Beijing Games flyweight boxing champion Somjit Jongjohor says the 20 million Baht prize money will not change him.

Somjit will receive a total of about 20 million Baht from the Thai government and various corporate sponsors. On the evening of September 4, he and some other Thai Olympic athletes attended a party hosted by Thai Beverage Plc., an important sponsor of the Thai teams.

“I congratulate all who represented Thailand and performed duties for the country. No matter if they won a medal or not, they have won the hearts of the Thai people,” said Thapana Sirivadhanabhakdi, President of Thai Beverage.

The company awarded Somjit and the other gold medalist, weightlifter Prapawadee Jaroenrattanatarakoon, one million Baht each. Light welterweight boxer Manus Boonjumnong and taekwondo fighter Buttree Puedpong each received 500,000 Baht for their silver medals, while the rest of the athletes received 10,000 Baht per person.

The Muaythai industry is hit hard by the current political turmoil as foreign tourists are cancelling trips to Thailand.

Promoters at the Lumpini and Ratchadamnern stadiums said the situation has scared away the international tourists who are the main source of income of the two largest Thai stadiums. The Ratchadamnern Stadium, in particular, has for months been affected by the prolonged rally of the anti-government People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) who settled on Ratchadamnern Avenue not far from the stadium.

The PAD has move away to camp out the captured Government House and other sites, while pro-government supporters have also taken Sanam Luang. The two groups clashed on September 2 and hours later the prime minister declared a state of emergency.

The decrease of the tourists has resulted in major losses to the stadiums and the promoters, which, in turns, affected the fighters and the whole industry.

Promoters are reluctant to organize major events as they fear financial losses. In longer term, the stadiums may decide to cancel certain events permanently.  

The executives of Ratchadamnern and Lumpini muaythai stadiums are considering raising ticket prices.

Ratchadamnern chief Prai Panyaluck has reportedly approached the executives of Lumpini for a deal to have both stadiums raise the ringside ticket price to 2,500 Baht starting on October 1.

On Lumpini’s part, its executives earlier proposed to raise the price up to 3,000 Baht but the plan has not been finalized. The decision may be delayed for some time due to the upcoming annual military reshuffle which may end up appointing a new chief to the army-owned Lumpini Stadium, replacing Major General Tera Kripanon.

The last time the ticket price was changed, it went up double, from 1,000 Baht to 2,000 Baht. The increase, however, seemed to be acceptable to the fans who sympathized with the stadiums’ rising costs.

The stadiums claim that the increase of the price would not affect the foreign tourists, the main target of the ringside tickets, as most of them are one-time visitors who do not care much about the price changes.

On the final round for an Olympic Games gold medal, Pakchong district was the most exciting and crowded place in Thailand. There was a cerebration for the most important win till in the morning at the house of Nong Oom-the new hero Somjit Jongchohor’ s wife. Khiaw Pakchong as a local didn’t miss it. He waited for the celebration since in the afternoon.

Besides dringking for long time, Khiaw who was preparing for a wedding party showed his bride-to-be. After his news was published on the first pages of Thairath newspaper few years ago, he promised not to do like this again. The bride–to–be  shouldn’t be worry at all.

A number of Thai muaythai fighters will be fighting in several upcoming events around the world in the next two months.

Stephan Fox of the World Muaythai Council and Hong Kong promoter Kim Ip will organize the I-1 World Muaythai Grand SLAM 2008 on October 27 at Hong Kong International Trade Exhibition Centre (Star Hall).

The Hong Kong 72-kilogram four-man tournament, which will end in a single day, will include Contender Asia semifinalist Sean Wright of Scotland, Canada’s Shane Campbell who is scheduled to fight Lamsongkram Chuwattana in the U.S. next month, Dmitry Valent of Belarus and Wanlop Sitpholek of Thailand.

Another 65-kilogram tournament of the same format will be held on the same day and will include WMC Oceania and South Pacific champion Kurt Finlayson of Australia, Leonardo Monteiro of Brazil, Dave Hale of Canada, and Santichai Or Boonchuai of Thailand.

Pramuansak Kokiet Gym will fight in a match on September 5 at Udon Thani, while his manager is preparing to have him challenge WBO champion and old-time rival Fernando Montiel of Mexico.

Promoter Kokiet Panichayarom said he is confident that the 38-year-old Pramuansak Kokiet Gym, who is also referred to by his real name Pramuansak Posuwan, will perform great in the match due to the intense training and discipline.

The promoter said he will have the boxer challenge a world champion, who will most likely be WBO super flyweight Montiel. 

Eight Thai Olympic boxers competed at the 2008 Olympic Games at Beijing on August 9-23, but only two medals were won, a gold by flyweight Somjit Jongjohor and a silver by light welterweight Manus Boonjumnong, who has become the first Thai to ever win two Olympic medals.

After 12 years of amateur boxing, the 33-year-old Somjit was able to claim all the five wins without much difficulty before becoming the Beijing flyweight champion. Somjit’s five opponents, in time order, were Abdelillah Nhaila of Morocco (6-1), Samir Mammadov of Azerbaijan (10-2), Anvar Yunusov of Tajikistan (8-1), Vincenzo Picardi of Italy (7-1), and Andry Laffita Hernandez of Cuba (8-2).

Athens Games gold medalist Manus returned to the Olympics for the second time and became the first Thai athlete to win two medals. He received a silver medal after being defeated by Manuel Félix Díaz of the Dominican Republic (12:4) in the light welterweight final. He earlier defeated Masatsugu Kawachi of Japan (8:1), Serik Sapiyev of Kazakhstan (7:5), and Roniel Iglesias Sotolongo of Cuba (10:5).

Chatchai Kratingdang Gym of Thailand was defeated by WBC-WBA super flyweight champion Christian Mijares in the last match of the former world champion’s professional boxing career at Monterrey, Mexico, on August 30.

Former light flyweight world champion Chatchai Kratingdang Gym, also known as Chatchai Sasakul, 38, lost to Mijares, who holds a duo WBC-WBA super flyweight champion titles, in a match at la Arena Monterrey in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico on Saturday August 30.

In the first round, Chatchai was using a defensive strategy while attempting to counter the attacks of Mijares, but the Mexican boxer was able to utilize his longer reach and hit the Thai fighter in the face with a left cross in mid round. Chatchai, however, also had a clean hit on Mijares’ body at the end of the round.

Kingtong Lookprabat is relieved because his three main boxers, Saenchai-Saenchainoi, Wuttidet-Nong O, Rungroenglek- Sam A, are in the game. He hopes they not to be defeated till September 4 without any worry about 220 Baht entrance fee. He just wants to return the favor boxing fans back. Ke was knocked down but he already improves his ability with more techniques, thinks and takes action faster. He believes that Ke could make a rematch and win his old opponent.

Good muay must has many fans, especially with cheap entrance fee. Nobody wants to miss the ‘Lookprabat’ match on Thursday September 4 at Rajadamnern boxing stadium. Kingtong Lookprabat is pleased to show his main bouts, ‘the best of Sarakam muay’-Saenchai Sor Kingstar leads Saenchainoi Toyota Rayong 129/132 lbs. Wuttidet Lookprabat makes a rematch with Nong O Sit Or in 126 lbs. Rungrounglek Lookprabat faces Sam A  Rattanakiet in 119 lbs. Kingtong is sorry to pick the entrance fee just only 220 Baht.

Chatchai Kratingdang, who will fight Mexican champion Christian Mijares on August 30, has arrived in Monterrey, Mexico.

Chatchai, a former light flyweight world champion, will challenge Mijres who holds a duo WBC-WBA super flyweight champion titles in a match at la Arena Monterrey in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico on Saturday August 30. The fight will be broadcasted to Thailand on Channel Seven Network on Sunday August 31 at 11.00 a.m. Thai time.

The Thai fighter arrived in Monterrey on August 27 at midnight local time with his manager Piyarat Wachirarattanawong. Chatchai was sleeping most of the time in the 36-hour flight. He was greeted at the airport with Mexican promoter Ignacio Huizar of KO Entertainment and a large group of the local journalists, before Huizar brought the boxer to check in at the hotel.