Simsri keeps IBF light fly crown with 2nd round TKO of Vicelles, trains sights on Suganob next

CEBU, Philippines — Thai power puncher Thanongsak Simsri (41-1, 36 KOs) needed just two rounds to destroy Japan-based Filipino challenger Mark “Rasta Mac” Vicelles (21-3-1, 11 KOs) and retain his International Boxing Federation (IBF) light flyweight crown Saturday, September 26, at the Fujisan Messe Industrial Exchange Exhibition Hall in Shizuoka, Japan.

Vicelles was the aggressor and appeared in control in the opening round, but Simsri quickly changed the complexion of the fight in the second.

The defending champion floored Vicelles twice with solid right hands just seconds apart before unleashing a barrage of telling blows that forced Japanese referee Koji Tanaka to wave off the bout at 2:05 of the second round.

The 26-year-old Simsri now sets his sights on a mandatory defense against Regie “Filipino Phenom” Suganob (19-1, 8 KOs) of the PMI Bohol Boxing Stable.

Suganob earned a mandatory shot at Simsri’s throne with a fifth-round stoppage of two-time world light flyweight champion Sivenathi “The Special One” Nontshinga of South Africa in their IBF title eliminator last September 12 at the Bohol Wisdom School (BWS) Gymnasium in Tagbilaran City.

The Simsri-Suganob championship match must take place by the end of January 2027.

PMI Boxing CEO Atty. Floriezyl Echavez Podot has earlier expressed his willingness to stage the IBF world title fight in Bohol if given the opportunity.

Meanwhile, on the same Japan card, Vicelles’ fellow countryman Pete “Prime Time” Apolinar (21-7-1, 14 KOs) scored a ninth-round TKO victory over the dethroned champion Shunpei Ohata to snatch the WBO Asia Pacific junior lightweight crown.

Tapales makes rousing Featherweight debut

Over in Pattaya, Thailand, two-division world champion Marlon “The Nightmare” Tapales (42-5, 23 KOs) returned to his winning ways with a second round knockout of Thai Nirun Baonok to claim the World Boxing Foundation (WBF) International featherweight belt.

IBF Pan Pacific lightweight champion Criztian “Golden Boy” Laurente, stablemate of Tapales at Sanman Boxing, stretched his perfect record to 17-0 with a third-round KO of Benchalong Tanbu to grab the WBF Intercontinental lightweight title.