On Saturday, Kao Roomchang the 22-year-old pressure fighter stopped two-division titleholder Lao Sinath with a left-right early in the second round of their non-title bout at the TV3 boxing arena.

Trapped in the neutral corner, Lao Sinath caught the first looping punch with a glove. But the second, an unorthodox swinging right, landed flush on the jaw, flattening the 24-year-old titlist.

The Kampong Speu native made two attempts to regain his feet but fell to the canvas both times.

“He hits hard,” said Lao Sinath, CTN’s light- and light-welterweight champion, as he massaged a swollen jaw.

The bout came as part of the four-man 65-kilogram tournament underway at the TV3 boxing arena.

With one card to go in round-robin competition, Kao Roomchang leads the field with a 2-0 record. Lao Sinath and Long Sophy stand tied at 1-1. And Pich Arun sits last at 0-2.

Kao Roomchang’s victory over Lao Sinath on Saturday was the second time in as many fights that the Battambang native has knocked out a reigning champion. Two weeks ago he scored a third-round stoppage over Long Sophy, the light-welterweight titleholder at TV5.

Although Kao Roomchang has beaten both champions several times, he has never managed to land a title bid, until now.

Kao Roomchang will challenge Long Sophy for his light-welterweight title November 14 at the TV5 boxing arena in Takmao.

The welterweight tournament at TV3 will recommence Nov 27, when Kao Roomchang, who has already clinched a berth in the final, faces last place Pich Arun in a bout of little consequence, and Long Sophy takes on Lao Sinath in a highly anticipated do-or-die duel.