Jaro stops Thai, snares WBC belt

MANILA, Philippines - Sony Boy Jaro of the Philippines knocked out Pongsaklek Wonjongkam in Chonbury, Thailand yesterday and crowned himself as the new WBC flyweight champion.

The 29-year-old Jaro went against the odds and the normally hostile Thai crowd in scoring a sixth-round knockout against an opponent who was heavily favored to win.

Jaro came out smoking and floored his Thai foe with a crunching right in the opening round. Pongsaklek went down anew in the third round, and for good in the sixth.

Jaro was all over his Thai opponent as he went for the kill and when Pongsaklek went down it was pretty clear he was not going to get up.

Pongsaklek is a long-time champion, a Boxer of the Decade awardee, and Jaro’s victory could be considered the biggest upset so far this year.

Jaro’s manager and promoter, Aljoe Jaro, told www.philboxing.com that they knew the only way they could win the fight is by knockout.

Jaro is now the fifth Filipino reigning champion next to WBO welterweight king Manny Pacquiao, WBO super-bantam champ Nonito Donaire, WBO flyweight titlist Brian Viloria and WBO lightfly champion Donnie Nietes.

Jaro improved his record to 34-10-5 with 24 knockouts. It was his fifth straight victory, all by knockout, following back-to-back losses in late 2010 and early 2011.

Pongsaklek, the 34-year-old champion, took his fourth loss against 83 victories and two draws. It was his first loss since 2007, and it meant the end of his two-year reign as champion.

Minimumweight Michael Landero, the former OPBF champion, also vies for the world title when he faces Mexican Moises Fuentes for the WBO title today in Tijuana.

Then Roden Mayol, already a former world champion, takes his turn to shoot for a world crown against reignign WBA flyweight champion Tyson Marquez in Mexico on March 24.