Songchai and the Throne of Muaythai

Promoter Songchai Ratanasuban is a man full of ideas, and he often has a new epiphany at random time. At the match of Chonlatharn Ao Piriyapinyo last Friday, he expectedly uttered to some people that he had many ideas on improving the muaythai sport. “When I become the chairman of the muaythai association, I will definitely realize these projects,” announced the influential promoter. Well, a certain person’s throne may now not be as secured as he thought.

Manager Wichit Prai-anan of the Prai-anan camp is known to have his way to win people’s hearts. Although his old facility might disturb the neighbor a little bit with the noise, they did not want him to move away to a new site, claiming that they felt safe from buglers with Wichit’s fighters around. Now the facility has been moved, and the manager was quick in getting his fighters to pay visits to the new neighbors and offer them free vegetables.  

Sermsak Sor Sermpong may not be a well-known muaythai figure in Thailand, but to the muaythai fans in the Chinese city of Guangzhao, where Sermsak has been a muaythai trainer for seven years, he is a celebrity. Sermsak, known in Guangzhao as “Kru Noi”, has trained numerous students there and his famous Sor Sermpong training camp has been invited to perform muaythai shows all over China. The Thai fighter did not speak a single word of Chinese when he first arrived in China, but now he is fluent in the Cantonese dialect. The following excerpt is from the interview with Sermsak about the story behind his overseas success.

Can you tell us about the time when you were in Thailand?

“I was a muaythai fighter from the beginning. I started fighting when I was about 15 or 16 years old, coming to fight in Bangkok from my home town at Phitsanulok. I was fighting for about 20 years and called it quit at 36. You name the stadium and I will tell you I have fought there, especially those in the provinces. I have fought for more than 300 bouts. I was a trainer for young fighters too. Then someone asked me to work as a bodyguard in Macao.”

The following questions are from Ekkarak Pattawi or “Joe Namtansai” of Nakorn Pathom. His questions are generic and should be of interest to most fans of boxing.

Q: Who will Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym have to fight? Is it Ricardo Cordoba or Celestino Caballero?

A: For the WBA 122-pound weight class, “Deksomboon” Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym will likely have to fight “interim” champion Ricardo Cordoba, who has lost to Poonsawat in a match at the Ratchadamnern Stadium, while Celestino Caballero has been scheduled to fight IBF champion Steve Molitor in mid November. Molitor was the one who defeated Fahsang Sam-k Battery.

Q: So, when exactly will Denkaosan Kratingdaenggym challenge Takefumi Sakata?

A: Denkaosan will challenge the WBA flyweight title held by his old-time rival Sakata at Hiroshima, Japan, the home town of Sakata. Denkaosan’s manager, Naris Singwangcha, said the match would be around December 31. The boxer will enter a training program with Khaosai Galaxy as trainer. Khaosai will make sure Denkaosan will not again break his thumb, like in the first match against Sakata in November last year that resulted in a draw despite the Japanese boxer receiving a count of eight in the first round.

The following questions for the “Fan Pantae Keela Muay” (Pure-Breed Fans of Boxing Sport) talk show on FM99 and column in Khao Sod newspaper are from Sunthorn Surabanjerdporn from Ladkrabang, Bangkok.

Q: In my opinion, the brothers Rattanapol and Rattanachai Sor Worapin should quit boxing.

A: You would make an aggressive fighter type of boxer to dare to make such judgment. It is true the performances of the brothers have deteriorated recently, but if you spend some time pondering about the situation, perhaps you would change your mind after realizing that the boxers have to trade their sweat and blood for the earnings to feed their wives and children. Boxing is a legitimate career after all.

The following questions about boxing and muaythai are from Komkrit Mingchuea from Klongsan, Bangkok.

Q: What does “Sia Hui” say about Napapol Kiatisakchokchai’s recent defeat? Will Naphapol continue to box?

A: Napapol Kiatisakchokchai was defeated by Toshiaki Nishioka in the WBC super bantamweight “interim” title match in Japan. Napapol was obviously showing lesser skills in the match but he was doing his best. Napapol is indeed planning to quit boxing but it will not be today as his manager “Sia Hui” Suchart Pisitwuttinan will move him up to fight in a heavier class. He will have to start from step “one” again, just like his nickname.

Q: What is with the news of Sirimongkol Singwangcha? Will he will a training partner for Ricky Hatton?

A: There is indeed a report of Sirimongkol’s new job, but that will be announced later. For now, let’s wait for him to be able to get the visa and leave Thailand. Then, I will tell you more about the detail, but I will not say anything at this moment as it could have certain negative consequences.

‘Korn Krisada’ reported on the news of gangsters wanted to ruin boxing for several times but nothing can make them to be ashamed. They are worse and not afraid of law.

Lately ‘Mhum 2’ King Star Petpayathai, a boxer in control of ‘The Chun’ Perapong Theeradetpong, was scheduled to fight against Kingphai  Kor Saklumpoon at the channel 7 boxing stadium on the past Sunday.

Before the match would start, the rumor had it that King Star faced of some problem. As a curious person, I investigated and knew that

Someone called to kill him if he wins. It caused King Star didn’t dare to fight. Then he told his header and called back for checking the telephone number but it couldn’t connect.

The muaythai industry has been hit hard by the domestic political turmoil as no event at a major stadium this month has generated an earning of more than 900,000 Baht. The rematch of Lerdpet Por Worasing vs. Wanchalerm Sitsornong on September 9, for example, has made only 770,000 Baht, dropping by nearly half from the 1,200,000 earning of the match last month.  

Kingstar Skindiew Gym is not only a mere look-alike of the famous comedian Mom Jokmok, the fighter often comes up with weird anecdotes to amaze people. Recently, he said a mysterious caller threatened to kill him if he won the recent fight with Kingpai Kor Saklampoon. That was why the scared Kingstar was acting in the ring as if he was about to be knocked out, but promoter Sun Kietpet did not buy his story and ordered him to fight anyway. Kingstar won the match with a KO.