Three Weeks After

Three weeks after the Games ended, I’m still at it. The boxing scene is near dead here in Thailand and so far, the best fight coming up is Montiel vs. Gorres – in Macau. Frankly, I think this time around Montiel is going to knock out Gorres. Montiel is an intelligent fighter with a punch and he’ll have Gorres figured out this time around. I just can’t see Gorres beating him. Montiel TKO 10.

As I said, I’m still working on my Olympic photos. Also, I have articles coming out in the Phuket Gazette, Boxing Digest, and also Boxing News.

I’ve been in contact with several art galleries here in Bangkok, trying to get them to exhibit some of my Olympic photos. Chulalongkarn University expressed an interest in them, and this weekend I will probably speak with them about. I’m also going to try and get the Bangkok Arts and Cultural Center to show them.

Some photos are online and for sale….you can find them at:

http://fareastphotos.imagekind.com and http://www.fareastphotos.com

The Imagekind site gives you the option of buying framed, matted prints and the quality is excellent.

In the next month I have an article coming out about the boxing scene in Thailand and just how bad it’s become and why Thai fighters almost never win when they fight abroad. Also, perhaps some people know I’ve been working on a book about the greatest boxers from Thailand. I’ve been working at a snail’s pace. Anyhow, I’m hoping to get this finished by the end of the first quarter of 2009. By the end of 2009 I also plan to finish a book about Khaosai Galaxy.

It’s 1:00 AM here in Thailand and I’m exhausted. Until later…

Patomchoke TKOs Reyke – Huh? Who?

In Nakorn Pathom, Thailand today, Patomchoke Patompothong (7-0, 7 KOs) defeated William Reyke (3-2-2, 3 KOs) of Indonesia via second round KO to win the vacant IBF Pan Pacific super bantamweight title. I hate all these titles….truly. Like I’ve written before – if it were up to me I’d do away with all of the ABC’s and take my chances with what happens next. Get rid of Sulaiman first – despite all the good he’s done, he’s done a helluva lot more bad. One such thing I’m referring to – and there are a ton – is open scoring. Can’t stand it.

The ABC’s are the ruin of boxing and pretty soon there will be so many titles there won’t be enough fighters to wear them. Imagine that.

Patomchoke had very little trouble spanking the Indonesian. Reyke fought Chris John victim Zaiki Takemoto of Japan and lost a 6-round decision. Not long ago, Saenghiran Lookbanyai fought Takemoto to a draw. Not good but at least Patomchoke sent him home early so I didn’t have to watch a 12-round mismatch.

The thing that makes Patomchoke unsual – he’s in prison – just like a certain female fighter who won the WBC light flyweight world championship – oops – trinket. I’ve yet to find out the details but it looks to me like another gimmick. At least he can fight a little though. We’ll see just how well if and when he fights someone with a pulse.

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Lot’s of boxing in the next 6 weeks. On the 24th Poonsawat is fighting a tomato can, on the 27th in Pattaya, Saddam Kietyongyuth and Yodsanan Sor Nantchai are in action. Kietyongyuth’s opponent has changed twice and Sor Nanthachai is fighting Jimrex Jaca. Sor Nanthachai is in good shape and is naturally the larger man. You might remember, Jaca went 9 rounds with Juan Manuel Marquez as in Marquez at featherweight. I’m not sure yet but I believe both guys will come in slightly over the lightweight limit. Yodsanan via 7th or 8th round TKO. Yodsanan is just too strong, and he hits too hard.

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Looks like Songchai Promotions is having problems keeping it’s staff. Not sure of the specifics but apparently a few people have walked of the job recently.

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I’ve changed the site around a little. Tomorrow I’ll put up the schedule of fights – that is, decent fights – coming up in Southeast Asia and also a section about wagering and odds.

Until later…