What a night ! The very best of the best gathered in one ring ! WMC Top 10, contenders for Fight of the Year and a night to remember for a long time. Mr. Songchai Ratanusbusan, WMC Committee member last night set up some long awaited matches for a capacity crowd at Rajdamnern Stadium.
The opening fights set the scene with a battle royal between Payasue Sor. Hengjaren and Orono Muengseema at 117 lbs. This was a close fight with the bets going both ways - Payasue using the ropes well and defending with body kicks and a big right hand. Orono drew him into his preferred grapple and seemed to be coming ahead and then suddenly in the 4th round, Payasue backed into the corner in pain – his right shoulder dislocated in the grapple. An awful injury and he was helped out of the ring as Orono took the cheers of the crowd.
This shocking incident was followed by the strangest fight – 1 round of blistering action from Tapna Sit. Romtarai at 114 lbs who never gave Pisajdang Por. Saman a chance for an opening. He drove forward, a man on a mission catching the crowd and his opponent by surprise. Hard punches and body kicks kept Pisajdang on the ropes. With 2 minutes gone he began to fight back - landing some great kick combinations. But the chance was gone and a massive right elbow from Tapna put him on the canvas for an unusual victory.
The next fight up was an absolute cracker – a rematch between at 124 lbs for Jomphob Kiatpholtip and Gowith Sit. Wiroch. ( WMC Ranking 7 ) Two great technicians with beautiful Ram Muays to start us off. This was a much more paced fight than the previous ones with both fighters more wary of each other. Jomphob seemed the stronger of the 2, using a strong right push-kick to control the opening rounds. Gowith in counterattacking showed great skill and wasn’t at all fazed by what was happening. The second round saw some great grappling with Gowith coming forward now using the ropes to control his movements and showing a much superior upper body strength. The 3rd was electric with Jomphob coming out and really showing his class – catching the powerful leg kicks coming at him and tossing Gowith to the canvas, arching back behind kicks and returning beautiful body kicks. Right at the end of the round, he brought off an amazing knee and kick combination which must surely have impressed the judges – bringing the crowd surging to their feet and sending the odds stacking in his favour. The 4th was all elbows with Jomphob seeking for a cut to strengthen his advantage but not finding the opening and indeed with his own face and head under severe attack. Gowith at one stage seeming to hold him steady for the downward elbow spike which somehow grazed, stunned but didn’t cut. Jomphob was edging ahead now with the bookies and when they came out for the 5th went straight into the grapple – making his strength and energy plain to see. A great round to finish on with Jomphob taking it 49-47 from each referee.
Another eagerly awaited match-up brought Saenchainoy Saengechgym (WMC Ranking 3 ) into the ring against Pongsing Kiatchansing ( WMC Ranking 1 ) at 120 lbs for a purse of 200,000 Baht. (about 4,000 Euro )
Slow and steady initially, this exploded at the end of the 1st as Ponsing was sent sprawling to the canvas. Saenchainoy seemed the taller of the two and moved in the 2nd with some great head-kicks followed by long knees. Pongsing recovered well from this, coming forward with a flurry of punches and a sharp elbow to the left temple. He was slightly behind but still with it all to play for ! The 3rd round saw Pongsing taking charge , stepping up the tempo and holding Saenchainoy in the grapple, turning him into the ropes and sending him crashing to the canvas – only just missing his head with a late kick ! Was it all over ?
Not at all, 4th round and out came Saenchainoy smarting from the corner-mens’ “ advice“ , he closed up the defenses and went to work with a stunning series of body and head-kicks. Pongsing fought back hard sending a massive right hand crashing into him – 8 count. The crowd held their breath – Saenchainoy came back from the ropes and launched a right-left elbow combination which left Pongsing bleeding profusely on the right temple – straight into his eye. Blood, Sweat, Vaseline, Boxing oil - this is never a good combination. Now as Pongsing punched through all of this, Saenchainoy sent in a rain of elbows opening up a cut which would require 15 stitches.
The 5th round saw Saenchainoy adding to his points but being forced against the ropes as Pongsing came forward looking for the KO he needed. His cut patched up, he fought the 3rd round overagain with some great grappling in the corners but was losing out to the long-range attacks being sent in on him. Saenchainoy took it in the end, on 49-47 from all 3 judges. What a fight JNext up were 2 very familiar faces – at 125 lbs we had Pooja Sor. Suwanee ( WMC Ranking 4 ) and I-sorasak Jor. Rachdakorn ( WMC Ranking 6 ). The 1st round was indecisive with Pooja maybe ahead. He continued this in the 2nd making a slow but steady advance around the ring – landing some powerful body-kicks. Then with 30 seconds to go, I-sorasak decided to get in on the action throwing a great jab-elbow combination which sliced through Pooja’s defenses. Not a good sign but the betting still in the red corner. 3rd round and all bets were off as the crowd swung from one to the other – exquisite footwork with both showing fabulous work on the inside. I-sorasak coming ahead now with a speedy work-rate and such accuracy with his knees – has to hurt !
Half the crowd are on their feet for the start of the 4th – stamping, whistling, banging on the steel adverts and they got what they wanted. Both moved around the center of the ring using long knees, flying knees from Pooja , strong body-kicks landed by I-sorasak and immediately answered. But somehow I-sorasak is edging ahead, landing more, better defense and faster responses. Out for the 5th and then incredibly a soaring head-kick from I-sorasak crashes down on Pooja – no count given but the stagger and rueful smile said it all - game over. Judges called it 49-47 from each.
How could this be topped ? Only by 2 of the most superb athletes on the scene – Saenchai Sor Kingstar and Khem Sor Ploenchit. Saenchai in only his 2nd MuayThai fight in a year filled with Western boxing fights weighed in at 123 lbs and about 2 inches shorter than Khem at 126 lbs.
2 of the very best technicians and no-one was disappointed.
From the first bell when Saenchai went in with head-kicks to show his contempt for the much discussed height difference and Khem countered a tight grapple – holding them together in the ring for what seemed an eternity. Pulling out of this, Khem caught Saenchai with a perfectly timed push-kick, immediately countered with an MuayBoran style elbow to the top of the head by Saenchai – to the crowds amazement J
Who to bet on ? The stadium was in a quandary, both undefeated in this season and back into last year, both holding a WMC No1 ranking at their various weights. Khem edging ahead in the 2nd, very little punching from either – both working on their strengths – pounding body kicks from Khem and tidal wave leg-kicks from Saenchai. Great footwork with never a mistake, no openings anywhere- or so it seemed. The 3rd round was just beautiful to watch, Khem holding in the grapple trying to wear Saenchai down and weathering some strong head-kicks with a smile. Saenchai very very contained, working away on the outside, seeming reluctant to come in close.
Evens coming into the 4th, with people unable to sit down, the tension was palpable. The most incredible noise greeted the masters as they stepped it up and shamed all who had gone before – this round will surely be noted as one of the best ever – Saenchai took control of the grapple – firing in a body kick and closing down, swinging his knees round and high, trying to bring Khem to the canvas – he responds with a fish-like twist, round the back and firing a knee high into the sternum- no count. Now the famous Saenchai push-kick – fired from the backleg with incredible power, begins to clock up the points. Khem catches a kick and jumps high with another great knee. Saenchai though moving around with ease, beginning to fire ever harder body kicks and relentless pushes straight into the stomach. Khem responding with a punch-elbow combination.
5th round with it all to play for – Saenchai throws another pushkick with the freshness of a first-rounder. Khem is fighting back but things are slipping slightly away. The crowd roars him on, not ready to give up yet. Great skills as they dodge around each other, both relentless in their attacks. The bell sounds – Saenchai bounds on the ropes , back where he belongs, Khem waits unsure whether he did enough – the judges call it 49-48. Saenchai Sor Kingstar - one of the best boxers this stadium has ever seen – skills and strength in an unstoppable combination but spare a though for Khem as he swallows this bitter defeat.
The crowd sighed with satisfaction - this is what MuayThai is all about. The golden age of the 80s is long behind us but here tonight we have witnessed a special night, a night where the doubters were brought to heel, the cynics silenced and where once again Saenchai Sor Kingstar left his unique mark on this most unique of sports.
Watch this space !!
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