Rojas vows to take the belt back home

Byron Rojas, right, during a training session.

Byron Rojas has vowed to win back the title he lost to WBA minimumweight champion Knockout CPF when they meet in Chon Buri tomorrow.

The unbeaten Thai, who has won all his 18 bouts, claimed the title after dethroning Rojas in Khon Kaen in 2016.

Knockout, whose real name is Thammanoon Niyomtrong, has since successfully defended the title five times.

The Nicaraguan challenger, who has a record of 25 wins, three losses and three draws, said he had watched tape of his loss to the 28-year-old champion "about 200 times" over the past two years to study his own mistakes and Knockout's weakness.

"I am confident that I can bring home the belt,'' said Rojas, also 28.

Knockout's promoter Piyarat Vachirarattanawong said Rojas looked bigger than he was two years ago.

"It will be a tough fight for Knockout,'' he said.

"But I am still confident that Knockout will retain the title."

The official weigh-in will take place today and the bout will be held at a makeshift ring outside Chon Buri's provincial hall.

Knockout is one of Thailand's only three reigning world boxing champions, with the other two being WBC minimumweight title-holder Wanheng Menayothin and WBC super-flyweight king Srisaket Sor Rungvisai.

Meanwhile, Manny Pacquiao said yesterday that veteran trainer Freddie Roach never left his orbit, despite a public split, and was helping the Filipino boxing legend get ready for his upcoming bout in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao is training in Manila ahead of the Jan 19 showdown against Adrien Broner, a fight that may be a prelude to a long-speculated on rematch with Floyd Mayweather.

The Roach-Pacquiao reunion comes after the men abruptly parted ways, breaking up one of boxing's most famous double-acts, following the Filipino's defeat to Jeff Horn last year.

Roach was reported to have been upset by his dismissal, but agreed to return after late-night talks with the fighter last week.

"I tell people even in America that Freddie never left Team Pacquiao," Pacquiao, 39, told reporters after hitting the mitts. "He is still involved in the training."

Pacquiao, the only fighter to win world titles in eight different weight divisions, got a boost to his storied, but slowing boxing career, after stopping Argentina's Lucas Matthysse in July in Kuala Lumpur.

Just over six months later he will be back in the ring, this time against Broner, a 29-year-old American, for his first US fight since 2016.

"I am already excited. [After] more than two years I am coming back to Vegas to fight," said Pacquiao. bangkok post/afp