Carlos Canizales vs Panya Pradabsri WBC special fight preview

Boxing Day Bonanza: Carlos Canizales vs Panya Pradabsri

Triple C vs Panya for the vacant WBC Light flyweight title By James Blears

Venezuela's Carlos 'CCC' Canizales Civira (30-2-1, 19 KO) travels to the Rajadanmern Stadium, Bangkok, to take on Thai fighter Panya Pradabsri (43-2, 27 KO) for the title vacated by Kenshiro Teraji.

The dateline is December 26th, Boxing Day.

Yet, this fight between two former world champions isn't a Remains of the Day Offering.  Both have built a career over 10 years and both have power punching capabilities exuding from their fists.

Panya, aged 33, has accumulated and amassed a veritable wealth of experience plus versatility. He'd fought in more than 200 Muay Thai bouts before he turned his hand to boxing with even greater success.

His first tilt at glory was against China's Xiong Chaozhong, an ex-WBC strawweight champion. But this fight was for the vacant WBA International strawweight title. He lost a creditable and close MD.

His big chance upon which he capitalised, with a UD victory, was against legendary, long reigning WBC straw weight champion Wanheng Menayothin, who was defending the Green and Gold Belt for the 12th time. In it, Panya ended the legendary 54 fights winning tally of Wanheng. Three successful defences later, he repeated the UD win feat again defeated Wanheng by decision,  but even more decisively.

He pointedly came unstuck and lost his absolute WBC Title in his sixth defence. It was against eager and hungry WBC Interim titlist Yudai Shigeoka.

Since then, three TKO victories against relatively modest opposition. On the plus side, Panya will be fighting this one on home turf in front of Thai fans. On the minus side, he's never before fought as a light-flyweight.

In these slender divisions, a couple of pounds can make a significant difference. Yet, Panya is calm, collected, precise and tactical.  A wonderful chance to become a World Boxing Council champion in a second weight category, but… his opponent will provide an exceptionally  stern test.

Carlos Canizales, who is two years younger, has built a career of 30-2-1, 19 KOs.  His claim to glory was a UD victory over Reiya Konishi for the vacant WBA light flyweight title. He knocked down the Japanese fighter in the third and got stronger as the fight wore on.

A successful first defence against Lu Bin. Canizales cut his opponent over the left eye, decked him the 11th and again in the final round in which it was stopped. In his next defence, a wide and convincing UD victory over ex WBO champion Sho Kimura.

Then… a gap of two years, during which, a coating of ring rust formed.  When Canizales did return to defend, he was shorn of his title by Esteban Bermudez. An overhead right in round six dropped him, he got up but walked into a short right, just a couple of seconds later, so there and then… he was an ex-champion.

A busy time since, re-establishing and re-positioning himself, with an impressive climb back.  A UD victory over German Valenzuela Barreras. An impressive fourth round TKO over ex-WBC champion Ganigan Lopez. A one round blowout of Armando Hernandez Torres, and then one helluva fight against then champion Kenshiro Teraji, which he lost by a MD.  Most recently a MD win over Ivan Garcia Balderas for the WBC light-flyweight light flyweight title.

Physically, there's little to chose between this pair.  Carlos Canizales stands five feet three inches tall with a reach of 64 1/2 inches. Panya is but an inch taller but with a reach extending half an inch less.  Carlos has fought 169 rounds as a pro with a 70.3% KO ratio. Panya has appreciably more with 278 rounds and a KO ratio of 62.79%.

At the recent World Boxing Council Convention in Hamburg, O`Shaquie Foster confided how sweet it sounded to be announced as two-time champion of the World. Whoever wins between Panya and Triple C , will hear that accolade ringing in their ears. It will mean everything, making the blood, sweat and tears worth it.

Triple C has been a road warrior during his career, so the long journey to Thailand won't bother him that much. Although Venezuela is a warm and sunny climate country, inevitable standing around during the introductions for this one in Bangkok, could be prolonged, searingly hot, sweltering and draining.

Carlos is a puncher while Panya, although he is a capable finisher, is more of a stylist and a finesse boxer. The strawweight limit is 105 pounds. While light-flyweight is three pounds heavier. It doesn't seem an awful lot, but at this level, it counts for something power wise.

It's the final WBC fight of the year and both will be looking to impress on Boxing Day. A chance to be back on top of the mountain summit. They have dedicated most of their lives to boxing and both are striving to be world champion again. But only one will get there.

Also at  the recent World Boxing Council Convention in Hamburg, Terence Crawford confided his will to win extends far past boxing, encompassing and embracing everything. This is what we'll see put into motion between Panya and Canizales, once the bell rings.

The ethos of striving for success spans everything.

Max Verstappen said: "I always try to get the best result. I'm not there to just sit second or third. I'm a winner. I always go for it."

Jay Jay Ochoa  summed it up best: "I've tried my whole life to be a winner, and if I know two things, it takes passion and it takes persistence."