Petch CP Freshmart returns to Japan for the bantamweight title fight vs Junto Nakatani
Thailand is riding a wave of success on the world boxing stage. Knockout CP Freshmart (25-0, 9 KO) recently defended his world title in Australia against Alex Winwood (4-1, 2 KO). Earlier, Thananchai Charunphak (25-1, 15 KO) defeated Kento Hatanaka (15-1, 10 KO) in Japan, and Thanongsak Simsri (35-1, 32 KO) won the OPBF Light title Flyweight in March by defeating Miel. Fajardo (11-2-2, 10 KO).
However, Thai boxing’s most important challenge 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 enter the ring at Tokyo’s Ariake Arena where he will face Junto Nakatani (28-0, 21 KO), ranked No. 9 is The Ring pound for pound, vacant WBC bantamweight title. This is the second time Salapat has fought abroad, which is a big step in a career that has been fought hard at home.
Like many Thai boxers, Salapat began his fighting career in Muay Thai, competing at the top levels of the country before moving on to professional boxing. But his journey was different. At just 16 years old, the future bantamweight title challenger made his boxing debut in 2011, defeating Sarawut Pantayung, better known as Jomhod Eminent Air (7-4, 2 KO), a popular Muay Thai champion. His first career was a whirlwind, as he fought nine times in his first year.
Between 2012 and 2018, the Thai fighter maintained an incredible pace, fighting seven to eight times a year, mixing it up with regional champions and youngsters, journeymen, and even beginners. The goal was simple: stay active. Like many Thai fighters, he used the name, “Petch CPF,” named after his sponsor, a local grocer who organizes monthly boxing events, keeping 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 busiest boxers in the sport.
That one loss came in 2018, when he first left Thailand to face 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, marking the first and only loss on his record. Now, the Thai veteran returns to Japan to face an even bigger challenge in Nakatani.
One of the most interesting aspects of this upcoming fight is the southpaw vs. southpaw matchup. This adds a unique aspect 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 technical knockout, showing his ability to dominate his opponents. This makes the upcoming battle with Salapat very interesting.
I had the opportunity to visit him at his training camp in Pathum Thani province, which is on the outskirts of Bangkok. Trained by the famous trainer and former WBC flyweight champion Chatchai Sasakul, Salapat was busy preparing for the biggest fight of his life. It was Thursday afternoon, and when I arrived, he was busy boxing, very focused. The gym exuded a positive aura, the team still riding high with a recent Knockout CP win in Australia.
Sitting down with Sasakul as we watched the Thai striker go through his conditioning, the coach gave an honest assessment of the challenge ahead.
“Junto, I think it’s a very difficult 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 turn out in Japan. But this is also not an easy fight for Junto. We work hard, and I have a plan. We are following the plan.”
I want to know about the 2018 loss to Takuma Inoue, I wanted to know what has changed since then. Sasakul reflected on his growth, explaining, “The first thing he learned was experience. It was the first time he fought abroad. He was nervous, excited, and unable to perform as well as usual. But now he is older. I think this time he can control his emotions. But you know, Junto is very good.”
When discussing Salapat’s strength, Sasakul described him as a perfect person. “Petch is well organized. His skill, his punch power—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 his loved ones. “My family was very poor when I was a child, so I thought of ways to support them,” he said. “At that time, there was a local festival in the temple near my home, and they organized Muay Thai matches. I went to watch 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 motivations, I asked if anyone influenced him to pursue boxing. “My inspiration started when I started training professional boxing. It was Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (91-5-2, 47 KO) that I loved.”
With a storied career spanning more than a decade, I wondered how he maintains his motivation after all these years. “I keep myself exercising continuously and behave properly,” she said. “I have never underestimated any opponent in any fight.”
Thinking about his 2018 fight with Takuma Inoue, I was curious 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 continued to improve.”
As for his upcoming fight with Nakatani, Salapat approaches 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 the belt home. It will mean a lot to my family and the reputation of boxing in Thailand.”
His preparation has been solid, one of his main partners has been Phongthep Homjui (14-1-2, 8 KO), a fellow southpaw who also has an upcoming fight in Seoul. The two have been pushing each other to the top, honing their skills before their challenges.
Led by Sasakul, the Thai fighter is determined to leave his mark on the sport. As the clock ticks down to fight night, it feels like he’s ready to take on the challenge, no matter what the outcome. He knows what is at stake—his and Thailand’s.
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