Petch CP Freshmart returns to Japan for bantamweight title fight against Junto Nakatani

Thailand is riding a wave of success on the global boxing stage. Knockout CP Freshmart (25-0, 9 KO) recently defended his world title in Australia against Alex Winwood (4-1, 2 KO). Thananchai Charunphak (25-1, 15 KOs) earlier claimed victory over Kento Hatanaka (15-1, 10 KOs) in Japan, while Thanongsak Simsri (35-1, 32 KOs) secured the OPBF Light Flyweight crown in March by Miel to defeat Fajardo (11-2-2, 10 KO).

Yet the most important challenge for Thai boxing is on the horizon as bantamweight contender Tasana Salapat (76-1, 53 KOs) prepares to cement his legacy in the sport.

On October 14, the Thai southpaw known as Petch CP Freshmart will step into the ring at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena to face Junto Nakatani (28-0, 21 KO). rated at no. 9 by The Ring on pound-for-poundfor the vacant WBC bantamweight title. This is the second time Salapat has fought on foreign soil, a big step in a career that has mostly been fought at home.

Like many Thai boxers, Salapat began his fighting career in Muay Thai and competed at the country’s highest levels before switching to professional boxing. But his journey was unique. At just 16 years old, the future bantamweight title challenger made his professional boxing debut in 2011, defeating Sarawut Pantayung, better known as Jomhod Eminent Air (7-4, 2 KO), a celebrated Muay Thai champion. His early career was a whirlwind as he fought nine times in his first year.

Between 2012 and 2018, the Thai fighter kept up an impressive pace, fighting seven to eight times a year and mixing it up with regional and youth champions, craftsmen and even debutants. The goal was simple: stay active. Like many Thai fighters, he adopted an alias, “Petch CPF,” named after his sponsor, a local grocery chain that organizes monthly boxing events and keeps him busy with regular fights. This sponsorship model, common in Thailand, allowed him to stay sharp, sometimes facing the same opponents multiple times. With 76 fights under his belt and only one loss, he was one of the sport’s busiest boxers.

That one loss came in 2018, when he traveled outside of Thailand for the first time to take on Japan’s Takuma Inoue (20-1, 5 KO) for the interim WBC bantamweight title. Despite putting in a strong effort, he lost by unanimous decision, which was the first and only blemish on his record. Now the Thai veteran heads back to Japan to face an even bigger challenge in Nakatani.

One of the most interesting aspects of this upcoming match is that it will be a Southpaw vs. Southpaw match is. This adds a unique tactical element to combat. Interestingly, the last time Nakatani fought a southpaw was in April 2022 when he defended his WBO flyweight title against Ryota Yamauchi (12-3,11 KO). Nakatani won the fight with an eighth-round TKO, showing his ability to effectively handle left-handed opponents. This makes the upcoming fight with Salapat all the more interesting.

I had the chance to visit him at his training camp in Pathum Thani province, just on the outskirts of Bangkok. Salapat, who was trained by renowned trainer and former WBC flyweight champion Chatchai Sasakul, was in the thick of preparations for the biggest fight of his career. It was a Thursday afternoon, and when I arrived he was already shadowboxing, his focus sharp. The gym exuded a positive aura, with the team still riding the high of Knockout CP’s recent win in Australia.

Sitting down with Sasakul as we watched the Thai fighter go through his paces, the trainer gave an honest assessment of the challenge ahead.

“Junto, I think it’s a very tough fight for Petch,” Sasakul admitted. “But in boxing anything can happen. I can’t predict the future, and I don’t know how things will go in Japan. But it is not an easy battle for Junto either. We work hard, and I have a strategy. We are following the plan.”

Curious about the 2018 loss to Takuma Inoue, I wanted to know what had changed since then. Reflecting on the growth his fighter experienced, Sasakul explained, “The first thing he learned was experience. It was his first time fighting abroad. He was nervous, excited and could not perform as smoothly as usual. But now he has matured. I think this time he can control his emotions. But, you know, Junto is very good.”

When discussing Salapat’s strengths, Sasakul described him as well-rounded. “Petch is rounded. His skill, his hitting power—it’s not too hard, not too soft. He has his strong points, but I’m trying to improve them.”

After the training session, I sat down with Salapat himself to learn more about his journey. Growing up in a poor family, boxing was initially a way to help support his loved ones. “My family was pretty poor when I was a kid, so I thought of ways to help support them,” he shared. “At that time there was a local festival at the temple near my house, and they organized Muay Thai matches. I went to see and became interested in Muay Thai. The organizers allowed me to participate, and from that moment on I enjoyed it and started training.”

Wanting to know more about his inspirations, I asked if there was anyone who influenced him to pursue boxing. “My inspiration started when I started training in professional boxing. It was Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (91-5-2, 47 KO) that I admired.”

With a great career spanning over a decade, I wondered how he maintains his motivation after all these years. “I’m constantly training and staying disciplined,” he said. “I never underestimate any opponent in any fight.”

Reflecting on his 2018 fight with Takuma Inoue, I was curious about what lessons he learned from that experience. “I learned a lot and gained valuable experience fighting abroad for the first time. I brought those skills back and developed myself further.”

As for his upcoming fight with Nakatani, Salapat is going to approach it with renewed confidence and determination. “This fight means everything to me,” he said. “If I get the chance, I will give everything to bring home the belt. It will mean so much to my family and to the reputation of boxing in Thailand.”

His preparation has been rigorous, with one of his main sparring partners Phongthep Homjui (14-1-2, 8 KO), a fellow southpaw who also has an upcoming fight in Seoul. The two pushed each other to the limit and refined their skills before their respective challenges.

With Sasakul’s guidance, the Thai fighter is determined to leave his mark on the sport. As the clock ticks closer to race night, there is a sense that he is ready to take on the challenge regardless of the outcome. He knows what is at stake—for himself as well as for Thailand.

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