The popularity of the Euro Cup 2008 has added insult to injury for the muaythai promoters of Ratchadamnern Stadium who have already been suffering weeks of low attendance due to the nearby ongoing anti-government protests of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD).

Promoter “Ang Mor” Chucharoen Rawee-aramwong could not take it anymore. He decided to lead a party of fighters, spectators, and crew staff to meet with the PAD at Makkawarn Rangsan Bridge.

Chucharoen reportedly begged the PAD leaders to relocate their stage to a different location as it had scared away the muaythai spectators from Ratchadamnern Stadium.

The PAD protesters, who are known for their stubbornness, are not likely to move away any day soon. Not even Chucharoen’s tear can change their minds.

Perhaps Chucharoen’s rally should focus on a more vulnerable target, like the executives of Ratchadamnern Stadium.  
 

News: Muaysiam number 1808

Although Thailand and many other countries are currently gripped with the Euro Cup fever, the international muaythai calendar is still packed with upcoming events.

First, there is the K-1 World Max World Championship Tournament Quarter Final on July 7 at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, Japan. The matches include Andy Souwer vs. Warren Stevelmans, Yasuhiro Sato vs. Artur Kyshenko, Masato vs. Gago Drago, and Superblack Buakaw Por Pramuk vs. Yoshihiro Sato.

In addition to the K-1 quarter final, the Japan event will feature the 60 kilogram weight matches of Andre Dida vs. Remigijus Morkevicius who once trained at Jitti Gym, former nemesis of Phacharnsuek S.K.V. Gym Aalviar Lima vs. Mark Vogel, Albert Kraus vs. Mike Zambidis, Haruaki Otsuki vs. David Douge, Susumu Daiguji vs. Konstantin Trishin, and Daisuke Uematsu vs. Eddy Juozapavicius.

If the 60 kilogram weight class becomes popular, the muaythai fans will certainly see more Thai fighters in Japanese events.

The Holland vs. Thailand event, organized by Slamm Promotion with support of WBC, will be on November 30. The Thai fighters will include Yodsanklai Fairtex, Anuwat Kaewsamrid, Saenchai Sor Kingstar, Bowee Sor Udomsorn, Lamsongkram Chuwattana, and Saiyoknoi Poompanmuang.

The ongoing anti and pro-government protests on Ratchadamnern Avenue have scared away at least half of the would-be spectators at Ratchadamnern Stadium. The muaythai promoters are heavily affected as they could do nothing but praying for the situation to return to normalcy. The optimistic and risk-taking promoter Sommai Bangkapi, however, shocked the other promoters by announcing that his scheduled event would not be cancelled, no matter what.  

The Ratchadamnern Stadium will host the Suek Sor Sommai muaythai event on June 4 as scheduled despite the ongoing anti-government street rally of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) on Ratchadamnern Avenue, says promoter Sommai Sakulmetta, or “Mai Bangkapi.”

The matches of event remain unchanged with top matches featuring Dejnarong Sitjaboon vs. Petboonshu F.A. Group and Wutthidej Lukprabaht vs. Kanchai Kor Bangkluai. The event tickets are sold at 200 Baht each.

“The ongoing PAD rally since May 25 has expanded and moved to the nearby Makkawan Bridge near the canal, resulting in a decrease of both Thai and foreigner spectators of Ratchadamnern matches, due to traffic inconvenience and fear of danger. But we are lucky that the pro-government rally has already withdrawn from the area, so some spectators are returning,” said the promoter.

“Whatever happens, happens. But I can guarantee you that this event will be worth dying for. All scheduled matches have remained unchanged.”

New: Muaytoo number 1132
 

Promoter David Gui is so dedicated to the work he is willing to spend all the pays he has received from Police General Major Sewok Pinsinchai on the Suek Muaythai ASTV 5 and Suek Atsawin Dam events. It is not known to the public what his wife would say when she realized he had no money left and had been working for free.

Despite not having much income lately, Sit Pakpanang seems to always be happy, perhaps because he often has a pretty girl sitting in his car. Strangely, the pretty girl is no where to be seen when he is driving home. Mr. Sit isn’t getting paid much, but he is probably getting something else a lot.

The recent female muaythai events have shown that the Thai female boxers are still for from being professional.

It is hard to believe that a fighter like Samsan Sor Siriporn would deserve to be the world champion. She did not show any punching combinations, while her short-ranged punching was pretty much ineffective. Perhaps the root of the problem is that she was trained in the international boxing tradition, not the one of muaythai.

She could only beat the Japanese fighters and only in domestic tournaments. It is already very hard for the Thai women to be qualified to fight in matches abroad, let alone winning.

With two matches a week, the Thai women do not get to practice more than simple stepping and the basic grappling and kneeing. In the match, they typically skip punching and kicking, going straight to grappling and some weak kneeing. There is barely any technique to see whatsoever.

Former Prime Minister Field Marshal P. Pibulsongkram gave orders a national boxing stadium to be built on Rajadamnern Avenue in 1941. The order came two years after the government issued an expropriation Act to land owners to sirremder their properties along Fajadamnern Avenue so that government could build its office buildings in accordance with the city plan.
               
The office of the Crown Property was assigned to carry out the project. The initial idea was to build the stadium at Misakawan Garden area, on the corner between Pitsanoloke Road and Rajadamnern Nok Avenue. Later, the formerly-selected site was switched to the present one because the land was too small for the size of the stadium. The stadium, now still standing on the same site, is situated on Rajadamnern Nok avenue, at the corner of Panieng Road, opposite Chullachomklao Military Academy.

The followings are from the interview with sport reporter and muaythai analyst Bancha Ondee who was asked to discuss about the upcoming muaythai matches of the first week of June 2008.

“Hello. I am here again to talk about muaythai with my Muaymag.com readers. My name is Bancha Ondee. I am a journalist based in Thailand and a 20-year fan of muaythai since I was a child, although I am not fighter myself. I usually watch muaythai at Lumpini and Rajadamnern stadiums. I am talking to you as an ordinary mauythai enthusiast, as I am not a gambler or working with a promoter or stadium. I would like to confirm that the followings are my personal opinions regarding to muaythai as martial arts and not information for gambling or advertisement.”

“Last time I was talking about interesting upcoming matches of last week. Now let’s see what’s coming in the next seven days. There are matches everyday, but one event in particular would excite many fans once they know who will be fighting. It is on June 4 at Ratchadamnern Stadium.”