J-Cast: Thai boxers downed by punches that missed him
Thai boxers who fought matches in Japan in 2006 left a record of nine wins against 266 defeats with five draws. For 2007, they had so far won 10 matches, lost 105 and drew four as of July 18. As Muay Thai (Thai boxing) is their national sport, they ought to be good at ordinary boxing. But they would easily be KO'd on Japanese rings. In some of the cases, they fall down while punches from their opponents do not even hit them. The Japan Boxing Commission (JBC) announced on July 24, 2007 that they would limit the number of Thai boxers to fight in Japan...In the future, Thai players will have to go through examinations before having matches in Japan...The possibility of cancelling the promoter license is also considered as a measure to prevent unfair matches from being conducted. As a matter of fact, the same sort of situation involving Philippine players occurred about 10 years ago... Come to think of it, Koki Kameda fought only against Thais for his first eight matches...
...Why then Thai players keep losing matches? Toshihiro Yamaki, head of Yamaki Gym...said the problem lies on the side of the promoters and match makers, and the measure considered by the JBC would call for misunderstanding. What he meant by the problem lying on the side of the promoters was that "only opponents Japanese fighters can win are selected". This is an effort to create a star fighter with an impressive record...He further said: "Among the players who come to Japan, there are those who have long away from actual fighting and working as shop attendants at a gymnasium or motorbike drivers. Of course they are still considered as boxers as they have once fought boxing matches. As they are no longer practicing, their bellies are often flabby when they come to Japan"...more...