Ponsaneh Sitmonchai vs Pakon Sakyothin 2010

This was the first fight between the two. It was hailed as Fight of the Year when it went down and was just awarded that status at Lumpini for 2010.

Ponsaneh is the master of go-go-go. At first sight, he looks to be employing a Dutch style but, while the tools are the same, the rhythm and application are entirely his own, (or his camp's. I've heard all Sitmonchai fighters specialize in hands and lowkicks). Ponsaneh's style is the same in every fight so I won't spoil anything by saying that he comes out in this one throwing bombs and chopping trees. Bouts with him are intense affairs, the opponent always having to grit their teeth and intensify their own game just to make it into later rounds. The drawback of Ponsaneh's style is that punches do not score that much in Thailand so, unless they do some obvious damage or the low kicks really accumulate, he loses on points. He also has surprisingly little head movement for a fighter who uses so much boxing. He normally fights at 124 lb but has been fighting as high as 128 lb. He wears red in this bout.

Pakon or Pakorn Sakyothin became a big name and a contender after this bout. I assume he was reputable already in order to earn a bout with Ponsaneh, but the closeness and intensity of this match meant his stock shot way with promoters and especially gamblers. Pakon's style is much more conservative. He keeps his defense strong and utilizes a powerful base to counter and impose his game on opponents. In the clinch, he is very strong, though there is less of that in this bout, and his game of jab, teep, left kick is very solid. Pakon is ranked at 126 lb in the stadiums and wears the blue shorts in this bout.


Part 1