Thailand’s Buakaw Por Pramuk has lost to Dutch fighter Andy Souwer by decision after a special round in the K-1 tournament’s semifinal on October 26.

Buakaw and Souwer were two of the four semifinalists of the 2009 K-1 Max tournament. Their match started right after Italy’s Giorgio Petrosyan beat Japan's Yuya Yamamota by knockout in the other semifinal.
 
Buakaw had a good start in the first two rounds of the bout, but in the third round Souwer was able to land some good strikes. As the third round ended with a draw of 30-30, the two fighters were required to fight in a special fourth round.

In this round, Souwer was focusing on low kicks that seemed to effectively slow down the Thai fighter. At the end of the round, Souwer emerged as the winner by decision, crushing Buakaw’s dream to become the first three-time K-1 winner after wining the 2004 and 2006 tournaments.

WBC vice-president Police General Kowit Pakdeepoom is looking to launch inquiry on Sakai Jockeygym’s death, claiming that the referee could have stopped the match earlier.

Kowit, who is scheduled to attend the WBC summit in South Korea on November 1-7, said he would propose to the council to launch inquiry on the Japanese referee in the match of Sakai and Kazuyoshi Niki held in Fukuoka, Japan, on October 12. The referee ended the bout in the 10th round to let Niki win by technical knockout. Sakai reportedly lost consciousness after getting out of the ring and passed away three hours later at the hospital from brain hemorrhage.

He said the referee could have stopped the match in the earlier round rather than allowing Sakai to suffer more injury, which led to his eventual death.

Kowit said Sakai’s case should be used to raise the standards for WBC referees who, he said, should be more cautious and ready to save lives when required. He said such tragic incident would happen again unless there is action from the WBC.

Thailand’s Buakaw Por Pramuk is leaving Thailand for Japan where he will fight Dutch Andy Souwer in the K-1 tournament’s semifinal on October 26.

Buakaw, who became an international muaythai star after winning the K-1 tournament in 2004 and 2006, is currently one of the four semifinalists of the 2009 K-1 Max tournament who will be pitted against each other on the last tournament day on October 26 in Japan. Buakaw is scheduled to leave Thailand in the night of October 22 to fly to Japan.

If Buakaw is able to beat Dutch Andy Souwer in the semifinal, he would face the other eventual finalist, either Italy’s Giorgio Petrosyan or Japan's Yuya Yamamota, in just one hour after the semifinal bout. The winner will earn prize money of 20 million Yen, or about 6.7 million Baht.

  Somchart Charoenwatcharawit

Thailand’s Board of Boxing Sport has agreed to pay 50,000 Baht to the family of boxer Sakai Jockeygym who died from head injury from match in Japan, while the Professional Boxing Association of Thailand (PBAT) is pushing for a punishment on the “wrongdoers”.

PBAT president Somchart Charoenwatcharawit, who is also a member of the Board of Boxing Sport, said Sakai violated the law when he fought abroad without getting prior permission from PBAT. He also said the claim of Sakai’s promoter Chucharoen Rawee-aramwong that the fight was permitted by Ratchadamnern Stadium, instead of PBAT, was causing confusion to the public.

Somchart is looking to have the board assist the family of the boxer, while exacting punishment on the “wrongdoers”. Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silpa-archa, who chaired the board, agreed with Somchart and said there must be punishment on the promoter and those who helped arranged Sakai to fight abroad.

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Eight muaythai fighters will compete each other in a one-day tournament event in the southern Thai town of Krabi on October 22, says promoter Piyarat Wachiraratanawong.

According to Piyarat, the eight fighters are Chadchainoi Sor Prasobchoke, Panomrunglek Kiatmuukao, Chatchai Sor Tanayong, Petchtrang Sor Yupinda, Lekkom Wor Wongsawat, Noppachai Kiatpattarapan, Kaotam Lukprabaht, and Tianchai Kor Sapaothong.

Piyarat promises that the bouts would be “fun” to watch, as he would not “take advantage” of the spectators. The event, held in Thara Park in Krabi, will be free for all. 

Muaythai promoter Chucharoen Rawee-aramwong is now looking to sell the rights over two fighters from the Sit O camp, Kaimukdam Sit O and Palangpon Piriyanoppachai.

Chucharoen earlier bought the rights over the two fighters from “Sia O” who owns the Sit O gym in Buri Ram. The deal was seen as source of conflict of Chucharoen and his rival promoter Songchai Ratanasuban who was key man behind the career successes of the Sit O fighters.

Songchai tried to ask the retiring gym manager to scrap the deal but his attempt failed, according to the earlier reports. Kaimukdam and Palangpon, however, are filing a protest to the Sports Authority of Thailand, asking the agency for help as they claim they did not agree to fighter under Chucharoen’s camp.

The third and fourth installations of the popular Lumpini-Ratchadamnern cross-stadium muaythai events are on their ways as promoters of both stadiums are working together on the matchups.

The third event will be held at Lumpini on November 6, instead of November 17 in the earlier schedule as Ratchadamnern promoter Chucharoen Rawee-aramwong has also planned to have two of his top fighters Jomthong Chuwattana and Anuwat Kaewsamrit fight abroad in matches in France and the Netherlands at the end of the month.

The grieving parents of the 20-year-old Thai boxer Sakai Jockeygym who passed away in Japan on Monday say they wish to see their son “for the last time” but they do not have money to pay for the body to be transported to their home in Udon Thani.

Sakai fought Japan’s Kazuyoshi Niki in an in Fukuoka on October 12 and lost to the Japanese by technical knockout in round 10. He reportedly collapsed after the match and passed away three hours later at the hospital. The cause of death was reported to be brain hemorrhage.

Sakai’s father Kling Wiangchai said he wants Sakai’s boxing gym to return his body to their home in the northeastern Thai province of Udon Thani.

WBA flyweight champion Denkaosan Kaovichit of Thailand has returned to his hometown on Samui Island and was surprised to see the festive greeting at the airport by the island’s residents.

Denkaosan had not returned home since he won over Japanese challenger Daiki Kameda in the much-publicized match in Japan last week, but when the Thai champion arrived at Samui on October 12, he was surprised by the gathering of the locals to welcome him. They held a festive traditional drum parade at the airport.

The champion would meet his parents there, but would also pay a visit to a local Chinese shrine to fulfill an oath made before the title defense match in Japan.

Thai boxer Sakai Jockeygym has passed away in Japan yesterday due to a head injury from the bout held earlier on the same day.

The 20-year-old Sakai fought Japan’s Kazuyoshi Niki in an action-packed bout in Fukuoka on October 12, before losing by technical knockout in round 10. He reportedly passed out after getting out of the ring and was sent to the hospital. Three hours later, at about 10.00 p.m., he passed away.

The cause of death was reportedly brain hemorrhage. His manager Sommart Hongsakul is preparing to bring his body to Thailand for a religious funeral ceremony in his hometown in Udon Thani.