Rungvisai Upsets WBC Super Fly Champ Rojas In Thailand

Reigning WBC super flyweight champion Tomas Rojas was unseated last night by local man Suriyan Sor Rungvisai at Khunmuangsri Stadium in Muang, Thailand.

Southpaw Rojas used his height advantage in the early rounds, keeping Rungvisai at a distance but the Bangkok based challenger patiently made the most of opportunities as they arose.

Despite giving up five inches in stature to the towering 5'8 tall Rojas, Rungvisai proved quicker as he closed distance behind the jab to launch quick combinations or leaped in with rattling single shots.

Rojas, 31, fought back with a jab of his own and was successful with hooks from both hands but was also getting countered with uppercuts and rights from the 22 year old challenger, who only a year ago had narrowly missed knocking off WBC flyweight king Pongasaklek Wongongkam in this same venue.

Veracruz, Mexico based Rojas, who over the last five years had only lost to world champions, had to fight through a cut above his left eye but his corner kept the injury from becoming a larger problem.

As the bout wore on, the fighters engaged in heated exchanges that produced many difficult to score rounds.

Perhaps sensing he was behind, Rojas upped his activity rate in the championship frames but could never get a bead on the shifty, unpredictable Rungvisai.

After two successful defenses, Rojas lost the WBC belt on scores of 117-111, 116-112 and 115-114, dropping to 36-13-1 (24).

Rungvisai wins his first world title, improving to 19-5-1 (7).