Knockout CP Freshmart v Wanheng Menayothin Set for July 20 in Thailand!
“It’s never too late” is a common phrase often used in sports and life. It also describes an upcoming world title bout in the sport’s lowest weight division. According to Ring Magazine, WBA Super minimumweight champion Knockout CP Freshmart (23-0, 9 KOs) will make the eleventh defense of that title against countryman and one-time, long-reigning WBC 105 champ Wanheng Menayothin (55-2, 19 KOs) on July 20 in Chonburi, Thailand.
The two have been elite fighters at 105 pounds for nearly a decade. Freshmart won the WBA title with a decision win over Byron Rojas in June 2016. He’s been dominant in his ten previous defenses, nine of which have taken place in his home country. But in his last bout, the 31-year-old was briefly stunned before rallying to take out Robert Paradero in five rounds in December 2021.
Menayothin captured the WBC 105-pound belt with a ninth-round TKO over Oswaldo Novoa in November 2014. He made twelve defenses of that belt and made headlines for his undefeated winning streak, which reached 54 fights. But the last two years have been rough for the 36-year-old.
After announcing his retirement on June 21, 2020, Menayothin had an about-face and un-retired the following day Then in November of that year, he lost the WBC title as Panya Pradabsri defeated him by a unanimous decision. Two fights later, he lost a rematch to Pradabsri, again via unanimous decision in March 2022.
STILL HAS VALUE
In truth, a fight between Freshmart and Menayothin should have happened years ago, when both were world champions and undefeated. It would have been a unification fight, something rare for that division. However, it’s still a big fight in Thailand, where both are significant figures.
Given his age and the wear and tear of a lengthy career, does Menayothin still have the pepper to turn back the clock? Is CP Freshmart capable of becoming the first man to stop Menayothin? While this is a matchup that has lost some of its shine, it’s still an intriguing battle for fans of the lower weights.
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By: Michael Wilson Jr.
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