Morel Takes Kratchingdaeng's WBA Fly Title
August 7, 2000 - 0:0
MADISON, Wisconsin Hometown favorite Eric Morel of the United States took away Thai Sornpichai Kratchingdaeng's World Boxing Association flyweight championship with a unanimous decision.
Morel, who remained undefeated in 27 contests, became the fourth American from the 1996 Olympic team to win a world title, dominating the 12-round bout and getting the win by scores of 118-109, 120-107 and 117-109 on the three judges' cards.
The 24-year-old Morel, who lost in the opening round to eventual Olympic champion Maikro Romero of Cuba in the Atlanta Games, joined current IBF junior middleweight titleholder Fernando Vargas, WBC super featherweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. and former WBA super welterweight Champ David Reid as members of the 1996 U.S. squad who have won belts.
Fighting in his adopted hometown, the Puerto Rican-born Morel used his height and reach advantages to dictate the fight from the opening bell.
With less than 20 seconds remaining in the second round, Morel landed a right to the head of Kratchingdaeng. The fighters became entangled as Kratchingdaeng fell to the canvas for a knockdown.
"I knew sornpichai is still a hard guy, and I knew that I didn't want to get out of my rhythm," said Morel. "He went down. I just took my time and I just kept boxing him because I knew that boxing was the key, moving around and speed was the key to giving me the victory." Morel hurt Kratchingdaeng with a body shot midway through the third round.
Kratchingdaeng, who won the title in September with a stunning eighth-round knockout of Leo Gamez of Venezuela, had no answers for Morel's speed and skill.
"He was running around. I couldn't find him, I couldn't hit him," Kratchingdaeng's said through an interpreter.
Morel continued to use his lateral movement and ring generalship and was in control through the next four rounds.
"I probably ran a little bit too much but I give a lot of respect for the ex-champion, Sornpichai, a great puncher, a great counter, so I was trying not to get caught because he's dangerous in any round, especially late.
"He's a slow starter but then he starts getting to his game plan and he's dangerous." Kratchingdaeng (19-1) tried to find some offense and went on the attack in the eighth but morel reasserted himself and finished the round strong.
Morel continued to dominate Kratchingdaeng for the remainder of the fight. With less than 10 seconds remaining in the 12th, Morel lifted his hands in the air as he sensed victory, drawing a roar from the hometown crowd.
(Reuter)
Morel, who remained undefeated in 27 contests, became the fourth American from the 1996 Olympic team to win a world title, dominating the 12-round bout and getting the win by scores of 118-109, 120-107 and 117-109 on the three judges' cards.
The 24-year-old Morel, who lost in the opening round to eventual Olympic champion Maikro Romero of Cuba in the Atlanta Games, joined current IBF junior middleweight titleholder Fernando Vargas, WBC super featherweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. and former WBA super welterweight Champ David Reid as members of the 1996 U.S. squad who have won belts.
Fighting in his adopted hometown, the Puerto Rican-born Morel used his height and reach advantages to dictate the fight from the opening bell.
With less than 20 seconds remaining in the second round, Morel landed a right to the head of Kratchingdaeng. The fighters became entangled as Kratchingdaeng fell to the canvas for a knockdown.
"I knew sornpichai is still a hard guy, and I knew that I didn't want to get out of my rhythm," said Morel. "He went down. I just took my time and I just kept boxing him because I knew that boxing was the key, moving around and speed was the key to giving me the victory." Morel hurt Kratchingdaeng with a body shot midway through the third round.
Kratchingdaeng, who won the title in September with a stunning eighth-round knockout of Leo Gamez of Venezuela, had no answers for Morel's speed and skill.
"He was running around. I couldn't find him, I couldn't hit him," Kratchingdaeng's said through an interpreter.
Morel continued to use his lateral movement and ring generalship and was in control through the next four rounds.
"I probably ran a little bit too much but I give a lot of respect for the ex-champion, Sornpichai, a great puncher, a great counter, so I was trying not to get caught because he's dangerous in any round, especially late.
"He's a slow starter but then he starts getting to his game plan and he's dangerous." Kratchingdaeng (19-1) tried to find some offense and went on the attack in the eighth but morel reasserted himself and finished the round strong.
Morel continued to dominate Kratchingdaeng for the remainder of the fight. With less than 10 seconds remaining in the 12th, Morel lifted his hands in the air as he sensed victory, drawing a roar from the hometown crowd.
(Reuter)