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

“I am back here again to say hello to my muaymag.com fans who are interested in muaythai. This is also the time of the Olympic Games at Beijing and at some other places in China. The Olympic is such a grand sport event of the human kind, so the other events, including muaythai at the two major stadiums in Thailand, will be of much less interesting during this time. The muaythai, in particular, is holding matches everyday but none of which would be considered a four- or five-star event.”

“But I have some stories of Thai boxing at the Olympics. Earlier, I had a chance to visit the Thai Olympic boxers who were training in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. I went there with about 20 other fellow journalists. The trip was hosted by president of the Amateur Boxing Association of Thailand General Taweep Jantararoj who wanted the journalists to witness the development and preparation of the Thai athletes.”

“This particular team of amateur boxers is comprised mostly of former muaythai fighters. But they have shifted to international boxing in order to serve the country in the Olympics.”

“One particular former muaythai fighter, Manus Boonjumnong, was a 2004 gold medalist at the Athens Games. Manus told me that his conditions were better than the time he won the gold medal at the Asian Game two years ago. I also had a chance to talk to his younger brother, Non Boonjumnong, who is also in the Olympic boxing squad. Judging from his gestures and eye expressions, I think Non is a very determined athlete.”
“I want the muaymag.com fans to remember their names, Manus Boonjumnong and Non Boonjumnong, and watch how far they would go at the Beijing Games which has already started on August 8 on 2008.”

“Another former muaythai fighter, Somjit Jongjohor, is said to be one of the most promising Olympic athletes and he has the potential to grab a gold medal. Somjit told me he was afraid of only one opponent, the American boxer whom he lost by scores in the U.S. But it was a close call.”
“These three are the most promising Thai athletes.”

“But I have some story of another interesting boxer in the Olympics team. He was also a muaythai fighter who went by the name ‘Pet Bor Burapha’. Now he is boxing for the Thai national team and uses his real name Amnat Ruenroeng. Amnat is half-Thai and he physical appearance seems to be very much like an African person.”

“Amnat was a grade-A muaythai fighter, but he was troubled with family hardship. He grew up with his grandparents in Chonburi without knowing where his parents were. Although Amnat was a muaythai fighter of at least 60,000-70,000 Baht per match rate, he was not a disciplined kid, perhaps because he lacked proper parenting. Amnat has even been arrested and sent to jail.”

“Before he became an Olympic athlete and a hope for the nation, Amnat, who was then known as Pet Bor Burapha and Pet Bor Bangsaen, committed a snatch-and-run-away robbery. He snatched a necklace. But instead of fleeing the scene, he simply waited for the police to arrest him. Amnat said he was starving and could not make a living outside the prison. His muaythai manager tried to discipline him by putting him in a detention, but even that was not successful as Amnat could not do it. He then wanted to be in the prison. But as he was a muaythai champion, he became a prison boxer and won a gold medal in a national amateur boxing tournament.”

“When I talked to Amnat in Vietnam, he told me he was most afraid of the boxer of the host country. He said if he did not get to fight the Chinese boxer early, then the spectators should watch him closely. I, too, would like to ask the muaymag.com fans to give their supports to the Thai boxers at Beijing.”

“For this week in Thailand, there are some three-star matches at Ratchadamnern and Lumpini stadiums. On August 14, there will be ‘Suek Jarumuang’ of promoter ‘O-tue’ featuring Khem Sor Ploenchit, who recently moved to internationally renowned Fairtex camp on an 850,000 Baht deal. So Khem Sor Ploenchit will become Khem Fairtex. The Fairtex camp is especially well-known to muaythai enthusiasts in Europe, the U.S., and Asia.”
“Khem’s match with Singmanee Sor Srisompong will be the highlight of the Ratchadamnern event this Thursday. Khem has never fought Singmanee before.”

“The next top match will feature Thong Tungmakham, an ex-criminal, similarly Amnat, who turned to be a Ratchadamnerm champion. Thong will welcome his opponent, a former champion of Ja Tui’s camp who has lost his recent two consecutive fights. He was knocked out with a high kick in one of the matches. They both are top fighters who have never fought each other before.”

“The name of Thong’s opponent is Pinsayam Sor Amnuisirichoke. I apologize I did not remember his name, because he was from a different stadium. So on August 14 there will be the match of Thong Tungmakham vs. Pinsayam Sor Amnuisirichoke.”

“On August 12, the birthday of Her Majesty the Queen, there is a muaythai event of Thai fighters vs. opponents from various countries at Sanam Luang. If I remember correctly, the executives of muaymag.com will also send some European fighters to fight the Thai fighters there as well. So the muaymag.com fans who want to watch muaythai can go to the event at Sanam Luang. I think it will be free.”
“For this week, I, Bancha Ondee, will have to say goodbye to the muaymag.com fans. Goodbye.”