Petchmorakot Edges Out Yodsanklai In World Title Showdown
Petchmorakot Petchyindee Academy promised to walk out of ONE: NO SURRENDER with a victory over a legend and the ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Championship belt still around his waist.
In the end, he lived up to both of those vows.
The defending titleholder outpointed “The Boxing Computer” Yodsanklai IWE Fairtex to earn a majority decision in a highly-entertaining battle between youth and experience on Friday, 31 July, in Bangkok, Thailand.
It was a career-defining win for Petchmorakot, but his World Title defense did not come easy against the “The Boxing Computer,” who brought his A-game from the opening bell.
In the first round, Yodsanklai cut the distance with ease and pressured his countryman with his hands. Petchmorakot responded with kicks to keep his legendary opponent at bay, but the Fairtex star would not be denied. He kept pressing the action and scored with uppercuts before the round came to a close.
An action-packed second stanza began with the fighters exchanging punches in the middle of the ring, as Petchmorakot utilized his straight right hand and Yodsanklai relied on uppercuts.
Just when Petchmorakot looked comfortable, Yodsanklai came forward and connected with a slicing left elbow, which caused some damage near the World Champion’s left eye. However, that only lit a fire under the Petchyindee Academy representative.
Petchmorakot flipped the switch in the middle rounds, as he finally found his range against his fabled compatriot. Yodsanklai tried forcing him to engage in the pocket, but the 26-year-old was having none of it, as he consistently countered the legend beautifully.
A war in the clinch opened the fifth round, as Yodsanklai looked to bully Petchmorakot in the ropes. But when he went head-hunting with a high kick, he received a counter left for his trouble.
The battle-tested veteran was finally slowing down, and Petchmorakot took advantage by sticking a jab in the face of his foe while landing an occasional straight left.
After a rigorous 15-minute battle, the judges awarded a majority decision to the reigning ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion.
The massive win improved Petchmorakot’s record to 161-31-5 in his Muay Thai and kickboxing career, and it further solidifies him as the rightful king of the division.
Read more: ONE: NO SURRENDER – Live Results And Highlights For Rodtang Vs. Petchdam
