Tunacao WBC champ

The Philippines' Malcolm Tunacao captured the World Boxing Council flyweight crown with a seventh round technical knockout of defending champion Medgeon-Kratingdaeng Gym yesterday in Thailand.

Tunacao completely dominated the fight, coming up with thundering combinations in the decisive round to force Australian referee Brian McMahon to stop the mayhem as the bloodied Medgoen reeled on the ropes, dazed and rubber-legged.

Thus, Tunacao, who was not given a Chinaman's chance to win the title over the highly-fancied Thai, won the crown last won by Filipino Manny Pacquiao before he lost it to the Thai, then named 3-K Battery, via a third round technical knockout.

The Filipino, from the stable of Rex (Wakee) Salud, improved his ring record to 11-0 with seven stoppages and handed the Thai his only loss in 21 bouts.

Tunacao went into the bout ranked only No. 25 by the WBC, but there were reports the Thai promoter fixed his rating to make him No. 10 to qualify as a title challenger.

The Thai promoter believed Tunacao could not be a threat since the last 10 wins of the Filipino were either has beens, novices or pretenders and never fought overseas except in Udonthani, in the outskirts of Bangkok yesterday.

But that was what they thought.