WBC to sanction Muay Thai fights

[danvari]

Bangkok: In a landmark agreement and one which will put the spotlight firmly on Thailand’s traditional martial art, the World Boxing Council (WBC) will now officially sanction MUAYTHAI world titles in 17 weight divisions worldwide.

An agreement signed by the WBC President, Dr Jose Sulaiman and the Governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand, Dr Santiparb Tejavanija heralds in a new era for muaythai, the popular sport of Thailand.

Read more at fairtex.com (http://www.fairtex.com/news/news_view.php?n_id=20)

I don't really know what to think of it, thaiboxing has too many organizations as it is, but on the other hand WBC is a big and well-known organization and thus might be able to promote thaiboxing to a much larger audience.

Also, doesn't WMC (http://www.wmtc.nu) talk all the time about being the only officially sanctioned thaiboxing organization?, how does the agreement between the Thai sports authority and WBC fit into this?

[unicorn]

Thai sports authority did tolerate other sanctioning bodies to promote in Thailand but did not (and dont seem to want to) recognize officially what those people do as belonging to the official results, rankings etc.

WBC had a disgusting attitude about the sport threatening to withdraw titles to Tyson if he'd have participated to the alleged "barbaric show" (K-1), now they seem to have been suddenly enlightened into developing their own business. Obviously, Muay Thai is not the K-1 barbary if they promote it.

Questions : will Tyson have the heavyweight opponents we all expect to (that is, relevant fighters, not tomato cans) ? To what extent ?
Will the officials of the new body be able to cope with the system of judging and reffing MT ?
If they care so much about being a solid organization where are the structures prompting its development ? How will they look ? To the extent of the declaration, they contacted "some people in the ex-Ussr" to look for a relevant pool of heavier fighters. And the rest ? All the organizations in Europe will have to yield, disappear, merge ? Or they don't even care to notice there are some organizations ? Will I, in Romania, need to obtain license from an official of the local boxing federation in order to be able to promote a show ? Cool !

And an evil thought : if there is a certain man with a nasty haircut behind this, then the above questions are pretty useless. The answer is already in his person.

Me evil :)

[unicorn]

...And some interesting things in their statement :

>With the WBC now recognized as the official sanctioning body for muaythai globally

When was (will) be that ?

>The growth of international muaythai clubs and associations has created the need for >a reputable global organization to provide official rankings and sanctioning for major >muaythai championship events

And what will they do to develop ? Assymilate other organizations ?

>The rapid rise in the popularity of muaythai as a leading martial art and ring sport has >resulted in the WBC taking the unprecedented action of expanding its global >organization to include a special branch for muaythai.

Unprecedented ?

Let me be rough and translate this :

"We are rich enough to buy you all alive. None that you (whoever you are) did or will do diserves recognition."

And :

>While muaythai has grown in international popularity over recent years other ring >sports like the K1 in Tokyo have dominated media publicity. Now that MUAYTHAI has >come under the umbrella of the WBC the sport can better position itself as the world >leader in professional ring combat.

Muay Thai already under an umbrella ? Opps !
Rough translation : we are going to be the one-and-only.

Sure. As also WBA, IBF and all the others are. Now what a nice perspective. The little fish has grown up enough to have the sharks mind it.

Just my ironic thoughts worth 0,02 Euro's :)

[Razor Bump]

I know there are pictures of WBC reps and and Songchai Jr. all looking happy and positive in Thailand and that means...... business is about to pick up

[Lord Gaul]

I think this is a great for anyone that wants to go pro as a Muay Thai fighter in the states. You have been told for years that the real money is in Europe and they love there fighters like we love are Football and Basketball players. This is such a big organization that they have the power to make a ligit system for fighters in the states. They can even brig events to Showtime, HBO, and Fox sports net, all of who the have deals with WBC in boxing. This is a big move for fighters in the states.

[unicorn]

I posted this on another forum, I usually don't just copy and paste my postings but I think there can be an exception. My opinion about this is that it is far from being a way to prompt MT with a good development alone. Sorry to say, the things around this move smell like : Money With all the good and bad things money can mean. I stress - good or bad, I do not have a deffinite idea about this as things are still fresh, but it still spells and smells money.

Well, not money alone. Money prompted by politics. Let me give another example (and please take note I state again - I don't have any reason to have a bitter stomach against a large organization trying to involve into an apparented discipline, I just pretend there are things to be read through the lines which are not so nice to see happening). We all know MMA is an under-rated, poorly advertised, ill-regarded thing in many countries. Many people have even greater prejudice against this than against stand-up fighting sports. The media exposure apart Japan and the PPV in US is quasi-inexistent. Now let's pretend - say - the Judo international sanctioning body (and they have a pretty homogenous situation, recognition by Olympic Committee and all the stuff) wants to unify MMA. They start by threatening an athlete that if he goes to - say - a Pride show, this means he's dishonored, that he attends a barbaric show and he will lose all titles. Then suddenly they discover another promoter, willing to work not with the athlete but with the whole organization, and the discourse suddenly changes. "Time has come for us to settle things, we will show you how a true thing works, a world-wide organization will be created, these will be the one-and-only relevant titles". Just analyze this thing. How it looks, what it does imply. Of course it is not a bad thing in itself. Of course it is a tremendous opportunity. But then the inevitable questions rise. Who will be the officials, promoters, who will be the reversed links on the chain insuring feedback about what happens ? You are an MMA promoter, doing your job and facing all the harshness mentioned. You suddenly learn that you have to deal with the local Judo federation which suddenly is in charge of a big MMA promotion. Or you are a good coach or manager, and suddenly the big cake is in the hands of some guys you never even knew about, now all what matters as for the big decisions is in their hands. It was as such till now too, but such a state can grow in two directions - a balanced picture or a total havoc.

Because there is another point to be discussed. In all due respect for Mr. Songchai, he is running a private bussiness, a very successful one, but in the tight control of himself and several other persons closely related to him and his family. This is a good way to maintain control, and it is not necessary to think he does not a good job. But when it comes to run properly a big, world-wide expanded organization, even if we think he has all the good intentions and good will in the world, is this tight structure able to manage properly all the chain of decision ? I am under reasonable doubt to say "yes".

The whole govern of Thailand, SAT on top, is not able to control very properly what happens to Muay Thai when it comes to the whole extent of international scene. But the govern and the SAT are at least non-interventionist on other markets. Imagine an interventionist authority with little human resources able to control the good way of managing things and instead having the whole machinery (including and mostly : financial resources). Does someone really think that Mr. Sulaiman or any other WBC officials suddenly fell in love after the equation "K-1 = freak show, no true Muay Thai; Muay Thai as in Thailand = true Muay Thai" ? Well, if the machinery starts to work at full extent, we'd better pray they are in such love as all the Muay Thai purists dream. But in my evil dreams, the equation is much less idealistic. It sounds like "K-1 : tight control of a logo, we can't interfere, they will not allow us to cooperate, much less to interfere with their decisional chain; they are also limited to two weight divisions ; Muay Thai : no control on a logo with world-wide establishment, fragmented scene, no serious funds = perfect way to cash-in and get a remote-control using our own infrastructure". The equation can afteral be good for the sport, but this is a "maybe", it is far from being a certitude, and the previous histories are NOT a stimulent to believe it will happen self-understoodly.

[contender]

whats wrong with money? does anyone think the fighters are fighting for honor alone?

[unicorn]

There's nothing wrong with money inasmuch as money are not governed by such politics that the sport takes a wrong direction or reaches a path which is inappropriatedly managed. Money and media exposure are tools, they don't produce good results by themselves. That was the main point inside my argument.

[Tazz]

I think that it's great that the WBC is sanctioning Thai Boxing. With a large organization like the WBC sanctioning macthes we're bound to see more televised thai boxing matches (hopefully). I just hope that that same bs politics that tend to ruin boxing don't spill over into thai boxing.

[contender]

well, i guess all the negativity and criticism has a valid point.
but, come on, let's see how it unfolds.

WBC Muay Thai hasnt even had their first event.

[Razor Bump]

Money always made me smile! Corruption..... it's already here it's at least time that you get paid decent after beating someone up and loosing a hometown decision. This move will be better for the long run. Plus great Thai fighters who fight for weak purses will get a chance to get paid properly for their craft instead of switching to another sport. Let it ride gents.... this is what weve been waiting for.

[Razor Bump]

As I understand it The first North American Muay Thai (under WBC sanctioning) will be in Kansas. I will probably go to this show. Let's hope it's quality.

[Sudoraba]

As I understand it The first North American Muay Thai (under WBC sanctioning) will be in Kansas. I will probably go to this show. Let's hope it's quality.

You bet it'll be! I'm fighting in it!

[danvari]

You bet it'll be! I'm fighting in it!

So you're going pro now?

Make sure to tell us if there is any footage from the event, it's always good to see good thaiboxing events.

[Sudoraba]

So you're going pro now?

Make sure to tell us if there is any footage from the event, it's always good to see good thaiboxing events.

my fight is amateur actually

[Razor Bump]

Sudo..... it's almost time!!! We are backing you 100%

[US Tomato Can]

Hey good luck Sudo. THey got a poster here: www.kogroup.org. MO is the first WBC sanctioned muay thai. Should be interesting.

[Sudoraba]

I'm hooked up right now with a gym in Cali where I'll be training for two weeks. Then I'll be back in Missouri to train there until the fight. Thanks guys.

[KO Group]

Hello everyone, This is Jeff Ford and I am the promoter of the WBC Muay Thai event in Kansas City, MO. on June 17th. Fighters will be from:

Fairtex
Saekson Janjira
Mike Miles
Phil NUrse
Frank Shamrock
Jeff Ford

The idea behind the event was to set standards for not only here but throughout the Muay Thai arena. I am putting more $$ into this Amatuer event the most Promoters put into Professional events to adhere to our company slogan "To Bring Quality and Integrity to Combat Sports". We are braodcasting this event in the Midwest area on Channel 62 (WB) on July 30th at 12pm (Saturday at noon). We just got accpetance from Duke Rufous to do commmentary for the evert TV and DVD reproduction. The event is huge and many more are planned.

If you want tickets and get them from the website www.shop.kopromotions.com (Store will be up by 5-21-05 on www.kopromotions.com), send me an email and I will garuntee you ringside seating.

If you have any questions please email me at jford@kopromotions.com or call me at 816.686.4952.

Big Diesel
Jeff Ford

[KO Group]

Sudoraba,
Train Hard and look forward to hard work when you get back...........

[KO Group]

here is a tentative Muay Thai line up. Have had some MMA dropouts for Franks guys (2 at 145lb with 3-5 fights and a 160lbs guy with no fights). I will update that shortly. I am still looking for mor Muay Thai matchups as well. I still need matchups for the last 2 and if anyone else want to fight then let me know as we still have room for 5-8 more fights.

Jeff Ford 816.686.4952 / jford@kopromotions.com / www.KOPromotions.com

1. Nick Nguyen 21 5’11’’ 150lbs. 3-2 Jeff Ford
Brian Schoppmann 158lbs. 2-0 Self Managed

2. Sina Lopez 17 5’4” 135 0-1 Andy Zerger
Jennifer Renken 130lbs 1-0 John Renken

3. Ron Griffey 30 5’5” 145 3-2 Andy Zerger
Chris Aldea 147lbs 5-3 Fairtex

4. Alan Dean 28 6’3” 225 2-1 Andy Zerger
James Lowe 220 2-3 Self Managed

5. Jason Cutbill 167lbs. 12-3 Mike Miles
Nizer Balghit 165 10-8 Kru Nurse

6. Doug Edwards 24 5’11” 155 2-1 Adam Zerger
Luke Lang 155 3-1-1 Kru Nurse

7. Melanie Kohler 22 118lbs 6-3 Kwame Stephens
Shelly Evans 115lbs 9-6 Mike Miles

Antonio DeLaCruz 130lbs 6-2 Fairtex

Jesse Lacombe 175lbs 12-1 Mike Miles

[KO Group]

The TV commercial is on the website and can be found here http://www.kogroup.org/vid.html.

What I am looking for now is match ups for the AUGUST 27th event - I am specifically looking for someone for Linda Loyce. I have a couple in mind but need to find someone that will be for sure that i can get NOW.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[US Tomato Can]

Lynda Loyce? Whoah she is no joke.

[Razor Bump]

Jeff I will be contacting you for a fight in August if all goes well. I will weight 155 to 165 lbs. I may have some more fighters to come down from Colorado

[KO Group]

That sounds good. Make sure to include all fo every fighters info so I can addit to my database - jford@kopromotions.com

[mega_man]

Imo this is good news for the sport. Mory publicity, more money, more endorsements, more fights....on the other hand, can mean more bullshit decisions...let`s wait and see.

[Razor Bump]

K.O. I sent you my information. Guys in our gym just fought so I'm waiting to hear from them and see how they are physically feeling. I still have not heard back from you though. I imagine your killer busy in preperations.