MANILA, Philippines—Sonny Boy Jaro became the country’s newest world champion in the most stunning of circumstances, knocking out Thai superstar Pongsaklek Wonjongkam in the sixth round to claim the World Boxing Council flyweight title Friday in Chonburi, Thailand.
Pongsaklek was heavily favored in the bout but the Filipino longshot totally changed that right in the first round, flooring the legendary Thai.
Jaro’s punching power was clearly evident in the bout as he floored Pongsaklek one more time in the third round before finally ending it in the sixth.
Jaro was given very little chance against the Thai, especially since the latter was fighting before a hometown crowd. Pongsaklek had ruled the flyweight class with an iron fist, once setting the record for most successful defenses with 16.
Pongsaklek’s record dropped to 83-4-2 with 45 knockouts. Jaro, on the other hand, improved to 35-10-5.