Panya Pradabsri To Unexpectedly Rematch Norihito Tanaka In June

Pradabsri vs Norihito Rematch Slated for June 28

Panya Pradabsri to rematch Norihito Tanaka in June
Panya Pradabsri (L) Norihito Tanaka | credit: Wasim Mather

Panya Pradabsri vs Norihito Tanaka Rematch Set for June 28


Panya Pradabsri (39-1, 23 KOs) returns to the ring on June 28 to make the fourth defense of the WBC minimumweight title. His opponent will be Japan’s Norihito Tanaka (20-9, 10 KOs), and the bout will take place in Rayong Province, Thailand.

This is a rematch between the two warriors. They previously fought in August 2022. In that contest, Tanaka pushed the champion hard in the early rounds. But in the end, Pradabsri found the resources to pull away in the championship rounds to win a unanimous decision.

ONE OF THE VERY BEST

Pradabsri won the title in November 2020, dethroning former long-reigning WBC champion Wanheng Menayothin. From there, Pradabsri has become an elite fighter at 105. The resident of Bangkok, Thailand is one of the more adaptable and versatile fighters in the sport. He has shown the ability to win by outboxing foes or going to war and outfighting opponents.

This rematch is a bit of a surprise for serious followers of the lower-weight divisions. The expectation was that the defending champion would face Filipino Lito Dante. It’s now clear that the camp of Pradabsri had a change of plans. Tanaka is currently ranked tenth by the WBC at minimumweight. In truth, he is more proven and a better fighter than Dante.

For the challenger, this is his third world title attempt. Pradabsri appears to be a fighter who is in his prime. His goal is to conquer Tanaka once again and remain champion.

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About Mike W.2088 Articles
Mike is the host of boxing podcast "Pound 4 Pound Boxing Report" and is a Senior Writer for 3kingsboxing.com.