May 19, 2000

UDON THANI, THAILAND--
Unbeaten Filipino lefty MALCOLM TUNACAO impressively captured the WBC flyweight belt as he relentlessly unleashed furious combinations on the gory defending champ MEDGOEN SINGSURAT (who fought this time under the new ring name of Medgoen Kratingdaeng-Gym), a shorter Thailander, and punched him from all angles en route to an upset TKO victory at 1:53 of the 7th round.

Regarding the name of the dethroned champ, he fought as this fight as Medgoen KRATINGDAENG-GYM. He originally fought under his real name Medgoen Singsurat, then changed his to Medgoen 3K Battery, fought under another new name of Medgoen Toyota-Thailand in just one fight (his last defense against Japan's Masaki Kawabata), and then changed it again to Medgoen Kratingdaeng-Gym.

Tunacao, a lanky southpaw, made a very good start and dominated the opening canto with his positive attack. But Medgoen, also unbeaten, turned the tables with his busier combinations to be in command in the second through 5th sessions. The champ opened a slight cut at the left eyelid of the challenger in the second round.

The Filipino fought back to mix up and win the 6th as he resumed his hot rallies and had the champ bleeding from a gash at the right optic. In the fatal 7th, Tunacao battered the champ with a desperate attack and staggered the bloodied champ. Though the referee had the cut examined by the ringside physician, he allowed them to go on. It was a good rest for Tunacao who had seemingly used a great deal of energy. He accelerated his attack and had Medgoen so helpless that the third man declared a halt to save the loser from further punishment. There were no knockdowns, but Tunacao proved superior this night.

Tunacao, the younger brother of ex-world challenger Noel Tunacao who failed to win the WBA light fly title from Japan's Hiroki Ioka 1992, raised his unblemished mark to 11-0, 7 KOs. Medgoen, who had dethroned Filipino southpaw Manny Pacquiao on an upset TKO last September, tasted his first defeat at the hand of the less experienced Filipino, and dropped to 20-1, 12 KOs.

Malcolm, who was Philippine national amateur champ in four years from 1995, turned professional under the wing of Wakee Salud, ex-manager of ex-WBC super-fly champ Gerry Penalosa, in August, 1998. He seized the Filipino flyweight title by winning a 12-round decision over Rio Sumampong last September -- 8 days after Medgoen dethroned Malcolm's compatriot Manny Pacquiao. It was very fortunate that Malcolm Tunacao was given an opportunity to fight in a quest for the world title at such an early stage of his career and also gained the title in an impressive fashion.

Promoter: Diamond Promotions.

-- Joe Koizumi
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