Artem Dalakian stops Sarawut Thawornkham in ten!
On June 15, undefeated WBA Regular Flyweight champion Artem Dalakian successfully defended his title for the third time against top-rated fighter Sarawut Thawornkham.
The Ukrainian won the WBA title in his American debut back in 2018 against veteran Brian Viloria via unaminious decision and has made his two previous defenses in the Ukraine.
The champion right away displayed the boxing skills that gave the challenger immediate trouble in the early rounds.
Establishing foot-position dominance was key against the southpaw challenger. This allowed the champion to stay out of range of the straight-left, while landing the right-hand.
A few times, the challenger was hurt from a left hook. Remaining calm, the champion would continue to work behind the jab, setting up combinations using angles.
Dalakian would have an excellent fourth round. He would show defensive skills by evading punches, spinning his opponent around and landing counters.
In the middle rounds, the champion would turn it up a notch, coming out aggressive to start the rounds. Damage from the hard left hooks and counters were beginning to show on the face of the challenger.
It was towards the end of the eighth that brought some excitement. Thawornkham was trying to apply pressure. However, he was caught by a perfectly timed pull-counter right-uppercut.
That punch sent him staggering across the ring, narrowly surviving the onslaught that would follow. Though making it to the bell, it became clear this wasn’t going the distance.
Realizing his opponent didn’t have anything left, Dalakian went in for the kill in the tenth round. He landed powerful straight right-hands that almost sent the challenger out of the ring.
His stalking and striking with precision, allowed him to land several unanswered combinations which prompted the ref to call a halt to the contest.
With this win, Dalakian accumulates his third-straight knockout victory.
LOOKING FORWARD
The flyweight division is one of the deepest divisions. Unifications are ripe to be made between IBF champion Moruti Mthalane, WBC champion Charlie Edwards and WBO champion Kosei Tanaka.
The possibilities here are mind-blowing. This division is primed and ready to end the year going into 2020 one fight away from having an undisputed champion.
By: Garrisson Bland
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