Buakaw confirms Thai Fight participation

Buakaw confirms Thai Fight participation

Muay Thai superstar Sombat Banchamek _ better known as Buakaw Por Pramuk _ will take part in the Thai Fight in Pattaya on April 17.

Buakaw Por Pramuk is mobbed by reporters at a press conference yesterday. PATIPAT JANTHONG

The boxer said at a press conference that he would stick with the name Buakaw for the Thai Fight but may not use the name of the boxing camp Por Pramuk.

Buakaw has been at odds with Por Pramuk camp and previously said he would now fight under his real name Sombat Banchamek.

"I don't want to talk about my problems and will allow 'senior people' to solve them," he said.

He dismissed reports that a 'third party' was behind the rift between him and Por Pramuk camp.

"I am ready for the Thai Fight and will do my best for Thai fans," said the Surin fighter who will take on Mickael Cornubet of France in the 70kg division in the main bout of the Thai Fight.

"I now stay with my family in Surin and feel very happy to be with them."

Buakaw was escorted by several guards during yesterday's press conference at a Bangkok hotel and rushed back to Surin after the event.

Nopporn Watin, chief of Sport Art Co which organises the Thai Fight, called on Buakaw and Por Pramuk camp boss Pramuk Rochanatan to sit down and talk.

Pramuk did not attend yesterday's press conference.

Buakaw briefly disappeared last month and later claimed that he was unfairly treated by Por Pramuk bosses.

The Pattaya fight will be his first since the conflict was made public, after his scheduled bouts in France and England last month were cancelled.

Indonesian boxer dies

In Jakarta, an Indonesian professional boxer died in hospital yesterday after undergoing brain surgery following a title fight last week.

Muhammad Afrizal died at the Christian University (UKI) Hospital in eastern Jakarta, said Anton Sihombing, chairman of the Indonesian Boxing Commission.

"This is a tragedy in our boxing history," said Sihombing, who attended the title bout on Friday, which was broadcast live on a local TV station. "We have to do our best to prevent a reoccurrence in the future."

He said Afrizal, a former Pan Asia Boxing Association featherweight champion, was rushed to a nearby hospital when he vomited one hour after a junior-lightweight bout.

The 30-year-old Afrizal was knocked down once during the 12-round bout against countryman Irvan Marbun, who won in a unanimous decision.

Sihombing said there was no indication that Afrizal had suffered a serious injury as he left the ring.

Afrizal is the 28th Indonesian boxer to have died in the country's boxing history since 1948. The last fatality was in 2007.

In early 2002, the World Boxing Council banned Indonesian boxers from fighting in WBC-sanctioned bouts outside the country following a series of deaths in 2001. The ban was lifted in July 2002 on the condition that Indonesia imposed safety rules and formed a commission to monitor matches. BANGKOK POST/AP

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