Thai boxer Wanheng Menayothin matched the 50-0 record held by Floyd Mayweather in style on Wednesday, stopping Panamanian Leroy Estrada inside the distance and retaining his title.
The WBC minimumweight champion scored a knock out win over the challenger in the fifth round with a rain of power punching that put him to the canavas before the referee stopped the bout.
- Earlier report: Wanheng bids to equal record
The historic match was held in a packed makeshift ring outside the provincial hall in Nakhon Ratchasima.
By beating the opponent on Wednesday, the 32-year-old Thai boxer equalled the 50-0 record of the great Mayweather.
"I thought it would be tougher,'' said Wanheng, who defended his belt for the ninth time. "He is young and fast. But he lost guard early and I took the opportunity. It was easy from then on.''
Wanheng sent Estrada to the floor twice in the second round again in the fourth.
"I was never confident that I was winning as it was a 12-round fight,'' Wanheng said. "Now I'm happy that I have matched Mayweather's record.''
Wanheng said he wasn't thinking about winning 51 straight fights, but said he would keep training hard for the next one.
"He is 32 but still very strong and fit,'' said Suparb Boonrod, Wanheng's coach. "He is very disciplined and is a hard-working man, so winning his 51st consecutive match is possible.''
Both fighters hit the scale at the limit during the weigh-in on Tuesday witnessed by WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman, who also watched the match at the venue.
Wanheng Menayothin delivers a blow against Leroy Estrada during a bout in Nakhon Ratchasima on Wednesday.