Thailand’s Buakaw Por Pramuk has beat Nieky "The Natural" Holtzken by unanimous decision in the K-1 bout in Japan yesterday, earning himself a spot in the round of four against Andy Souwer in October.

Two-time K-1 champion Buakaw fought Holtzken at the Nippon Budokan stadium in Tokyo on July 13 as one of the four matches in the tournament’s round of eight. The Thai seemed determined but calm when he approached Holtzken and began the game with a left kick strike, following with a right cross punch. 

Through out the three rounds, the calm Buakaw was able to prevent the Dutch opponents from making attacks, and emerged as the winner of the fight by score of 30-28 from each of the three judges.

The upcoming Asian Martial Arts Games in August will see 41 participating nations despite the flu pandemic, while host country Thailand confirms there will be no further schedule changes.

More than 1,700 athletes and staffs from 41 nations will attend the first Asian Martial Arts Games in Bangkok and Suphanburi on 1-9 August, according to Lieutenant General Charouck Arirachakaran, the secretary-general of the Thai National Olympic Council.

He said the preparation of games is going well and there will be no further change regardless of the concerns over ongoing flu pandemic in many parts around the world.

Buakaw Por Pramuk of Thailand says he will beat his next K-1 opponent Nieky "The Natural" Holtzken of the Netherlands tomorrow and cruise to the final to claim his third K-1 victory.
 
The two-time K-1 winner, who earlier beat Brazil’s Andre Dida by decision on April 21, has arrived to Japan for his match with Holtzken at at Nippon Budokan stadium in Tokyo on July 13. He was accompanied by his manager Pramuk Rojanatan and trainer Banluesak Cheanyim.
 
The Thai fighter told the Japanese reporters in a press conference on July 11 that after the win over Australian fighter John Wayne Parr in Jamaica last week, he has prepared himself well for the fight with Holtzken. Buakaw said although he had earlier beat the Dutch fighter, he would not underestimate him.

Thailand's Ratanapol Sor Vorapin has announced he would quit boxing after losing a PABA title bout by knockout to Filipino Rey Migreno yesterday.

Former world champion Ratanapol fought to defend his PABA flyweight title against Migreno in Phuket in Southern Thailand on July 10 as part of an event to promote local tourism. The Thai boxer started the game with his signature move, a leading straight right punch following by a left, which missed the target and was countered by Migreno's strike, sending Ratanapol down for a count of eight.

In the next rounds, Ratanapol tried harder but his Filipino was able to launch accurate counter punches. In the fourth round, Ratanapol was hit hard in his face by a right punch, and was again down to the canvas, but was saved by the bell.

Thailand's female pugilist Samson Tor Buamad is much better skilled than her rival WBC female light flyweight champion Nongmuay Kokietgym, boasts her promoter, who is looking to match Samson with Hong Kong’s Che Hoy Wa to prove his claim.
 
Promoter Durong Apollo said Samson is the far more skilled boxer when compared to Nongmuay and would have no problem defeating Wa. He said the bout with Wa would allow the boxing fans to compare Samson with Nongmuay, who recently defeated the Hong Kong challenger by split decisions on June 30.

WIBA international flyweight champion Samson Tor Buamad of Thailand will be fighting in the lightweight in her next bout, while aiming to claim the WIBA title of that class as her third world title, says her promoter.

Promoter Durong Apollo said he is planning to have Samson challenge for the WIBA lightweight title in the event on August 26 in Suphanburi, Thailand.

Thailand’s promoter Kokiet Panichayarom is planning to promote his 16-year-old female pugilist Buarimbueng Kokietgym as an "idol" to the Thai youths.
 
The photogenic Buarimbueng, often dubbed “the Fierce Beauty”, has attracted considerable media attention especially after she won the WBC Asia female atomweight title and successfully defending it by beating Chinese challenger Chi Bin Yan on June 30.

Kokiet said he is about to produce 5,000 CDs of her recent fight and distribute them to schools nationwide in order to encourage the youths to play sports.

Thailand’s muaythai fighter Khem Fairtex may not be selected as participant in the Contender Asia Muaythai as the producer of the reality show reportedly wants an English-speaking fighter to take the slot.

The fighter, also known as Khem Sor Ploenchit, was widely speculated to represent the Thai fighters in the second season of the popular AXN network show, but muaythai website thairec.com reported that the show producer is instead looking for a Thai fighter who is able to speak English in order to better attract the audience.

Among those tipped to take the Thai fighter slot are Singsirichai Por Sirichoke and Madsua Por Pongsawang, both of whom are from the Samui Island and have managers who are associated with the show producer.

The Olympic Council of Asian (OCA) has decided to merge the future Asian Martial Arts Games and the Asian Indoor Games into the same event.

The merger will leave the OCA five international multi-sport events, including the summer and winder editions of the Asian Games, the Asian Youth Games, and the Asian Beach Games, while the new “Asian Indoor-Martial Arts Games” will be held in Doha, Qatar, in 2011 for the first time, said OCA vice-president Lieutenant General Charouck Arirachakaran.

WBC Asia female atomweight title holder Buarimbueng Kokietgym of Thailand will have the next title defense fight in October in Thailand, while flyweight interim champion Nongmuay Kokietgym will be on a hiatus due to shoulder injury until December this year, according to the promoter.

The 16-year-old Buarimbueng, dubbed the “Fierce Beauty”, has recently defeated Chinese challenger Chi Bin Yan on June 30 to retain her title.

Her performance in the result has impressed the nation, claimed her manager Kosit Chuayboonsong, who is currently planning the next title defense in October in her home town Nong Khai, which will be sponsored by former deputy prime minister Phinij Jarusombat and the local officials.