The decision on a WPMF match at Ratchadamnern Stadium on August 11 has raised doubts on judges’ neutrality.

Tawatchai Kaewsamrid was declared a winner by a 2-1 decision of three judges over the match against Thailand-based Danish Christian Sodprasert for the vacant World Professional Muaythai Federation (WMPF) middleweight title.

Tawatchai seemed to start the game with a physical disadvantage and less preparation, but he was able to use his higher skills to successfully strike kicks on Christian’s body and legs. In the mid game, however, Tawatchai became exhausted and was hit with several kicks from the Danish fighter. He then showed signs of losing out but survived the match by continuously grabbling Christian’s waist.

The spectators believed Christian would be declared the winner, as shown by the gamble biddings in the stadium. But two of the three Ratchadamnern judges gave Tawatchai a higher score, while the third judge gave Christian one point higher than the Thai fighter.

Light welterweight boxer Manus Boonjumnong, believing he was all ready and prepared for the 2008 Olympic Games, was as cheerful as a bird when he flew from the training facility in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to Beijing, China, where games will be held. Manus’s joy, however, ended right after the immigration process when he found that the airline has lost his suitcases. Manus was able to get the Thai officials to send him training outfits and boxing uniforms, but sadly not the underwear.  

The conflict of promoter and manager of muaythai fighter Nongbee Kietyongyut has escalated and may soon turn into legal battles.

Famed promoter Songchai Rattanasuban claimed that Nongbee’s manager Yongyut Lewisit has forfeited his rights to arrange matches for the fighter to him, while Yongyut insisted he never engaged in any legal contract with Songchai and claimed the signature in the contract document presented by Songchai was not his.

The conflict intensified when Songchai sent a request to the chief of Ratchadamnern Stadium to bar Nongbee from fighting with Saketdao Petphayathai in the match on July 31 at the that stadium.

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.”