The effort of muaythai promoter Wirat Prai-anan, better known as “Shane Muangchon”, to revive the troubled cross-stadium event comes as a great boost to the sport in the time when promoters are mostly incompetent and the stadiums pay attention only on short-term benefits rather than development, says Banmuang newspaper sportswriter Thep Thammarat.

Thep said the stadiums tend to protect “sickened” promoters who are able to tender good bids for the stadiums but fail to offer the muaythai audience quality events.

“It is true that the sport today has tons of promoters but lacks magnet fighters like in the past. This is a shameful loss of both time and opportunity, not to mention the chance to promote or develop muaythai business,” he said.

Kameda, a Japanese word meaning “turtle”, is best known in boxing as name of a notorious Japanese boxing family, helmed by manager and trainer Shiro Kameda, his oldest son Koki Kameda who is holding the WBC flyweight title, his second son Daiki Kameda who has recently claimed WBA flyweight belt from Thailand’s Denkaosan Kaovichit, and his youngest son Tomoki Kameda who won a regional title from a fight in Mexico. 

Khao Sod sportswriter who goes by alias “Sodsroi Saosangwian” has summarized the relationship of the Kamedas and the Thai people and how they are perceived by the Thai media.

According to the writer, Shiro has been remembered for telling Daiki to use elbows and other prohibited moves against fellow Japanese pugilist Daisuke Naito when the two fought on October 11, 2007.

Boxing and muaythai promoter Naris Singwangcha of Thailand is hoping the Filipino boxers he recently recruited into his camp will help boost his international fame.

According to Naris, a number of Filipino boxers have agreed to fight under him and used “Singwangcha” as part of their ring names, which is customary for many Thai boxing camps.

Naris, upon returning to Thailand from his Philippines trip last week, said his new Filipino boxers such as “Donald Singwangcha” and “Ryan Singwangcha” have a good chance to gain international recognition in the footstep of Filipino boxing star Manny Pacquiao.

Prab Kaiyang Hadao has again failed to make weight to fight Lertpetch Por Worasing despite Omnoi Stadium’s earlier decision to controversially postpone the match.

According to earlier reports, the match of Prab vs. Lertpetch on January 2 was postponed at the last minute after the former failed to pass weigh-in. Muay Siam newspaper suggested that the dubious decision of the stadium may come from its connection with Prab's manager Wirat Wachiratanawong, who helms a large and well-known muaythai camp.

Prab, however, still failed to make weight for the rescheduled match on January 7. He was disqualified, although the stadium plans another match for the two fighters on January 16.

  Lertpetch Por Worasing

Prab Kaiyang Hadao vs Lertpetch Por Worasing match at Omnoi Stadium has been postponed at the last minute after the former failed to pass weigh-in.

The two muaythai fighters were scheduled to fight in an Isuzu tournament quarter-final bout on January 2 at Omnoi Stadium, but Prab was found to be over the weight limit. According to stadium rules, he would be immediately disqualified even if he fought in the match and would be out of the tournament.

However, Prab's manager Wirat Wachiratanawong insisted that Prabda must not be disqualified as the bout was earlier rescheduled from January 9 to January 2, leaving the fighter no time to lose weight. He requested the stadium to postpone the bout to January 9.

Ratchadamnern muaythai stadium has convinced its long-time promoter Niwat Laosuwannawat to drop his plan to resign from the stadium.

Niwat, who has organized matches for the stadium for nearly three decades and was praised for his recent successful event on October 8, 2009, was reportedly upset by the stadium decision to reduce time slots for his Suek Palang Num series.

Niwat, along with a number of other promoters, were also frustrated to find out they were not invited to a recent stadium board meeting. The promoter announced his decision to quit from his position at Ratchadamnern but stadium chief Chalermpong Chiewsakul has pleaded him to stay.

Muaythai manager and promoter Chucharoen Rawee-aramwong says he is willing to take in any fighters from his long-time rival and friend Songchai Ratanasuban to his Daorung Chucharoen event on January 7.

According to earlier reports, Chucharoen was for years engaged in various high-profile rows against the influential Songchai. However, the two have recently reconciled and Sonchai’s fighters were even included in Chucharoen’s event on December 21.

Chucharoen said the success of his event was due to Songchai’s help and he is planning to visit Songchai soon to discuss possibility of similar cooperation in the next event.

Muaythai manager and promoter Chucharoen Rawee-aramwong says he will support his long-time rival and friend Songchai Ratanasuban to lead the industry, while hoping that their renewed relationship would “last longer than the previous ones”.

Chucharoen was until recently engaged in various high-profile rows against the influential Songchai. However, the two currently seem to be on terms with each other and even seen partying together last week.

Chucharoen said the festive atmosphere, including corporation in their Daorung Chucharoen and Onesongchai matches, should be “a relationship that would last longer than the previous ones”.

Thai Muaythai fighter Kaimukdam Sit O will fight in a professional boxing match against Puengluang Sor Singyu, amidst the lingering tension between his new manager Chucharoen Rawee-aramwong and the influential promoter Songchai Ratanasuban.

According to the earlier reports, Kaimukdam agreed to fight under Chucharoen as long as he is allowed to stay in his hometown in Buri Ram and continue to fight in the events hosted by Songchai, who is a long-time rival of Chucharoen.

So far Songchai has kept Kaimukdam busy with various muaythai matches including the planned boxing bout, reported Muay Siam newspaper, adding that Kaimukdam, who had only amateur experience in boxing, will likely have a tough time fighting veteran boxer Puengluang.