Child Boxer's Father Defends Match Pairing, Denies 50-Fight Record
A muay thai match between under-15 boxers in July drew criticism for pairing opponents with vastly different experience levels, leaving one unable to walk from the ring. The winner's father defended his son's performance, clarifying he has
A youth muay thai match held on July 25, 2026, at Wat Makham temple's Baan Klang Municipal Dome stadium drew criticism over a significant skill gap between competitors aged under 15. The bout between Phuntri Lae Chok Charoen Ratchasih and Jonphonhao Okorat in the 28 kg weight class ended with Jonphonhao winning decisively, using all available techniques before Phuntri had to be carried from the ring unable to walk.
Public backlash focused on the mismatch, with observers claiming an experienced young boxer had been paired against an inexperienced one. Piyapong Promkun, Jonphonhao's father, responded on Facebook with a statement defending his son. He noted that Jonphonhao is currently in grade 3, not yet 9 years old, and has fought only 10 bouts with more than 5 losses. He stressed that his son has always accepted referee decisions without complaint, and that winning bigger should be met with good sportsmanship, not complaint after losing.
The father appealed for perspective, emphasizing that wins and losses are normal in sports, and asked people not to use children's competitions for personal content or to teach poor sportsmanship. He also disputed claims that his son had fought 50 or more bouts, noting the family had only recently transferred schools and the term was incomplete. He credited the boxing coach's hard training for his son's performance and asked people to view the situation from that perspective.
