The never-ending rift between rivaling Amateur Muaythai Association of Thailand (AMAT) and the Muaythai Association of Thailand (MAT) has hindered much development of the amateur sport in this country, says Muay Tu magazine columnist Korn Kritsada.

The sportswriter says amateur muaythai, supposedly the national sport for Thailand, has never reached greatness and is still stumbling due to years and years of directionless development that so far has led to nowhere.

In particular, the blame is on the bitter fighting between the two muaythai associations, each of which so intensely focused on beating the other and claiming authority over the sport, although the two organizations are both legally registered and aims for the same stated goal of popularizing muaythai at the international level.

Filipino superstar boxer Manny Pacquiao has defeated challenger Joshua Clottey of Ghana by unanimous decision to retain his WBO welterweight title.

Pacquiao enjoyed quite a one-side slaughter against the defensive Clottey at the WBO match held in Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Texas, on Saturday March 13.

The first round was a slow start as Pacquiao’s attempts to strike were mostly blocked by the well-guarded Clottey. The Filipino ramped up his attacks in the second round but none hit, while his opponent used straight punches to counter his aggression.

The third round was remembered for Clottey’s strike that landed on Pacquiao’s face, although the Filipino’s punches started to get through Clottey’s guards as well. In the fourth round, Pacquiao clearly gained control of the fight and was able to land hits to the midsection.

In the fifth and sixth round, the champion mostly kept his distance but tried to use his flurries on Clottey, who started to show some action in the seventh round with some nice hit to midsection in the middle of the round.

Thailand’s PABA light flyweight champion Wisanu Pornobnum has successfully retained his title by beating Indonesian challenger Ichal Tobidal by decision, while his manager is looking to have him challenge the interim WBA champion Juan Carlos Reveco of Argentina.

In an event held in the town of Kamphaeng Phet in Thailand on March 12, Wisanu defeated Tobidal by unanimous decision with scores 119-110, 118-109 and 117-110, while his fellow Thai boxers Pigmy Muangchaiyaphum and Wandee Singwangcha also defeated their respectively Indonesian opponents.

In the female boxing matches, two Thai pugilists Buarimbueng Kokietgym and Duennapa Kiatkriangsak emerged as winners in the bouts despite the tragic death of their manager Kosit Chuayboonsong after a car hit earlier on the same day.

Kokiet Group’s female boxing manager Kosit Chuayboonsong has died after getting hit by a speeding car in Kamphaeng Phet, Thailand.

Kosit was a key figure in Thailand’s female boxing industry, and was credited for the rises of many successful female boxers in Kokiet camp including Buarimbueng Kokietgym, Duennapa Kiatkriangsak, Kanittha Kokietgym, Namtal Kokietgym, Usanakorn Kokietgym and Nongmuay Kokietgym.

Kosit was in Kamphaeng Phet to accompany Buarimbueng and Duennapa for their bouts on March 12. According to the local police, at about 1.40 am of the bout day the boxing manager was crossing the street near his hotel supposedly to look for late-night meal when a car driving at about 140 kilometers per hour hit him. He died instantly due to damage to his brain.

Promoter Kokiet Panichayarom said he was shocked and saddened by the sudden departure of the 43-year-old Samut Prakarn native, who had contributed to the recent popularity of female boxing in Thailand as well as successes of many female boxers.

Filipino boxing king Manny Pacquiao is confident that his agility and pure force will let him defeat challenger Joshua Clottey of Ghana.

Pacquiao is convinced his superior agility and power will ensure victory, although he is expected to be on the disadvantage side due to his shorter reach when he faces Clottey at the WBO welterweight title planned in Dallas, Texas, on Saturday March 13.

The Filipino superstar praised Clottey for being very skilled, strong and much taller than him, but he said he would not underestimate his opponent and would produce the best performance to please his fans.

Clottey said he was not just a replacement for Floyd Mayweather Junior, whose planned match against Pacquiao was cancelled, and would make sure the champion have tough time fighting him.

An international muaythai event will be held in the historic Thai town of Sawankhalok this Wednesday to honor the legendary figure Nai Khanom Tom.

Professional Boxing Association of Thailand (PBAT) president Somchart Charoenwatcharawit said the March 17 event, already in its sixth year, will feature bouts of fighters from around the world such as the WPMF title match of champion Jonathan Camara of France and Thai challenger Panom Top King’s Boxing Gym and the traditional-rules fight of Bovy Sor Kor Sungai Gym will fight Thana Eminentair.

In adition, there will also be five other local and six international bouts in the all-free event, which will be presided over by former deputy prime minister Somsak Thepsuthin, according to Somchart.

Thailand’s Pongsaklek Wonjongkam will have a tough time fighting WBC flyweight champion Koki Kameda of Japan, says the Thai boxer’s sponsor.

Pongsaklek, now holding an interim title, should aim for a knockout as he does not have much chance to win by decision, said Pong Visedpaitoon of Charoen Pokphand Food on his visit to the Petchyindee Gym of promoters Wirat and Piyarat Wachiraratanawong.

“Pongsaklek’s fight is most worrisome. In this match, I want him to remind himself that he has to fight many opponents at the same time. Besides Kameda, he will also have to face three judges and the referee. This is like fighting five opponents at the same time,” said Pong.

Thailand is guaranteed at least two bronze medals as at 19th Asian Youth Boxing Championship in Tehran, Iran, as two of its athletes have cruised to the quarterfinals.

Lightweight Phonwirat Patitangkho beat a Malaysian opponent by decision and will face a Kazakhstani quarterfinalist, while middleweight Sakkarin Chujit similarly defeated a Japanese pugilist to earn himself a quarterfinal spot against an Indian opponent.

The third Thai athlete, light welterweight contender Somsak Koobkookkruad, was defeated by a Kazakhstani, losing his chance to earn any medal at the Tehran event.

Thai amateur boxing chief General Taweep Jantararoj said Sakkarin will have a good chance to beat the Indian, but Phonwirat’s Kazakhstani opponent is more formidable.

Thailand’s Denkaosan Kaovichit may have a chance for another rematch against Japan’s Daiki Kameda whom he lost WBA flyweight belt to earlier, although the Thai boxer will first have to beat Filipino Rey Migreno in a match at the end of this month, says his promoter.

Niwat Laosuwannawat said although Denkaosan has lost his WBA title to Kameda last month, he is still at the second place of the WBA flyweight class and can exercise his right for a rematch, which Niwat plans to be held in Thailand at the end of this year.

However, he said such rematch is only possible if Denkaosan defeats PABA flyweight champion Migreno at an event in the Thai town of Uttaradit on March 26. Migreno claimed the PABA title in December last year when he knocked out Thailand’s Fonluang Sor Tanapinyo.

25 nations have so far signed up to send athletes to fight in Thailand’s 32nd King’s Cup amateur boxing tournament this April.

The prestigious tournament, scheduled to be held in MCC Hall in Nonthaburi on April 2-7 this year, will see competition of amateur boxers from at least 25 nations in Asia and Europe, according to Thai amateur boxing chief General Taweep Jantararoj.

He said the organizer has achieved its goal of ensuring participation of at least 20 nations, while the two Thai boxing squads who dominated the tournament last year are preparing to defend their top positions. Thai couches have been ordered to launch intensive training programs to improve techniques, strength and weight of the athletes.