By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Filipino world-rated boxer Miel Fajardo needed just 10 seconds to topple Thai fighter Sarawut Jiamthong and capture the vacant ASEAN Boxing Federation (ABF) flyweight belt.
The Agusan del Sur’s San Francisco-native Fajardo surprised the predominant Thailand crowd on Wednesday afternoon, December 28, at the Spaceplus Bangkok RCA when he finished off Jiamthong with a one-punch knockdown.
The 22-year-old Fajardo first threatened Jiamthong with two fake left straights as he walked to the center of the ring before letting loose a huge left straight to the head of the Thai fighter.
Jiamthong quickly went down to the canvas after the solid punch before the referee quickly waved off the match as the Thai boxer showed no signs of standing up after three counts.
It was the first-ever professional boxing championship for Fajardo, who also ended 2022 with a clean slate in his three bouts after his knockout wins over Argentinean Agustin Mauro Gauto and Negrense Richard Claveras.
Fajardo thus improved his boxing record to 10-1-2 win-loss-draw while registering his ninth stoppage win, while Jiamthong’s slate dropped to 7-2-1, with all of his wins by way of knockouts.
Meanwhile, it was a double celebration for the Filipinos as Ador Torres captured the ABF welterweight championship with a fourth round technical knockout win over Thai Meechaiya Kaiwiset on the undercard.
The 27-year-old Torres kept in step with the upstart Kaiwiset in the first three rounds before the Filipino boxer went for the killing blows in the fourth frame to finish the round at the 1:43 mark.
It was a fitting end to the year for Torres after losing his first two bouts against Habib Ur Rehman of Pakistan and Apichit Pimsen of Thailand, before going on a winning run against Thais Woorraphon Jesadajindawat, Phairin Sukmuang, and Kaiwiset.
The Sorsogon’s Magdalena-native Torres hiked his boxing slate to 7-4-1, with four stoppage victories, while the 27-year-old Kaiwiset had his record dropped to 3-2-1, including one knockout win./ASC, WDJ