Srisaket Sor Rungvisai: ‘I really want to be a three-time WBC world champion’
Srisaket Sor Rungvisai has rebounded from adversity in the past.
The Thai fighter started his professional career with a record of 1-3-1 but found his footing and won the WBC 115-pound title by stopping Yota Sato in 2013.
He lost his belt to then-unbeaten Carlos Cuadras the following year but bounced back to have the best stretch of his career, including three consecutive victories over Roman Gonzalez (a majority decision to regain the same title and then a stunning knockout) and Juan Francisco Estrada (majority decision) in 2017 and 2018.
Estrada then won the rematch by a close, but unanimous decision in 2019, which left Sor Rungvisai without a belt again.
Does he have another comeback in him at 35?
We’ll know more when the power puncher from Si Sa Ket faces Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez on Saturday night at Tech Port Arena in San Antonio (DAZN).
“Now, I’m hungrier than ever,” he told RingTV.com through a translator. “I really want to be a three-time WBC world champion. I would be the first Thai boxer in history to achieve that.”
Sor Rungvisai (50-5-1, 43 KOs) has won three in a row since the setback against Estrada but hasn’t been in the ring since March of last year in part because he had to pull out of a scheduled rematch with Cuadras in February because of illness.
Rodriguez (15-0, 10 KOs) moved up in weight to replace Sor Rungvisai and stunned both the Mexican and the boxing world by winning a wide decision and what amounts to the WBC’s secondary title in Phoenix. Estrada is the sanctioning body’s “franchise” champion.
Sor Rungvisai was impressed by the 22-year-old Rodriguez, who will be fighting in front of his hometown fans on Saturday.
“It was a good fight, Rodriguez did very well,” he said. “Although Rodriquez is very young, he is a strong champion. He must not be underestimated.”
Of course, Sor Rungvisai understands the significance of the fight on Saturday. A victory would give him the secondary belt. More important, it would be a stepping stone toward something bigger, at least in his eyes.
He’s a combined 3-1 in unforgettable fights against Gonzalez and Estrada, 2-0 and 1-1, respectively. He wants the opportunity to prove once and for all that he’s the dominant fighter in that special group of 115-pounders.
And there’s only one way to do that: face either or both of his arch rivals again.
Estrada (also the WBA beltholder) and Gonzalez reportedly are in talks to face one another a third time this fall. If that happens and Sor Rungvisai beats Rodriguez, the Thai star would be in position to challenge the winner.
“I would like to face Estrada and Chocolatito,” he said. “That remains my ultimate goal.”
