Thailand’s Oleydong Sithsamerchai has retained his World Boxing Council minimum weight title with a majority decision over interim title holder Juan “El Exterminador” Palacios of Nicaragua in Pathum Thani, Friday in a bout telecast by Thailand’s Channel Seven.

In a close fight two of the three judges gave the hometown fighter the edge while the third judge scored it even. Franz Marti had Oleydong the winner 115-114, Jae Bong Kim also favored the Thai 116-114 while Benjamin Rendon scored it even 114-114.

With the win Oleydong improved to 33-0 with 12 knockouts while Palacios fell to 26-3 with 21 knockouts.

Before the fight the Thai Rath newspaper quoted Palacios as saying he was not worried about fighting Oleydong who at 24 is five years younger than him because he had studied the Thai champion well. He praised Oleydong as a top boxer with an excellent left punch and agile combinations as well as quick movement but said he was not worried at all that he has to fight the Thai fighter in Thailand.

Palacios said Oleydong remained undefeated because he has never met tough opponent.

The Nicaraguan also said he would show the WBC that he is the one who deserves the world title belt. But apparently, he fell just short of his goal.