Erick Rosa’s future uncertain after latest Freshmart fiasco, says promoter
Erick Rosa in pass limbo in Thailand. (Photo: Shuan Boxing Press)
Today Erick Rosa should have challenged knockout CP Freshmart (aka Thammanoon Niyomtrong) for the WBA Strawweight Title. However, when he and his team made the 10,000-mile journey from his home in the Dominican Republic to Thailand on February 20, he was not allowed to enter the country.
Rosa, who holds the regular WBA title, was hoping to cement the championship by taking on Freshmart for the full WBA title. His promoter, Bélgica Peña from Shuan Promotions, was keen to share what happened.
Rosa was arrested because of documentation problems, says his promoter. (Photo: Shuan Boxing Press)
“We had a lot of trouble getting into Thailand because the organizers didn’t fill out the required documentation to enter the country correctly,” Peña told The Ring.
“Erick was detained at the airport for 16 hours after traveling for two days to reach Thailand. After they released him, they withheld his passport and we were effectively in a foreign country illegally.”
Fortunately, Rosa is now back in the Dominican Republic after an arduous return journey.
Peña remains unsure of where this is leaving her fighter.
“I understand that my boxer was not in the physical or mental condition to fight in a fight as important as this,” she said. “We’re hoping that we can now fight the fight under WBA rules since we’re runners-up to the auction.”
This isn’t the first time Peña has felt offended trying to secure a fight with Freshmart for her fighter.
At the WBA annual convention last year, there was a prize money contest for Freshmart-Rosa, in which both sides participated. The winner was Freshmart’s promoter, Petchyindee Boxing Promotions, with an offer of $140,000, beating Rosa’s supporter Shuan Boxing ($122,000).
“I don’t think the auction was fair,” Peña said. “For some reason I never got the letter that we had an auction that day.
Overall, Rosa spent several days traveling to and from Thailand. (Photo: Shuan Boxing Press)
“I went to the convention just to support the organization that we have been working with for many years and that’s where I found out there was an auction. After losing [the purse bid]I made the Thais a very good offer but they insisted on fighting.”
Freshmart (24-0, 9 KOs), The Rings No. 1 strawweight boxer, was a successful muay thai fighter, winning a Thai national title as an amateur boxer before turning pro in 2012.
He annexed the WBA title from Byron Rojas (UD 12) in June 2016. Since then, the 32-year-old has rejected 11 challengers including Rey Loreto (UD 12), Chaozhong Xiong (UD 12), Rojas (UD 12). ), Robert Paradero (TKO 5) and, in his most recent fight, former longtime WBC champion Wanheng Menayothin (UD 12).
Rosa (5-0, 1 KO) had a successful amateur career before turning pro in October 2020. The ambitious 22-year-old southpaw from the Dominican Republic impressively dominated the 105-pound Byron Castellon (UD 10) in his second game. He followed that up by stopping potential Kenny Cano (KO 3).
These victories saw him take on undefeated Peruvian Ricardo Astuvilca. Despite being floored in the fourth round, Rosa used his skillful skills to win a 12-round unanimous decision. “Mini-Pacman” continued to be aggressively moved, ousting former WBO 105-pound ruler Vic Saludar (SD 12) in December 2021.
The situation is ongoing, and Rosa and his team are awaiting clarification from the WBA as to what happens next.
Questions and/or comments can be sent to Anson at [email protected].
