Filipino junior bantamweight contender Vince Paras continued to build momentum following his trilogy with Hiroto Kyoguchi, stopping former title challenger Sarawut Thawornkham in four rounds on Sunday at Venue 88 in General Santos City, Philippines.
Paras, 24-3-1 (17 KOs), kept the pressure on throughout the fight against the Thai southpaw, doing particular damage with combinations featuring left hooks to the body followed by overhand rights. An overhand right along the ropes in the fourth round started the trouble for Thawornkham, and another body-head combo forced the stoppage, causing Thawornkham to collapse to the canvas momentarily. The official time of stoppage was 1:59.
The win earned Paras, 26, an IBF regional belt at 115lbs, marking his official step-up in weight after challenging unsuccessfully for a world title at 105lbs in 2018 against Hiroto Kyoguchi, then splitting two more fights with Kyoguchi in 2014 by decisions.
“I want to fight the world champions at super flyweight. I feel comfortable in this weight and am ready for the top,” said Paras, who has won three straight fights.
The 33-year-old southpaw Thawornkham, 24-4 (19 KOs), had won three straight fights but had been out of the ring for nearly five years after his fourth round stoppage to Jeny Boy Boca in March of 2020. Thawornkham had fought for a world title once before, challenging Artem Dalakian for the WBA flyweight title in 2019, losing by tenth round stoppage.
Promoter Jim Claude Manangquil says the move to 115lbs was necessary for Paras, who he says was drained making flyweight. If he had his pick, he says he'd like to match Paras up with Willibaldo Garcia, the IBF junior bantamweight titleholder from Mexico who upset Rene Calixto in May to win the title.
"We would like the IBF champion or any champion at super fly," said Manangquil of Sanman Promotions.
"I feel super fly is the best weight for Vince. At flyweight he was so drained and his power was gone."
In other bouts, Ramel Macado Jnr, 10-1 (5 KOs), defeated Adrian Dulayba, 7-2 (4 KOs), by ten-round unanimous decision to win the Philippines Boxing Federation junior bantamweight title, while Pete Apolinar, 18-6-1 (11 KOs), stopped Pablito Canada, 8-28-6 (2 KOs), in seven rounds in a lightweight bout.
