ONE Championship: Brit Ellis Badr Barboza beaten in Muay Thai world title fight after doctor stoppage
Britain's Ellis Badr Barboza loses ONE strawweight Muay Thai world championship shot against Prajanchai PK Saenchai via doctor stoppage in Bangkok; Barboza shows great resilience throughout the fight before contest is waved off in round four
Saturday 8 February 2025 10:39, UK
Ellis Badr Barboza's world title dream was brought to a heartbreaking halt as Prajanchai PK Saenchai retained his ONE strawweight Muay Thai championship via doctor stoppage in Bangkok.
The British challenger started the match brightly, dictating the pace with sharp low kicks and jabs, as defending champion Prajanchai remained composed behind his teep kicks.
The pair exchanged body kicks but as the first round progressed, Prajanchai - who also holds the ONE strawweight kickboxing world title - found his rhythm, landing a crisp straight punch and low kick combination before closing the stanza with a sharp right elbow.
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Prajanchai increased his intensity in the second frame, attacking the body with knees and punches.
The defining moment came when he landed multiple slicing elbows, opening a deep cut above Barboza's left eye.
Despite the damage, the Birmingham fighter refused to back down, and even managed to fire a one-two combination before the bell.
The third round saw Prajanchai pile on the pressure, unleashing a barrage of uppercuts, hooks, and a downward elbow against a resilient Barboza.
A low blow briefly halted the action in the fourth, but once the fight resumed, the Brit enjoyed a strong spell after mostly targeted the champion's body.
However, as he landed a solid right elbow to the head, Prajanchai responded immediately with an identical razor-sharp elbow.
The damage was too severe, and referee Olivier Coste waved off the contest at 1:55 of round four on the doctor's advice.
Prajanchai extended his record to 344-52, with his dominant display also earning him a $100,000 (£80,570.00) performance bonus.
