“THE ENCOUNTER” SET TO REIGNITE HONG KONG BOXING
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By Rene Bonsubre, Jr
HONG KONG – Hong Kong’s Saagar Pradhan (3-0, 1KO) will be gunning for his first regional title in his fourth professional bout when he squares off against Thai Passakron Yakkala (7-2,5 KO's) in the main event of the fight card billed as “THE ENCOUNTER”
The vacant WBO Asia Pacific Youth junior middleweight title will be at stake in what is Hong Kong’s first fight card involving a regional title belt in five years. The show is being promoted by Filipino former pro boxer and Hong Kong based boxing trainer Jake Verano.
During the official weigh-in held at the Verano Boxing Gym, Pradhan weighed in at 69.5 kgs or 153.2 lbs while Yakkala stepped on the scales at 69.8 kgs or 153.8 lbs. This will be a homecoming fight of sorts for Pradhan , whose first three bouts were in Thailand and the Philippines. Yakkala’s two career losses were outside of Thailand, where he got stopped in Singapore and Japan.
The last big fight held here in Hong Kong with a title at stake was in 2019, when local boy Raymond Poon lost to mainland China’s Li Xiang for the WBO Youth and WBC Asia Continental light flyweight belts. The undefeated Rex Tso was the undisputed superstar of Hong Kong boxing. But after returning to the amateur ranks after his 2017 fight, he tried to pursue his dream of going to the Olympics in Tokyo 2020 but he came up short.
The Encounter’s supporting main bout will be on the distaff side, local attraction Sheau Ru Yang (6-0,3KO’s), otherwise known as RuRu Yang, who is Hong Kong’s first woman pro-boxer to win a world title - a WIBA superbantamweight belt. She is pitted against Pornnapus Katipatee from Thailand. They both weighed 117 lbs.
There is a Filipino boxer on the under card, Ben John Rey Yagahon (5-0, 5KO’s, 111 lbs) will be up against another unbeaten prospect, Thailand’s Teerachai Saewang (4-0, 3KO’s, 110 lbs.). There will be a couple of more bouts on the undercard. The fights will be held Saturday at the PMQ Qube.
Photo - Saagar Pradhan and Passakron Yakkala during the official weigh in.
HONG KONG – Hong Kong’s Saagar Pradhan (3-0, 1KO) will be gunning for his first regional title in his fourth professional bout when he squares off against Thai Passakron Yakkala (7-2,5 KO's) in the main event of the fight card billed as “THE ENCOUNTER”
The vacant WBO Asia Pacific Youth junior middleweight title will be at stake in what is Hong Kong’s first fight card involving a regional title belt in five years. The show is being promoted by Filipino former pro boxer and Hong Kong based boxing trainer Jake Verano.
During the official weigh-in held at the Verano Boxing Gym, Pradhan weighed in at 69.5 kgs or 153.2 lbs while Yakkala stepped on the scales at 69.8 kgs or 153.8 lbs. This will be a homecoming fight of sorts for Pradhan , whose first three bouts were in Thailand and the Philippines. Yakkala’s two career losses were outside of Thailand, where he got stopped in Singapore and Japan.
The last big fight held here in Hong Kong with a title at stake was in 2019, when local boy Raymond Poon lost to mainland China’s Li Xiang for the WBO Youth and WBC Asia Continental light flyweight belts. The undefeated Rex Tso was the undisputed superstar of Hong Kong boxing. But after returning to the amateur ranks after his 2017 fight, he tried to pursue his dream of going to the Olympics in Tokyo 2020 but he came up short.
The Encounter’s supporting main bout will be on the distaff side, local attraction Sheau Ru Yang (6-0,3KO’s), otherwise known as RuRu Yang, who is Hong Kong’s first woman pro-boxer to win a world title - a WIBA superbantamweight belt. She is pitted against Pornnapus Katipatee from Thailand. They both weighed 117 lbs.
There is a Filipino boxer on the under card, Ben John Rey Yagahon (5-0, 5KO’s, 111 lbs) will be up against another unbeaten prospect, Thailand’s Teerachai Saewang (4-0, 3KO’s, 110 lbs.). There will be a couple of more bouts on the undercard. The fights will be held Saturday at the PMQ Qube.
Photo - Saagar Pradhan and Passakron Yakkala during the official weigh in.