The earlier report of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s offer to sponsor a match for Rattanapol Korkietgym may come as a surprise to many people.

But PABA flyweight champion Rattanapol Korkietgym, also known as Rattanapol Sor Worapin, has been known to the public as an avid supporter of Thaksin, a highly controversial figure in the Thai politics.

According to a report, he was seen jogging in Sanam Luang wearing a headband “we love Thaksin”, a dangerous sign that could easily provoke the anger of thousands of the anti-Thaksin protesters who were staging a rally nearby.

He also reportedly swore to the statue of King Chulalongkorn in front of the government house that he would jog around the statue, as a tribute to the revered king, if the former prime minister would return from his self-imposed exile in London. Thaksin did return to Thailand, and Rattanapol went to jog for him.

According to another rumor, Thaksin personally called Rattanapol and invited the boxer out for a dinner. Rattanapol politely declined citing the reason that he feared it would be too much of a trouble for Thaksin.

Many people who regarded these reports as mere rumors ended up with a surprise when they learned that the boxer just had a meeting with Thaksin who offered the sponsor his fight.

A source who went with Rattapol to meet Thaksin on July at Shinawatra 3 building in Ladprao, Bangkok, said the visit was to present a flower bouquet to Thaksin for his birthday anniversary and was arranged by a secretary of Thaksin’s son.

The boxer arrived half an hour late due to the street rally of the People’s Alliance for Democracy, the same group that led the movement that culminated in Thaksin’s ouster in 2006.

Thaksin was stilling waiting in the personal VIP room on a top floor of the building. The source said he hugged Rattanapol when the two met.

The following is the conversation of Rattanapol and Thaksin as recalled by the source, who was present in the 40-minute meeting.

Rattanapol: “I was planning to come here with my manager Kokiet Panichayarom to give you a birthday wish. But Kokiet had to fly to the Philippines to bring some boxers there.”

Thaksin: “I have heard the stories of you since the Sanam Luang jogging incident. I have been following up your news. Are you not afraid? Why did you do that? I have to thank you very much for your courage. Besides boxing, are you still selling egg noodle?”

Rattanapol: “I am still selling noodle at my old place in Bang Poe. I am doing both selling and boxing at the same time.”

Thaksin: “Actually, I have a project. I have studied it quite well. I have been thinking about investing in vender’s carts that sell rice and boiled chicken. The food cost will be 11 Baht per dish, so that the ‘grass root people’ who want a job could use my carts to make earnings. On each day, you can sell the rice and chicken at 20 or 25 Baht. After the costs were paid, the rest would become profits to the sellers. I am planning to spend 30 million Baht on this project.”

Thaksin then asked the age of Rattanapol who answered he would be 35 soon.

Thaksin: “You are already old and you still have to box. Do you have any chance to challenge the world champion?”

Rattanapol: “I am currently a PABA champion, which is a regional title. I am also ranked third for the WBA championship. I will have a chance to fight for the world title in this or next year.”

Thaksin: “Who is the world champion?”

Rattanapol: “Takefumi Sakata. He is the Japanese champion who cheated Denkowsaen Kratingdaeng in Japan. He was hit and fell to the ground but the match ended with a draw.”

Thaksin: “How much money does a world champion match need?”

Rattanapol: “About 6-10 million Baht at least, depending on the demand of the champion. But if they contacted us to be the challenger, they would have to pay for us.”

Thaksin: “Let’s do it like this. If there can be a match in Thailand for the world title, I will host it.”

Bewildered Rattanapol thanked and bowed to the former prime minister.

Rattanapol: “When you called me, I was so happy. But when I told other people, they did not believe me. I let them call you back, but the number was not in use anymore.”

Thaksin: “I am using several numbers because there are a lot of incoming calls. I am using multiple numbers anyway and I would use my assistant’s telephone to call out. So, I heard you jogged around the King Chulalongkorn statue?”

Rattanapol: “I was jogging there as I promised to jog around the statue 99 times when you returned to Thailand safely. I was jogging in the day time. When I returned home, both my feet were swollen. There is one more subject. I just built a new house at Roi Et. May I have the permission to call my house ‘Rattapol Hello Thaksin’?”

Thaksin: “Go ahead. Go ahead. You are allowed. I am happy. And if I am able to stay in Thailand without getting kicked out from the country first, I will visit you at Roi Et.”

The former prime minister also handed a new book of his to Rattanapol. The book has his signature and a long hand-written message thanking the fighter.

Rattanapol took a photograph with Thaksin at the end of the 40-minute meeting that, according to the fighter, was his ultimate dream that came true.