Thais wary of early clash with RP pugs

BACOLOD — The powerhouse Thailand boxing team arrived here five days before the start of the SEA Games slugfest Wednesday night, had a light morning workout yesterday in nearby Talisay town and declared it’s ready to defend the crown.

Col. Thitiphan Pewsupon, the Thai boxing team manager, expressed confidence they would dominate the event but refused to make prediction on how many gold medals they would win, pending the draw set Sunday.

Pewsupon said they wanted to avoid early collisions with the Filipino boxers but didn’t elaborate.

Cuban coaching consultant Jorge Hernandez Padron likewise is convinced the Thai fighters, who have been making waves even in the world and Olympic arenas, would stamp their class in this regional meet.

Padron said the Thais are now looking forward to the 2008 Beijing Olympics and this SEAG joust is just a part of their preparation for the Olympiad.

"We’ll be No. 1," Thitiphan told The STAR, confident they would conquer the Filipino pugs on their turf and stretch their reign in this biennial meet since 1993.

Bouyed up by their impressive performance in the Athens Olympics, the Thais expect to dominate the event anew. In the Vietnam SEAG in 2003, the Thais cornered seven golds, one silver and one bronze.

Four of the seven Thai gold medalists in the Vietnam Games are back, joining two Athens Olympics medalists in the team that includes other worthy fighters in lightflyweight Suban Pannon, bantamweight Taengthong Khlongchan and pinweight Kanchana Tungthaisong.

Conspicuously missing on the Thai lineup is Athens Olympic medalist Manus Boonjumnong, who is reportedly out of shape. Fighting in Manus’ place is younger brother Non.

But minus Boonjumnong, the Thais, no doubt, are still a formidable lot with the presence of Athens silver medalist Worapoj Petchkoom, reigning world and Asian champion Somjit Jongjohor, Athens Olympics bronze medalist Suriya Prasathinphimai and SEAG title-holders Kaeo Pongprayoon and Pichai Sayota.

The Thais’ female fighters are pinweight Kanchana Tungthaisong, lightweight Usanakorn Thawilsuwannawang, flyweight Jutalip Chusaeng, bantamweight Tassamalee Thongjan and welterweight Ratree Kruakhe.

The whole Thai boxing team is already in town except its head coach, who was left in Bangkok Wednesday due to booking problems.

"They really mean business. They came here early. In fact, they were the first foreigners to arrive here," said RP boxing secretary general Rogelio Fortaleza.