LONDON -- Sot Chitalada of Thailand retained the World Boxing Council flyweight title by stopping Charlie Magri of Britain at the end of the fourth round Wednesday.
Magri's corner stopped the fight because of a cut on Magri's eyelid. The fight had been even until a clash of heads opened the cut, which covered Magri's face in blood.
'I think he caught me with a punch' said Magri, who held the title for six months during 1983. 'I am very disappointed that I did not do better. I am very upset.'
Chitalada improved to 22-1 while former champion Magri fell to 29-4.
Neither boxer had trouble making the 112-pound flyweight limit.
Magri, 28, was bidding to regain the title he lost in his first defense to Frank Cedeno of the Philippines in 1983.
Magri was a knockout artist early in his career but by the time he took the world title from Mexico's Eleoncio Mercedes, he was becoming easier to hit and his opponents were lasting longer.
He claimed to have rebuilt his enthusiasm for the sport and his belief in himself before the Chitalada fight.
Chitalada's only loss came on a close decision in a title fight against Chang Jung Koo in Korea last March. Chitalada claimed he was robbed against Chang.
Chitalada, who speaks very little English said, 'I am very happy. Very pleased. Thank you.'
The former kick-boxer won the title on home soil in October last year when he defeated Mexican champion Gabriel Bernal.
Chitalada, defending his title for the first time, spent a moment in prayer before entering the ring, carrying ceremonial swords and wearing a red warrior's outfit.
Magri controlled the first two rounds, but once he had soaked up Magri's hardest opening blows, Chitalada increased his speed and punch rate and began to win over the fiercely partizan London crowd with his skills.
The only time Chitalda appeared to be shaken in the opening stages was when Magri, attempting to become the first British fighter to regain a world crown since Ted 'Kid' Lewis in 1917, caught him with a powerful left hook midway through the second round. Chitalada was momentarily shaken by the punch, but stood his ground.
Chitalada controlled the rest of the fight, landing numerous punches with his lightning-quick hands in the third round. The champion hurt Magri with a damaging blow in the fourth round and blood began to stream down his face from the cut. Lawless, after advice from British board doctor, Adrian Whiteson, decided at the end of the round to stop the fight.
