Closet Classic - Ryo Miyazaki Vs Pornsawan Porpramook

1/28/2021

The smaller division's often get derided in the west, by fans who only want to watch the bigger men. Thankfully those who do follow the "little men" they get rewarded with a lot of hidden gems. Today we look at one of those gems from late 2012, in fact it was from very, very late in 2012 being one of the final bouts of the year, and a very late contender for Fight of the Year,

The Fights
Ryo Miyazaki (17-0-3, 10) Vs Pornsawan Porpramook (27-4-1, 17)
The bout in question was a WBA Minimumweight title bout pitting an unbeaten Japanese warrior against an experienced Thai warrior, who had previously held the title. The belt was now vacant, and this bout was put together, with promises of incredible action.

In one corner was unbeaten Osakan fighter Ryo Miyazaki, a flawed but exciting fighter who had been regarded as the #2 at the Ioka gym, behind close friend Kazuto Ioka who vacated the title to move up in weight. Miyazaki lacked the natural skills of Ioka, but had an aggressive and exciting style that relied on his pressure and physical strength. He fought to his strengths, and didn't try to be a boxer like his friend and stablemate. Notably he had first made a mark at Light Flyweight, winning the Japanese and OPBF titles at 108lbs, and before dropping down to Minimumweight for this fight. It was assumed that if he could make weight without depleting his body too much his strength, toughness and power would make him a nightmare at 105lbs.

In the other corner was Thailand's Pornsawan Porpramook. He was very much a proven quantity at Minimumweight but someone who had come up short in most of his biggest bouts. He had lost to the likes of Donnie Neites, Oleydong Sithsamerchai, Edgar Sosa and Akira Yaegashi, with the Yaegashi fight being something special it's self. Although he had typically come up short he had won the WBA title in 2011 when he travelled over to Indonesia and beat veteran Muhammad Rachman. His reign was short, losing to Yaegashi in his first defense, but he had bounced back with 4 wins to earn a shot at the now vacant title. He would, however, have to return to Japan, where he lost to Yaegashi, to fight for the belt.

Given what we knew of the two men, that both were warriors, both liked to impose themselves and both could fight it was a bout that promised a lot and it delivered.

The two men started rather cautiously, trying to figure the other out in the opening moments. It was a rather slow and cautious build, with neither man wanting to be the first to take a risk. Despite that you could feel that the touch paper was going to be lit sooner or later and that things were going to pick up in a big way sooner or later. There was a flash point towards the end of the first round, and you could tell both were eager to step it up.

In round 2 both men would begin to put their foot on the gas, with Porpramook pressing more and showing the style that had seen him getting dubbed the "Tank", walking down Miyazaki and forcing the Japanese fighter to respond. When that happened the bout began to step up in intensity. Miyazaki wasn't being dragged straight into a war, but the war was being forced onto him why a tank determined to make this more than just a fight.

From round 3 onwards we began to get something amazing, despite Miyazaki trying to box on the back foot he began to embrace the war more and more and the action kept building.

Despite Brad Vocale, the referee, playing too much of a role early on the fight managed to over-come his interjections as the two men just pounded each other, round after round.

If you've not seen this one, it is well and truly worth the time to watch, enjoy and realise just how thrilling these two warriors were and how great Minimumweight fights can be!

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