Filed under: Culture, Expat life, People, Six of the best, Sport | Tags: Adrian Broner, Adrian Hernandez, amateur boxing, Arturo Gatti, Bangkok, Bangkok Throwdown, boxing, boxing training, charity, combat sports, Dusit Thani, Dusit Thani Hotel, Edgar Sosa, Felix Schrick, flyweight, Japan, Koki Eto, Kompayak Porpramook, Kostya Tszyu, Lion's Head, Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, Lumpini, Marcos Maidana, Mexico, muay Thai, Operation Smile, Pongsaklek Wonjongkam, Ricky Hatton, Si Sa Ket, Sport, Sukhumvit, Sukhumvit Road, Suriyan Por Chokchai, Suriyan Sor Rungvisai, Thailand, The Lab, training, WBC
Continuing my “Six of the best” series marking my six years in Thailand, I present my pick of boxing matches and events I have experienced while living here (in date order).
1. PONGSAKLEK WONJONGKAM v SURIYAN SOR RUNGVISAI (October 8, 2010)
Pongsaklek and Suriyan have a domestic
This rare all-Thai derby unfolded in deepest rural Si Sa Ket, with established legend Pongsaklek fending off a ferociously dogged challenge from young upstart Suriyan. It was expected to be a comfortable afternoon’s work for the massively more experienced WBC flyweight champion Pongsaklek, but Suriyan – little-known at the time, and fighting as Suriyan Por Chokchai – fought his heart out, pushing the older boxer to the brink over 12 exhausting rounds. Such was the level of desire exhibited by Suriyan – just 21 at the time – that when his body verged on collapse to the point that he vomited in the ring – and over Pongsaklek – in the midst of a draining 10th round, he took only the slightest of pauses before waging back into battle.
At the time, the feeling was that Pongsaklek must have past his peak to have been pushed so hard by the unheralded youngster, but in fact he would go on to score one of the signature wins of his career (see No. 2), while Suriyan would refine his crudely effective aggression and end up winning a world title of his own. Continue reading
