Fahlan Sakkreerin Jr.: Notable Fight Results
Thai boxer Fahlan Sakkreerin Jr. stopped former WBA minimumweight champion Ryo Miyazaki in the third round in Osaka on December 31, 2013. In November 2016, Milan Melindo defeated Sakkreerin by unanimous decision in Cebu to win the IBF interim light-flyweight title. BoxingScene · Philstar.
The Miyazaki upset and a return to Osaka
Sakkreerin’s victory over Miyazaki established an important international result before his own world title challenge. The former champion’s defeat came in Osaka, the same city where the Thai boxer later met IBF minimumweight champion Katsunari Takayama.
That championship contest took place on 22 April 2015. Takayama applied sustained pressure and built a lead, while Sakkreerin looked for counterpunching opportunities. Accidental head clashes later caused cuts around the champion’s eyes, and the bout was stopped during round nine.
The result went to the scorecards rather than becoming a knockout victory for Sakkreerin. All three officials favored Takayama, returning scores of 86–85, 90–81 and 87–84. Takayama therefore retained the IBF championship by unanimous technical decision.
A later opportunity at light-flyweight
The 2016 Melindo contest took place in the heavier light-flyweight division. Its interim IBF belt was a different championship from the minimumweight title Sakkreerin had challenged Takayama for the previous year.
These three fights trace distinct stages of his international career: an upset win over a former champion, a world title challenge decided early on the cards, and a later interim championship opportunity. Keeping the outcomes and divisions separate gives readers a clear account of his notable results.
Further career results
The Miyazaki fight was a non-title contest at light flyweight, after Miyazaki had vacated his minimumweight championship. The stoppage came at 2:22 of the third round. Miyazaki had been unbeaten as a professional, and the loss changed his record to twenty wins, one defeat and three draws. Sakkreerin’s victory was therefore an upset over a recently reigning champion, rather than the transfer of Miyazaki’s former WBA belt.
Sources
Additional sources: https://www.nikkansports.com/battle/news/f-bt-tp0-20131231-1238332.html
- BoxingScene: Sakkreerin stops Miyazaki
- Philstar: Melindo wins interim title against Sakkreerin
- BoxingScene: Melindo decisions Sakkreerin
- Asian Boxing: Takayama title fight report
