Panya Pradabsri set for WBC strawweight title defence to Tsubasa Koura
Thailand’s Panya Pradabsri will defend his World Boxing Council strawweight title against Japan’s Tsubasa Koura in Korat, Thailand on August 30th.
Panya (39-1, 23 KOs), turned pro in 2014. He won several regional belts before claiming the WBC title by defeating countryman Wanheng Menayothin in November 2020. The 31-year-old Thai has successfully defended his title twice, defeating Danai Ngiabphukhiaw (UD 12) and Menayothin (UD 12) in a rematch.
His sole reversal came when stepping up in his 19th fight to challenge for the WBA International minimumweight title away from home in China, narrowly losing to Chaozhong Xiong via mixed decision.
The 27-year-old Koura (15-2, 10 KOs) also turned pro in 2014. He won the OPBF title by stopping Jaysever Abcede (KO 4); he outclassed Masataka Taniguchi (MD 12); Norihito Tanaka (TKO 5) and Daiki Tomita (UD 12).
Yokohama's Koura represents an exacting challenge for the champion. He is in great shape as he wants to become the first Japanese fighter to win the WBC straw-weight title in Thailand.
However, he has only won once from his last three bouts, but that was an impressive third-round KO against decent opposition. His two defeats were closely contested, the first was a TKO stoppage in the final round of 12, followed by a narrow mixed decision defeat over 12 rounds.
