There seems to be no solution to the conflict of the two professional muaythai associations of Thailand.

The Professional Boxing Association of Thailand (PBAT) is probably feeling it is being challenged by the newcomer World Muaythai Council (WMC) that has aggressively and successfully launched the campaigns to promote the sport to the international market.

The WMC does not hesitate to show off its fighters aboard, while the PBAT, on the other hand, claimed it wanted to prevent “incompetent” Thai boxers from embarrassing the country. The PBAT even announced the Thai boxers fighting aboard must be certified by the PBAT first.

In response, the WMC refused to comply, saying the Thai fighters have never needed the PBAT certifications as they have always been able to support themselves to go abroad. The WMC said it would agree with the certification only if it was required by the host of the event.

PBAT argued it only followed the policy of the Sport Authority of Thailand who wanted to standardize muaythai and give full control of the Thai athletes to PBAT.

The chairmen of WMC and PBAT, however, had a meeting on Saturday but the talk did not result in an agreement of the two sides. The conflict will likely last for a long time and neither side is willing to let the other win.

Perhaps the best solution is to clearly define the boundary and roles of the two associations somehow and let each of them does whatever it wants without having to cross paths with each other. Then, feuds can be avoided.

It does not matter if the WMC and PBAT will cooperate or separate as long as the result is muaythai successfully promoted to the status of an internationally-accepted sport.        

News: Muaysiam number 1805