Japan's Naito retains WBC belt on draw with Thai

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's Daisuke Naito retained his WBC flyweight title with a draw against Thai Pongsaklek Wongjongkam on Saturday.

Former champion Pongsaklek, who had knocked Naito out in a record 34 seconds in the first of their three previous meetings, did little until the last three rounds in Tokyo.

"I really wanted to win outright but I'll take it because I kept the belt," Naito told reporters. "It feels a lot better than losing. I just want to enjoy this."

Naito won the title from Pongsaklek in a shock points win last July following two defeats at the hands of the hard-hitting Thai.

Pongsaklek, a national hero in Thailand after successfully defending the title 17 times before being ambushed by Naito, had struggled to make the weight limit for the fight.

A hard right from Pongsaklek drew blood from Naito in the sixth round but the Thai was warned for bundling the champion to the canvas as the fight finally came to life in the ninth.