Pongsaklek Wonjongkam lost his WBC flyweight belt after being stopped by Sonny Boy Jaro of the Philippines in the sixth round yesterday.
Sonny Boy Jaro, right, punishes Pongsaklek with a huge right.
In his fifth title defence at a rain-hit makeshift stadium in Chon Buri, the 34-year-old found it difficult to handle the powerful challenger who went on the attack from the opening bell.
The Thai got an eight count in the first round although replays showed he went down because of the slippery floor rather than his opponent's punches.
Ranked eighth in the 112-pound division, the Filippino led by a score of 38-36 in all the three judges' cards after four rounds and although Jaro was deducted a point for a low blow early in the sixth round, he soon bounced back to win.
Following his deduction, a savage right to Pongsaklek's body and a series of further blows sent the Thai champion to the canvas.
Pongsaklek did manage to get up for an eight count but he was defenceless when Jaro hit him with a barrage of punches that forced the referee to stop the contest.
The 29-year-old Jaro's record improves to 34-10-5 with 24KOs while Pongsaklek suffered his fourth loss against 83 wins and two draws.
His loss means Thailand now has only three world champions - Kompayak Porpramook (WBC light-flyweight), Tepparith Singwangcha (WBA super-flyweight) and Suriyan Sor Rungvisai (WBC bantamweight) while the Philippines has four with the other three being Manny Pacquiao (WBO welterweight), Nonito Donaire (WBO super-bantamweight) and Brian Viloria (WBO flyweight).
Pongsaklek won the title in 2003 and lost it to Japan's Daisuke Naito in July 2007 after 18 defences. But he regained the 112-pound belt in March 2010 with a victory over Koki Kameda in Japan and successfully defended the crown four times.
The Nakhon Ratchasima native said that it was the worst fight of his career but praised Jaro for his muscular approach.
"He is the most powerful boxer I have ever fought with," said Pongsaklek who was named the WBC Boxer of the Decade last month.
He said he wanted a rematch although he is now 34.
The newly-crowned champion said that he wanted to give the Thai that chance after he meets No.1 challenger Toshiyuki Igarashi of Japan in a mandatory fight.
Afterwards, Pongsaklek's manager Wirat Wachirarattanawongse claimed that the wet ring conditions were the main factor for the defeat.