Light welterweight boxer Manus Boonjumnong, who won a silver medal from the Beijing Games and a gold from the Athens Games, says he wants to compete in the London Games in 2012 as his final Olympic.

Manus, 28, the first Thai athlete to win two medals from the Olympics, says with intensive training he would still be able to become a “great boxer” like the recent Beijing Games flyweight Champion Somjit Jongjohor who is already 33.

However, Manus was planning to move up to a heavier weight class as he has troubles controlling weight and believes he would perform better in a different class. 

Manus recently lost to Diaz Felix of the Dominican Republic in the final bout of the Beijing Games, adding a silver medal the gold he won from the Athens Games in 2004.

Somjit Jongjohor of Thailand has won a gold medal as he defeated Cuba’s Andris Laffita Hernandez in the Beijing Games flyweight final.

The flyweight final match was held at the Workers’ Stadium in Beijing on Saturday August 23. Somjit, who was assigned to the blue corner, seemed to be cheerful and confident as he waved to the spectators before entering the ring.

In the first round, Somjit received his first point when he hit Laffita with right hook on his torso, causing the Cuban boxer to slip to the ground. Two more right punches of the Thai seemed to hit Laffita, although only one of which resulted in a point. The first round ended with Somjit leading the score with 2-0 points.

In the second round, the confident Somjit again hit Laffita’s torso with his right hook. Soon the fourth point followed with a right cross to the Cuban’s face. He then received two more points from a right punch in the mid round and a left cross before the round ended. Somjit was leading the fight with 6-0 points.

Defending light welterweight champion Manus Boonjumnong lost to Diaz Felix of the Dominican Republic in the final bout of the Beijing Games, dashing the hope to become the first Thai athlete to win two Olympic gold medals.

Athens Games gold medalist Manus, 28, faced Felix, 25, in the light welterweight final at the Workers’ Stadium in Beijing on Saturday August 23.

Manus, who was assigned to the red corner, started the game with his guards up as he waited to counter Diaz’s attacks. Manus received the first point but the aggressive Dominican caught up quickly. Diaz was able to hit the Thai boxer for the second time before the round ended. The score was 2-1 with Diaz leading.

In the second round, Manus was focusing on hitting the body of Diaz but could only get pass the tight defense once in the mid round. The two boxers were tied with 2-2 points.

Flyweight boxer Somjit Jongjohor of Thailand has defeated Vincenzo Picardi of Italy with 7-1 points in the Beijing Games semifinal, paving his way to the final against Cuba’s Andris Laffita Hernandez on August 23.

The two boxers were already familiar with each others before the Olympic event as veteran Somjit beat Picardi in the world championship flyweight semifinal in Chicago with 13-2 points.

In the first round of the Beijing Games semifinal, Picardi started an aggressive game with flurries of punches but Somjit was able to counter his strikes and hit back the Italian on his torso and face, leading the fight with scores of 2-1 at the end of the round.