Thai Knocks Out Pintor to Win Title

Thai challenger Samart Payakaroon won the World Boxing Council super-bantamweight title Saturday with a fifth-round knockout of Mexico’s Lupe Pintor.

Pintor, at 125 pounds, already had forfeited the title when he failed to make the 122-pound weight limit. But Samart had to beat the Mexican to make the crown his own.

After his defeat, Pintor, 31, twice world champion in the weight class, said he was quitting the sport. His record is 54-9-1.

“I confirm that this is my last fight,” he said. “After this I will lead a peaceful life.”

Weakened by more than two hours in a steam room in a futile effort to make the weight, Pintor did not have the speed or strength to cope with his 24-year-old challenger, who won every round on the cards of all three American judges.

Samart, after outboxing Pintor in the first three rounds with a stinging jab and combinations, stepped up the pressure. Near the end of the fourth round, he opened a cut on Pintor’s right eye.

Sensing victory in the fifth, Samart moved in on his opponent and finished him off with a short, powerful left hook. Pintor was unable to beat the count.

Samart won the championship in only his 11th international style fight, but he is a veteran of more than 100 Thai-style bouts in which the feet, elbows, knees and fists may be used to strike the opponent.