Artem Dalakian to defend WBA title against mandatory challenger.
Within the smaller weight divisions, the flyweight division is among those who receive the least amount of coverage. However, WBA champion Artem Dalakian (18-0, 13KO) doesn’t let that bother him. He just keeps going along and winning.
In February 2018, he defeated Brian Viloria to win the vacant title. Since then, he has gone on to successfully defend the title twice in his home country of Ukraine.
3KingsBoxing has now learned the 31 year-old will make his next title defense against the WBA number one contender Dennapa Kiatniwat (aka Sarawut Thawornkham) on June 15 in Kiev, Ukraine. The site is still to be determined.
Kiatniwat (20-1, 15KO) is on a 20-fight winning streak since being TKO’d in his professional debut. A southpaw, the 27 year-old challenger looks to be a technically sound fighter based on the video we’ve seen of him.
A fighter who seems to be more comfortable coming forward than he does on the back-foot, Kiatniwat sports a competent jab and good power with his straight left and right hook to the body.
So what is his biggest flaw? His level of opposition is spotty at best, as he has fought no one of note; even among fighters who are avid followers of the Flyweight division.
So the questions are, has Kiatniwat really earned his status as number one contender? Second, given his limited experience and lack of opposition, how much can he truly challenge one who seems to be in his fighting prime?
We will know for sure on June 15!
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
