Thai champ Thammanoon ready for another defence

Four days have passed since WBC light flyweight champion Thammanoon Niyomtrong arrived in Yokohama, where he is preparing to defend his title against Japanese challenger Shokichi Iwata.

- WASIM MATHER

I travelled with the Thai team as they landed in Japan on Sunday afternoon following the final phase of preparation in Pathum Thani. After the journey from Thailand, the decision was made to rest for the remainder of the day before settling into a controlled fight week routine.

Most of the hard work had already been completed during the training camp under longtime trainer Chatchai Sasakul.

"All the work is done now," Chatchai said earlier in the week. "At this stage we just maintain his weight until the weigh-in."

Thammanoon arrived in excellent condition and currently sits just two pounds above the contracted light flyweight limit of 108 pounds.