Images for kids
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Wonjongkam (left) and Daisuke Naito in March 2010
