Thammanoon Niyomtrong vs Shokichi Iwata

Thammanoon Niyomtrong, is also known as Knockout CP Freshmart. For those that want to know, CP Freshmart are a Thai convenience store group that sponsored the former kickboxing champion. Thammanoon held the WBA world minimumweight title(Interim & full) and made an astonishing 14 defences. He lost that title in his only defeat to Puerto Rico’s Oscar Collazo in a WBA/WBO unification match. Since then he has captured the vacant WBC World Light Flyweight title, outpointing Argentine challenger Junior Leandro Zarate. Shokichi Iwata is a high-volume puncher with 12 wins by KO out of 15. He has 2 defeats on his resume, both in world title fights, both to Puerto Ricans, Jonathan Gonzalez and Rene Santiago, both by UD. Iwata won the vacant WBO world light flyweight title against Jairo Noriega but lost it in his first defence to Santiago. There is a five-year gap in age between the pair, and I feel that with home advantage, this is the right time for the younger Japanese fighter to capture both the title and the biggest name on his record.