- Title: THAILAND: SAMAN SOR JATURONG RETAINS HIS WORLD BOXING COUNCIL TITLe
- Date: 31st May 1997
- Summary: PETCHABUN PROVINCE, THAILAND (MAY 31, 1997) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) SAMAN SOR JATURONG (YELLOW TRUNKS) VMZUKISI MARALI (BLUE TRUNKS) 1. WIDESHOT OF CROWD 2. FIRST ROUND ACTION 3. CROWD. 4. ROUND THREE HIGHLIGHTS. MARALI GOES DOWN FOR EIGHT COUNT 5. SPECTATORS 6. ROUND FOUR ACTION. MARALI GOES DOWN FOR SECOND EIGHT COUNT. REFEREE ALLOWS FIGHT TO CONTINUE, BUT QUICKLY DECIDES TO STOP BOUT. 7. CAMERAMEN. 8. SAMAN LEAVING ARENA. Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
- Embargoed: 15th June 1997 13:00
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- Location: PETCHABUN PROVINCE, THAILAND
- City:
- Country: Thailand
- Reuters ID: LVADUN43NWXUVHGAIES98CU05HQT
- Story Text: Thailand's World light flyweight champion Saman Sor Jaturong retained his World Boxing Council title by knocking out South African Mzukisi Marali on Saturday (May 31) Samarn, who appeared content to let the challenger come onto him from the opening bell, sent Marali to the canvas first in the third round and again after 1 minute and 14 seconds of the fourth.
After a brief resumption the referee brought the contest to a halt, awarding victory to Samarn on a technical knockout.
Marali opened well, scoring with sharp jabs and a string of combinations while the Thai champion tried to back out of range.
Saman, encouraged by a partisan crowd in the open air setting, stepped up a gear in the second round connecting with a series of shots while trading punches with the South African.
The gutsy challenger kept pushing forward but Saman almost wrapped up the fight in the third when two short left hooks knocked Marali over and saw the first eight-count.
In the following round Saman responded to two solid headshots from Marali by landing a powerful right uppercut that caught the challenger on the chin and sent him to the canvas.
The spirited South African beat the count but looked shaken and dazed.
The referee briefly allowed the fight to resume but stepped in as Marali immediately took a three punch combination to the head.
Saman was awarded victory by technical knock out Thai Prime Minister Chavalit Yongchaiyudh watched the fight and congratulated Saman on his victory.
This is the eighth successful title defence for Saman who will face another challenge in August against Japanese Shiro Yahiro either in Japan or in Thailand.
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