HIGHLAND Boxing Gym’s Rey Loreto fell short of his bid to become a two division champion after yielding to reigning champion Thammanoon Niyomtrong in their World Boxing Association (WBA) strawweight bout during the weekend.
Loreto’s loss cut his three-year winning streak that saw him winning the IBO world light flyweight crown in Africa back in 2014.
The La Trinidad trained boxer who hails from Davao Del Sur tried to go toe-to–toe against the Thai champion in the early rounds of the fight
Loreto, who was off to a hot start punished the Thai champion with his jabs and straight upper cut combinations with the left eye of Niyomtrong swelling.
The Thai champion got his bearing back midway in the fight and knocked down Loreto in the ninth round before a partisan crowd in Chonburi, Thailand.
After the nasty knocked down, Loreto pressed forward in the last two frames of the bout, however his effort went to naught as the judges saw it in favor of Niyomtrong, 117-110, 117-110, and 115-113.
Loreto’s seven-fight winning streak thus ended, which dates back to 2013 when he defeated Pornsawan Porpramook for the interim PABA light flyweight title, including a knockout of Nkosinathi Joyi in 2014 to win the vacant IBO world light flyweight champion.
Thammanoon remained undefeated in 16 bouts and has defended the belt three times since defeating Nicaragua Byron Rojas, while Loreto fell to his 14th defeat in 37 fights. (Roderick Osis)