The O2 in Dublin, Ireland hosts a big occasion later today when local hero Bernard Dunne meets Thailand's Poonsawat Kratindaenggym.

On offer will be Dunne's WBA super bantam crown, won six months ago in the very same venue against Panama's Ricardo Cordoba in a major upset.

Can Dunne, 28-1 (15), turn the trick again and send another more experienced operator home from Dublin empty-handed?

It'll be a tough assignment.

The 28 year old from Sakon Nakhon won the PABA bantam belt in just his fourth pro contest and kept it over 17 defenses against mostly obscure competition until an Interim WBA title shot came up in 2005.

Kratindaenggym shocked the previously undefeated Cordoba via hard fought split decision in Bangkok and retained the interim strap against a faded 42 year old Leo Gamez later that year before stepping up to the big time.

To do that, Kratindaenggym had to travel to Hamburg, Germany to challenge WBA champion Wladimir Sidorenko in 2006 and lost a bitterly contested UD on points to the volume punching Ukrainian.

Since then the Thai fighter has won 14 straight but against less than stellar opposition during 11 PABA super bantam title defenses.

Kratindaenggym does have two better quality wins over that time period, a WBA title eliminator against Somsak Sithchatchawal a year ago and an Interim WBA title win against big-punching prospect Rafael Hernandez in April.

Still not top level victories but the Thai will bring with him to Dublin the single most important attribute in boxing: confidence.

38 wins against one tough loss in a world champion's back yard can lead to lot of that and Kratindaenggym has proclaimed his invincibility ever since he arrived in Ireland to the support of the Thai community of Dublin last week.

But to topple Dunne, the challenger will be facing his best opponent since Sidorenko and the very short
Kratindaenggym will also see a significant height disadvantage.

Dunne will have to guard against expending his energy too soon in what could be an emotional first defense, particularly if Kratindaenggym is able to exert a lot of pressure on the hometown man in the early rounds.

If Dunne can keep the challenger at the end of his longer reach and control the pace of the action, he should cruise to a decision victory but if Kratindaenggym can make it a draining, close quarters war, it will be to his advantage and we could see an upset at the O2.

Share/Save | (0) comments | Add your comments
Click to read more boxing articles by Ricky Jones

Discuss in Boxing Forum

---

Related Boxing Articles...

• Brian Peters Boxing: Dunne’s Pride Wounded After WBA Title Loss

  Bernard Dunne’s pride was the only thing hurting this morning following the loss of his WBA Super Bantamweight title to Thai whirlwind Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym at the Hunky Dorys World Title >
  
  

• Boxing In Ireland: Dunne Foe Hits Dublin Airport Surrounded By Supporters

  Bernard Dunne’s mandatory challenger Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym will work out for the media tomorrow in one of his final training sessions ahead of Saturday’s Hunky Dorys World Title Fight Night at >
  
  

• Boxing Weights: Bernard Dunne vs. Poonsawt Kratingdaenggym

  Brian Peters promotes a fight card tonight at The O2 in Dublin, Ireland, headlined by Bernard Dunne’s first defence of his WBA Super Bantamweight title against mandatory challenger Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym >
  
  

• Boxing In Ireland: Bernard Dunne Challenges For WBA Title Tonight In Dublin

  Former European Super Bantam titlist Bernard Dunne takes a very big step up tonight in challenging reigning WBA 122 pound Champion Ricardo Cordoba tonight at the 02 Arena in Dublin, >
  
  

• British Boxing: Frank Maloney Returns Fire At Bernard Dunne Camp

  Dunne, If You Want It, Come And Get It Frank Maloney, promoter of Rendall Munroe, the European Super Bantamweight Champion has decided to answer criticism from Dublin, Ireland based boxer >
  
  

• Boxing In Ireland: Divine Inspiration For Poonsawat In Dunne Showdown

  Thailand’s Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym is hopeful that a little divine inspiration will help him to rip the WBA Super Bantamweight title from Bernard Dunne. Poonsawat arrived in Dublin at the weekend >
  
  

• Boxing Result: Dunne Gets Done In Dublin By Kratingdaenggym

  Last night in front of a strong hometown crowd at Dublin's O2 Arena, local hero Bernard Dunne was hammered back out of his brief foray into the world class standings >
  
  

• WBA Boxing Champ Dunne Will Meet Kratingdaenggym

  WBA Super Bantamweight Champ Bernard Dunne will make the first defence of his World title at The O2, Dublin on Saturday, September 26th when he faces number one rated contender >
  
  

• Boxing In Ireland: WBA Names Bernard Dunne Boxer Of The Month

  Newly crowned WBA Super Bantamweight Champion Bernard Dunne has been named the boxer of the month for March by the WBA. The Dubliner was awarded the accolade after his sensational >
  
  

• Boxing In Ireland: Dunne’s First WBA Title Defense Announced Today

  Brian Peters Promotions will host a press conference in Dublin, Ireland today to announce details of Bernard Dunne’s first defence of his WBA Super Bantamweight title on the next Hunky >
  
  

---

Boxing News Tags: Bernard Dunne, Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym, Preview