AUSTIN (Texas), Aug 16: Thailand’s Sirimonkol Singmanassuk was dethroned as the World Boxing Council super featherweight champion here Friday, losing a unanimous 12-round decision to Mexican challenger Jesus Chavez.

Judges scored the fight 117-111, 117-111 and 118-110 as Chavez rose to 40-2 with the victory while Sirmongkol fell to 39-2.

Chavez opened strong, presuring the champion, who answered in the third and fourth rounds with hard punches. But the Mexican improved as the fight wore on, rocking the Thai champion in the 10th round and staggering him to the finish.

Bob Arum, Chavez’s promoter, said that his man might make his first title defense here next June against WBC featherweight champion Erik Morales, who is looking to move up a weight class.—AFP