Somsak wins WBA super bantamweight title

March 18, 2006 - PARIS (AP) -- Thailand's Somsak Sithchatchawal twice knocked down France's Mahyar Monshipour and stopped him in the 10th round Saturday to capture his WBA super bantamweight title.

Somsak Sithchatchawal won WBA super bantamweight title
(AFP/Mehdi Fedouach)

The Iranian-born Monshipour, who will turn 31 Tuesday, retired after the bout. He finished his career with a record of 28 wins, three losses and two draws.


Somsak dropped a weary Monshipour in the 10th with a series of left uppercuts, and the referee stopped the bout. The Thai improved to 46-1-1 with 37 knockouts.

Somsak floored Monshipour in the opening minute of the bout and the Thai left-hander maintained his advantage in the second with left hooks.

But Monshipour, who was attempting to defend his belt for a sixth time, rallied in the third and forced Somsak against the ropes with a combination of jabs and hooks. Somsak continued to use his left uppercut to the stomach while Monshipour countered with his straight right. The pace slowed as the rounds mounted, with blood staining the faces of both fighters.

Somsak dominated the start of the ninth round, landing left uppercuts and right hooks. Monshipour retaliated at the end of the round with a flurry of left and right hands.