Much like the Roman Colosseum, Bangkok’s Lumpini Stadium is filled with ghosts of the past. The spirits of gloved warriors who fought for fame and fortune prowl the dimly lit arena with authority day in and day out. Only Rajdamnern Stadium, also in Bangkok, rivals the prestige of holding the title of Muay Thai Champion of Lumpini Stadium and simply fighting in Lumpini is an honor in itself.

Fighters and fans pass through the stadium doors for what is but a brief glimpse of those boxers deemed worthy of admittance. Inside and out, enthusiasts nourish the old stadium—its combatants feed off the roar of the four-thousand strong crowd and are perpetually charged with electricity.

“O-way, o-way” sings the crowd with each blow those in the ring put forth. They are in unison and it doesn’t take long before foreigners are singing along too.

Foreigners, or Farang as they are referred to in Thailand, normally fill the pricey ringside seats. Tickets for these seats and the other levels have nearly doubled in price over the past ten years. Chalk it up to worldwide growth and shrewd marketing.

Most Thai fans are content to sit in the outer region of the stadium—behind a chain link fence.

While gambling in Thailand is technically illegal, it is not in Lumpini Stadium. Any visitor stepping in to the circular arena will immediately notice the frenzied betting around the ring—for Thais, the gambling is one of the main attractions of going to the stadium.

Muay Thai fights take place at Lumpini Stadium four times per week. Occasionally there is western style boxing included along with the Muay Thai but the vast majority are bouts allowing not only punches, but also kicks, knees and elbows. Those who enter the ring are generally fearful of the elbow for one blow can end a fight and scar a fighter forever.

The western style boxers who fight in the stadium are more often than not highly rated fighters or champions, but every so often there are amateur fights and less than experienced professionals.

The stadium is a revolving door of fighters and it rarely sleeps. During the downtimes, food vendors, equipment merchants, ticket scalpers and a host of other characters surround the dingy building, preparing for the night’s vigorous activities or recuperating from the previous evening.

Lumpini Stadium opened for action on December 8, 1956. Operated by Thailand’s Army Welfare Department of the Royal Thai Army, all proceeds from the fights go towards supporting the various departments of the Thai Army. The initial reason for opening the venue was to promote Thai boxing worldwide as well as in Thailand. Over the years though, the stadium has become a tourism bonanza and known around the world. It is now much more than just a stadium to its visitors. Along with Rajdamnern Stadium, it is considered the home of Muay Thai.

Currently there are approximately a dozen promoters presented with the responsibility of bringing fighters to fight in the stadium. Women are not allowed to fight in the stadium or enter then ring, period. Boxers must be male, over fifteen years-of-age, weigh over 100-pounds, and a five-pound weight difference between the boxers is the maximum.

Earlier this year, there were talks of moving the fabled stadium to the Suan Plu area of Bangkok. In order to make way for the world’s tallest building, the old stadium would be demolished. Since the new stadium would no longer be in the Lumpini district, it would need to take a new name. It was later determined naming the new stadium any thing other than Lumpini Stadium would be detrimental to its history and future prosperity but this would be immaterial.

The plan to build the skyscraper, at least for now, has been scrapped. For the time being, the stadium will stay put and it’s business as usual.

Fortunately, fights at Lumpini Stadium still take place. There are shows on Tuesday and Friday (6:30 PM) and Saturday (4:30 PM and 8:30 PM). Tickets are 2000 baht ($56), 1500 baht ($42) and 1000 baht ($28).

Some of the many name fighters who have fought in Lumpini Stadium:

Boxing:
Khaosai Galaxy
Muangchai Kitticasem
Sot Chitlada
Pone Kingpetch
Pongsaklek Wonjongkam
Samart Payakarun
Netrnoi Sor Vorasingh
Hussein Hussein
Pascual Perez

Muay Thai:
Deisel Noi Chorthanasukarn
Pud Pad Noy
Nong Toom (Transvestite fighter, AKA Beautiful Boxer)
Sakmongkol
Anuwat Keawsamrit
Chokdee Por Pramook
Buakaw Por Pramook
Peter Smit
Michael Liewafat
Ramon Dekker
Rob Kaman
Ivan Hippolyte

Thai Tidbits – Samson Dutchboygym

Former WBF super flyweight champion Samson Dutchboygym fought a total of forty-three times, winning all of his bouts. Thirty-six of his wins came by way of knockout and he successfully defended his title an incredible thirty-eight times. At the time, the WBF, now known as the World Boxing Foundation, was the World Boxing Federation.

While the Thai never attained the status he could have if he had won one of the major belts, he did fight and defeat some well-known and relatively good fighters; Genaro Garcia, Rolando Pascual, Cruz Carbajal and Hugo Soto to name a few.

Dutchboygym, whose real name is Saengmuangnoi Lukchapormasak, won the title in his fourth fight and retaining it until his retirement in 2002.

Can she be the answer to the rise of the sport?

The state of women’s boxing has declined the past few years, especially following the failure of several Las Vegas-like marquee proposed bouts and the unwillingness of television networks to showcase female fights.

Television is not the only problem. Though HBO refuses to spotlight female boxers, other television networks have dwindled showcasing female fighters on their boxing shows in the past year including ESPN, Telefutura and Telemundo. Showtime hasn’t telecast a female fight in years.

Quevedo, a statuesque woman who trains out of a gym in City of Commerce (an industrial city across the freeway from East Los Angeles), captured four U.S. National amateur titles as a junior welterweight and welterweight.

“I’ve done just about as much as I can do in the amateurs,” said Quevedo, 22, who began boxing more than seven years ago. “I’m ready to see what I can do in the pros. At least I can make some money.”

Many compare Quevedo to Lucia Rijker. Though their boxing styles are quite different, the polish and athleticism both possess is what separates them from other female pugilists.

“That’s great that some people compare me to her. We’re different. I’ve always looked up to Lucia Rijker as the best,” Quevedo says.

It was Rijker’s proposed fight against boxing icon Christy Martin that looked to be the spark for female boxing two years ago.But the sudden cancellation of that fight and the secrecy and silence following it seemed to send the entire sport spiraling down.

Top Rank, which was promoting the event, announced that Rijker suffered an injury to her leg but no further date was offered for the fight.

“I still don’t know what really happened,” said Martin who twice had proposed bouts with Rijker and twice had them slip from under her. “I’d like to speak to Lucia about it. I still want to fight her.”

Female boxing is quite different from men’s boxing. First, the rules are different with men fighting three-minute rounds and women two-minute rounds. Second, the world title fights are 12 rounds for men, compared to 10 rounds for women.

One woman is single-handedly attempting to change that.

“It’s not fair that different sets of standards for men and women,” said Layla McCarter, who recently fought in a three-minute world title fight on November 17. Now she’s set to fight a 12-round world title fight on Jan. 5 in Las Vegas. “We train just as hard as the men, sometimes harder. I spar with men.”

Recently Nevada State Athletic Commission allowed McCarter to fight Belinda Laracuente for the GBU lightweight title in three-minute rounds. It broke the ice for women world title bouts.

Now, McCarter is defending her GBU lightweight title and meeting Donna Biggers for the WBA lightweight title in a 12-round bout.

“I broke one barrier now I’m breaking another,” said McCarter, who has openly spoken of meeting Laila Ali in a contest. “If men can do it, so can women.”

The World Boxing Council, one of four leading sanctioning organizations for men’s boxing, recently started overseeing female bouts. But they declined to support three-minute rounds or 12 round title fights.

“I’m glad the GBU and WBA have come to support it,” McCarter said. “We have to get rid of these sexist rules.”

For newcomers like Quevedo, a change from two-minute rounds to three doesn’t make a difference.

“I spar for three minute rounds anyway,” said Quevedo, who is trained by Robert Luna at the same gym that produced Francisco “Panchito” Bojado. “Most of the time we train for five minute rounds.”

“She Bee Stingin”

Three years ago many were hailing the emergence of Muhammad Ali’s daughter Laila “She Bee Stingin” Ali as the boost that female prizefighting needed. But though she remains undefeated, those marquee matchups against Ann Wolfe, Leatitia Robinson and Ijeome Egbunine haven’t materialized.

Since 1999 the talented and eye-catching Ali has risen to the top of the rankings, defeated several rock solid opponents, and captured world titles in two weight classes. But the public wants to know why she hasn’t fought Wolfe?

“That’s the fight that can make women’s boxing bigger,” said Rick Smith of Uppercut Magazine. “Laila Ali is the biggest name in boxing and that’s the biggest fight out there without a doubt.”
Ali has steadily improved her boxing skills from a ragged street fighting style to a polish prizefighter capable of beating any female boxer in the world.

“She’s the poster woman for female boxing whether she likes it or not,” said Smith who has seen several of her bouts. “And it’s not just because she’s the daughter of the most famous boxer of all time. She has the ability and looks to carry the sport if she fought more. Or if her fights were televised.”

Three years ago, when several television networks refused to carry Ali’s fight against Martin, her team obtained pay-per-view television. The statistical results proved that an audience would pay to see her fight with more than 100,000 buying the fight on Aug. 23, 2003.

“The Knockout”

Another female icon in boxing is Mia Rosales “The Knockout” St. John who has been fighting professionally since 1997. The IBA and IFBA lightweight titleholder has openly discussed her retirement in 2007.

“I don’t want to be fighting when I’m 40 years old,” said St. John who turns 40 on June 24, 2007. “But I’m just so used to making money from boxing. It’s hard to give it up.”

With 52 professional bouts on her resume, St. John has changed from a Playboy centerfold used on men’s bouts to garner attention to a full-fledged boxer capable of winning two world titles.

St. John and Ali are the two female prizefighters who regularly make more than $10,000 a fight. No one else comes near.

“You have to fight out of the country to make any money,” said St. John who fought in Beijing, China and Edmonton, Canada. “There is no money to be made here.”

St. John, who is scheduled to fight in Croatia on Feb. 5, has a variety of other options to choose including a health and fitness book, her memoirs, television appearances, and book signings.

“There aren’t a lot of known female boxers out there,” St. John said. “Plus, there aren’t many promoters willing to pay decent money.”

Promoters

Boxing promoters have avoided female prizefighting like the plague despite the fact that their bouts often provide the most excitement on many fight cards.
Patrick Ortiz of Ringside Ticket Promotions, Tachi Palace, San Manuel Casino and Morongo Casino have been a small number of boxing promoters willing to allow female bouts on their cards. One new promoter Frank Luca of Crown Promotions recently signed McCarter to a 10-fight deal. But compared to the total number of promoters in California alone, very few even consider staging female prizefights though many top fighters reside in California and Nevada.

Melinda Cooper, a very talented bantamweight out of Las Vegas, captured the flyweight world title and never defended it. It’s not that fighters like Cooper are unwilling to defend their titles, it’s more that promoters are unwilling to spend the money to stage female world title fights.

“You have to pay sanctioning fees, the fighters also get more money and of course you want to make your money back,” said Pete Hiranaka, matchmaker for All Star Promotions in California. They plan to stage a world title bout between flyweight titleholder Elena “Baby Doll” Reid and junior flyweight titleholder Wendy Rodriguez in 2007 if all goes well.

Then you have sanctioning organizations like the WBC who are requesting that fighters defend their titles within a specific time span. If a female world champion can’t find a promoter to spend the money, the organizations strip the fighter of their title. This goes for all sanctioning organizations not just the WBC.

So what can a champion do if no one cares to stage her world title fight?

New blood

Though several marquee matchups worthy of television are available, the money doesn’t compare to what men make.

“The money is just not there,” said St. John, who fought Christy Martin for $100,000 four years ago. “The same fight with Christy Martin [today], we’d be lucky to get $30,000.”

The dozens of amateur boxers like Quevedo coming to the pro ranks bring new blood and a coterie of youth, skill and motivation to fight each other. But sadly, many of these women will find that fighting as a professional doesn’t mean quit your day job.

“I’m going to give it a try for two or three years. If I can’t make any money from boxing than I’ll hang it up while I’m still young enough to make other choices,” said Quevedo. “I’ve already spent seven years boxing for free in the amateurs. I want to get something out of it.”

Leon, who was looking good on attack when the champion found the sweet-spot on his jaw, was clearly disorientated as he sank to the canvas following the blow. He seemed to be looking for his gum-guard, which was knocked from his mouth and was lying right next to him, when it suddenly dawned on him that the referee was almost finished the count. He jumped up, but it was too late as the referee completed the ten-count. One could argue about the count, but that was the referee’s call.

Leon battled to make the weight but looked up to the task from the outset and showed that while the champion is a dangerous puncher he has a few holes in his defense. Had the fight gone beyond the first three rounds, Mashaba could have had his hands full. Nevertheless it was a good win and Mashaba is certainly knocking on the doors of first-tier titleholders.

“Chris John defends his WBA title in February,” says Mashaba's promoter Thinus Strydom. “Mashaba will also be defending his title once more. If both champions are successful Mashaba will fight John for his title.”

On the Mashaba-Leon undercard, Simphiwe Nongqayi stopped veteran Khulile Makheba in the 8th round to claim the WBF super flyweight world title. Nongqayi is a solid fighter with good skills and it’s a pity that his handlers have chosen to take him the paper title route. He could do way better and the WBF crown is so obscure and without any credibility that it could hardly be seen as a steppingstone to bigger things. If anything it diminishes a boxer's credibility when he's acclaimed a world champion of “nothing.”

Is it merely a coincidence that the decline of boxing started when the alphabet soup of world titles arrived on the scene? Even with the so-called big four—the WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO—there are too many “world champions,” never mind all the smaller sanctioning bodies. I do believe that these smaller and bigger groups do have a contribution to make towards the development of boxing and in giving fighters opportunities, but let's reinvent the roles and structures of boxing. I'm getting tired of biting my cheek every time I have to refer to someone as a so-called world champion. If we the writers and by default the historians of the sport don't respect these titles, how on earth can the fighters and more importantly the paying public do so?

Boxing has always been about the personalities and individuals, even when there was only one world champion in each weight class. World titles were merely something to aspire to. Fans paid to see their favorite fighter in action, not to see a world title belt. Those who held the world titles were not necessarily the best guys out there or the most popular. Many of the world's greatest boxers never even received the opportunity to contest a world title in their careers, but those selfsame boxers respected the moniker of world champion, because it had a legacy and with that a form of credibility. It was seen as an achievement just to fight for a world title fight, never mind winning it.

* * *

In other news, the formal announcement of the upcoming Laila Ali – Gwendolyn O’Neil WBC  super middleweight world title fight was made this week. Ali's expected to arrive in South Africa in mid-January for final preparations for the fight, which is scheduled to take place on February 3rd at Emperor’s Palace in Kempton Park. Ali stopped O'Neil in three rounds in 2004 to claim the IWBF's light heavyweight world title. Since then O'Neil has won three in a row and also claimed the WIBC light heavyweight world title.

The Ali – O'Neil bout will be the first high-profile woman's boxing match to take place in South Africa. While there have been many local ladies eager to get in the ring, the wheel of acceptance by the powers that be has been moving slowly and supportive structures are not really in place to assist aspiring women boxers into the sport. It's hoped Ali's presence in the country will help bolster the idea of women's boxing and speed things up for those ladies who wish to lace up their gloves as professional fighters.

With the sport currently at an all-time low in the country, some are looking at women's boxing as a novelty sideshow to attract fans. That approach is shortsighted. If presented and developed properly there's no reason why women's boxing could not become an asset to the noble art, which still seems to battle with the idea that it is part of the entertainment industry. Dingy venues with mediocre fights just don't cut it anymore.

The main supporting bout on the Ali – O'Neil card will feature Cassius Baloyi in a rematch with Gairy St. Claire for the vacant IBO super featherweight world title. Also early in the New Year, Malcolm Klassen will defend his IBF super featherweight world title against Mzonke Fana. Fana defeated Argentinean Roberto Arrieta earlier this month in an official world title eliminator over 12 rounds. Fana may not have a devastating punch, but he does have quick hands and a big heart. Many of his bouts have been won by his lighting left jab and despite his blowout against Marco Antonio Barrera, he is a formidable fighter who will always be in with a chance if he can stretch the fight the full distance.

When the shooting started, he and many of his teammates, which included Duane Bobick, Marvin Johnson, Ray Russell, Reggie Jones, Jesse Valdez, James “Bubba” Busceme, Ricardo Carrera, Louis Self, Tim Dement and Davey Armstrong, were confined to their rooms on the seventeenth and eighteenth floors of their hotel.

Even as athletes from numerous nations fled Munich at the first signs of violence, never for a second did that idea cross Seales’ mind.

“Nobody knew that the Olympics would end (be suspended) one day and start the next day,” said the now 54-year-old Seales, who less than a year ago moved with his wife to Indianapolis after more than four decades in Tacoma.

“None of the Olympians knew who was doing what to whom, but there was no way I was leaving,” he continued. “My mom and dad were there and that meant so much to me. I wanted to finish the race.”

Seales wound up emerging from the Games as America’s sole gold medalist, but was surprised at how little the medal helped him at during his career.

“It was like nobody wanted to talk about the 1972 Olympics,” he explained without a trace of bitterness. “It was a tough year politics-wise, with the hostage situation and what was going on in Vietnam.”

Ironically, Seales, a long, lean 6’1” southpaw with amazing speed, agility and better than average power, had been selected to represent the United States at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, the same competition that spawned George Foreman.

The only thing that prevented that from happening was the fact that at the time Seales was only 16-years-old, which was one year shy of the minimum age requirement.

As a result, Seales turned pro with little fanfare in January 1973, winning an eight round decision over Gonzalo Rodriguez. Fighting throughout the American West, he rattled off 21 straight victories, 11 by knockout, without a loss.

In his 22nd fight he traveled to Boston to take on local hero Marvin Hagler, who was then 14-0. Seales left Beantown with his first loss, a unanimous decision, to the man who would eventually reign supreme as the undisputed middleweight champion.

“I was a young boy and I just followed my management,” said Seales. “I had no idea what I was getting into. I was a boxer and a winner. I was cleaning up and really enjoying myself. I didn’t check up on Marvin Hagler. I didn’t think there was any reason to.

“I was surprised at how talented he was,” added Seales. “All of a sudden, here comes a real guy to kick your butt. He wasn’t there to wear you down and knock you out. He was there to knock you out.”

Besides incurring his first loss, Seales said that Hagler’s tenacity forced him to change his style, on that night as well as in the future.

“I went from a boxer to a puncher,” he explained. “I was always a Sugar Ray Robinson type of guy. But now I knew I had to be more of a fighter, stand my ground and fight.”

In a rematch in Seattle three months later, Seales battled Hagler to a draw. Five years after that, Hagler knocked Seales down three times and stopped him in the first round in Boston.

Fighting professionally from 1973-83, Seales amassed a record of 56-8-3 (33 KOS). By virtue of his Olympic gold medal, he then believed that wherever he went he was fighting in his “hometown.” Unfortunately, the boxing establishment did not see things the same way.

He twice stopped a hard-punching slugger named Sammy Nesmith, once in Seattle and once in Nesmith’s hometown of Indianapolis, as well as Art Harris, who was 31-0.

Along the way he lost to such luminaries as Eugene “Cyclone” Hart, Alan Minter, Ronnie Harris, who took his place in the 1968 Olympics, Ayub Kalule, the late James Shuler, and Dwight Davidson. The only men to ever stop Seales were Hagler and Minter.

Having tangled with so many heavy hitters, one might be surprised by the fact that Seales considers Nesmith the heaviest puncher of all.

“He could have one foot in the graveyards and one foot on a banana peel, and still get off that knockout punch,” said Seales.

Since moving to Indianapolis, Seales has tried to locate Nesmith but has had no success. Although they were archrivals in the ring, he would like to reconnect with him in much the same way he has reconnected with Marvin Johnson, his Olympic teammate, who also resides in Indianapolis, and with whom Seales now attends church.

“He (Nesmith) jabbed me in the mouth during the instructions (in Indianapolis),” explained Seales. “He was very rude to me. But I really worked him out and stopped him in the fifth round.”

Another fighter who showed great disrespect for Seales was little known and relatively inexperienced Mayfield Pennington. Seales traveled to Pikesville, Maryland, to fight him in an eight-rounder in April 1978.

Although Seales stopped Pennington in the final round, he still gets annoyed when discussing the shabby treatment accorded him by local promoters. He and his trainer ordered a pre-fight meal of spaghetti with meat sauce. Out of superstition or paranoia, they switched plates and Seales said his trainer got very sick.

And when Seales fought the undefeated Harris in Akron, where Harris was a local hero being groomed for a title shot, he says the promoters put his dressing room in the attic of the venue. Being the first week of April, the room was freezing. Moreover, pigeons were flying in and out as he warmed up.

“I was still enjoying what I was doing,” said Seales. “I was making decent money and I loved the traveling. Traveling to places like London, Denmark and Italy was worth more than the money to me.”

In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in August 1980, Seales was thumbed in the eye by the 6’3” Jamie Thomas. Although Seales won the fight by unanimous decision, it spelled the beginning of the end for him.

Although Seales would go on fighting for two and a half more years, his eyes required constant attention. Doctors who operated on him kept saying his eyes would be stronger than ever.

“(Eye operation) numbers one and two were good, but after three and four things got much worse,” said Seales, who would eventually have seven eye surgeries, three on the right and four on the left. Eventually he was declared legally blind and became an unwitting poster boy for boxing abolitionists.

Although legally blind, Seales says that he can see somewhat through his right eye. However, he does not blame boxing, or anyone or anything else, for his travails.

“I am living with it,” said Seales. “My wife says I can only see what I want to see, but I want to see everything. The most important thing is that I see.”

One thing he has gotten to see is the result of his efforts with autistic children, with whom he worked for 17 years at Lincoln High School in Tacoma. He retired from that position in 2004.

“I would teach them independence, living skills, how to change clothes, cook, wash, separate wash, and all sorts of other things,” he explained. “It was a seven year program, and sometimes it would take a student seven years to get something right. You’d keep teaching, but nothing was coming back. But if they stayed the course, one day they’d get it. I still feel good when I talk about it. They learned from me, but it was more of an honor for me to learn from them.”

Being a fighter by nature, a teacher by vocation, and a man of great faith, Seales never allowed or allows himself a temporary respite by wallowing in self pity.

“It ain’t my will to be a blind man just sitting in the dark,” said Seales. “I give the efforts that He wants me to give. I’m always putting my feet forward. I will always be doing that.”

Seales might have diminished eyesight, but his memory is nothing short of astounding. He remembers all of his Olympic teammates fondly, and says Bobick, who had an unsuccessful professional career, was a lot better amateur than he got credit for.

“If I remember correctly, he fought a German and a Russian back to back,” said Seales. “With one day of rest, he had to fight the big Cuban (Teofilo Stevenson) who was knocking everyone out. The roster didn’t go his way. He got no breaks and never got the opportunity to show how good he was.”

Like Bobick, Seales never won a professional title, but unlike Bobick he did have a relatively successful pro career. Moreover, he says that life has been very good to him. Between them, he and his wife have six children and 17 grandchildren.

He says that most of his dreams came true, but is a little concerned about the state of boxing today. While he describes Floyd Mayweather and Shane Mosley as “good, old school fighters,” he says he couldn’t help but be disappointed with the recent heavyweight bout between Shannon Briggs and Sergei Liakhovich.

Even though the fight ended with an explosive knockout, until that point it was a lackluster affair.

“Those guys, they’re not with the program,” said Seales. “Boxing is about more than just winning a few dollars. You have to take pride in what you do.”

His biggest dream now is actually one that has just come to him since moving to Indianapolis and hooking up with Johnson, his old Olympic pal who is also a southpaw.

“We’d love to find a good young lefthander and teach him what we know,” said Seales. “Watching a young fighter develop…….man, that would be something.”

“We have a mandatory against the winner of Toney-Peter,� Kesch told TSS, “and Klitschko has a mandatory against Ray Austin. But let’s look at this objectively. King has 100% of Ray Austin. Don also has 50% of James Toney and 50% of Peter. So there you now have 200% Don King, who is anxious to once again get a stranglehold on the most precious belt in the sport, which is the heavyweight championship.

“We’re not handcuffed with any promoter—we have an agreement with Dennis Rappaport—he’s our exclusive promoter—and we don’t give options to anyone else. But Don wants José to stand by the mandatory.�

Options is one of boxing’s dirty little words and one of boxing’s not best kept dirty little secrets, because it robs the fighters of their freedom to negotiate at the same time as it robs the fight fans of the fights they want to see, rather than simply the fights they are sold.

“If Toney hadn’t opted to fight Peter,� continued Kesch,� he would have been the guy we fought in Moscow, not Okhello. But he (Toney) opted for greener pastures against Peter, and then the fight was given a rematch, and now the rematch is delaying everything else.

“Now what if Toney or Peter get hurt during this rematch? What does that do for us and our mandatory? We shouldn’t have to wait and see the outcome of January 6th. If we have an agreement basically in fact and all it needs for the signatures is the WBC’s approval, why not let it happen? It’s the best for boxing. It’s the best for the boxing fans. They recognize Wladimir Klitschko and Oleg Maskaev—I doubt they recognize some of the others—but they still don’t know who is THE heavyweight champion of the world, and I think a fight between Oleg and Wladimir would certainly define that.�

Maskaev’s next fight is tentatively scheduled for April 21, “if we can get through these obstacles,� said Kesch. “If José doesn’t give us the blessing and sanction the fight between Oleg and Klitschko, then we have a decision to make. But both Wladimir and Oleg stipulate in their agreement that they agree to immediately fight the winner of the Toney-Peter fight after the Klitschko-Maskaev fight. So whoever wins that fight will fight the winner of Toney and Peter.�

Still, if all that comes to pass, King still wouldn’t have options on either Klitschko or Maskaev, and isn’t that fact alone enough to keep this unification bout from ever happening?

“It depends on who runs the WBC,� said Kesch. “Does Don King run it, or does José Sulaiman run it? Somehow you always have to look at the footprints in the sand. But we’ve had some very positive discussions with José thus far, and they will continue, today as a matter of fact, but by the same token we realize what our obstacle is.

“We have some very, very important people around the world that are interested in seeing the Maskaev-Klitschko fight take place, they’ve already put their two cents in, and hopefully this will lead to further confidence by José to allow this fight to occur and not to delay.

“Boxing always has a tendency to shoot itself in the foot,â€? Kesch said, “and I hope that this isn’t one of those times.â€? Read more at the BLOG 

Kittikasem had defeated Tacy Macalos of the Philippines in May of 1989 to win the IBF belt. He defeated Macalos again in an October rematch and made two additional defenses before running into the future Hall-of-Famer Michael Carbajal. An entourage of ten accompanied Kittikasem but despite the moral support, it would not be his night. In previous bouts, Kittikasem had serious troubles making weight and was on his way up to the flyweight division. Kittikasem was a young lion but Carbajal was stronger and violently evicted the Thai from his territory.

A drained Kittikasem would be knocked down four times before losing his title to Carbajal via 7th round TKO.

Kittikasem would then go on to defeat Sot Chitalada to win the WBC Flyweight title in February of 1991 and again in a rematch but then suffered two devastating knockout losses to another rising star, Yuri Arbachakov, effectively ending his career.

The Sweet Science caught up with Kittkasem at his used car dealership late Saturday morning and found him more than willing to talk about his career and the current state of boxing.

TSS: Right off the bat I’ll ask the one question I always ask of boxers from Thailand. Did you fight in Muay Thai before boxing and if so, did you win any championships like the Lumpini or Rajdamnern Stadium titles?

Muangchai Kittikasem: Yes, I fought around forty to fifty Muay Thai fights. I never won any championships though.

TSS: What was your record?

Muangchai Kittikasem: It’s hard for me to remember but I lost around ten fights and won the rest.

TSS: Why did you switch to boxing and who got you to do so?

Muangchai Kittikasem: I was fighting in Muay Thai. A promoter called and told me one of the fighters had dropped out. He asked if I’d be willing to box him and I said yes. The next thing I knew I was boxing and no longer fighting in Muay Thai.

TSS: What was the most you made for one fight? Was it the Carbajal fight?

Muangchai Kittikasem: Yes. I made around 5 million baht for that fight. At the time the baht was 25 to the dollar so it was more money than I’d ever seen. But Carbajal, I think he made five times as much as I did – and I was the champion.

TSS: He was the bigger name though.

Muangchai Kittikasem: It would have been nice to make what he made! In fact, if he reads this, ask him if we can do some sort of tour. I’ve only been to America one time and that was for the fight against him. I’d like to go back; maybe do a little shopping and some sightseeing.

Also, say hello to Yuri Arbachakov in Japan and Tacy Macalos in the Philippines.

TSS: Tell me about the fight with Carbajal. What happened? How difficult was it to make the weight and did that make any difference in winning or losing the bout?

Muangchai Kittikasem: I went to the U.S. two weeks before the fight so it was plenty of time. At that point, it was very hard to make weight. By the day of the fight, I was drained and very weak. He was an excellent fighter though and I just did not have it in me to beat him at that time.

TSS: Who was your toughest fight against? Was it Carbajal or Arbachakov or someone else?

Muangchai Kittikasem: They were both very good fighters and I feel no shame in having lost to them. Carbajal was probably the bigger puncher though and it was difficult for me fighting in America – for the first time – in front of his crowd.

TSS: You came back after nearly three years only to lose to Shigeru Nakazato.
What made you come back?

Muangchai Kittikasem: I should not have come back but I missed boxing. Of course, the money helped too but the real reason was I missed fighting.

TSS: How did you do in boxing financially?

Muangchai Kittikasem: I did ok but in Thailand, fighters normally only receive 30% of their purse. The rest goes to the manager, trainer, matchmaker and promoter.

TSS: You’re thirty-eight now. What have you been up to after boxing?

Muangchai Kittikasem: Running my business, selling used cars.

TSS: How did you get into selling used cards? What made you say, “I think I’ll open a car dealership and start selling used cars.”

Muangchai Kittikasem: I got married at the end of my career. We have two children now, a boy and girl. But by the time my career was over, I really did not have any money left. My father-in-law owned a taxi business where he rented out taxis. He suggested we open a car dealership together. He had the money and I had the name so it worked well for both of us.

TSS: How’s business?

Muangchai Kittikasem: It’s good. We always have 15 or 20 cars on the lot and that’s plenty. Any more and I wouldn’t have any time left. Someone’s always calling me asking if I’ve got this car or that car, when will I get this model or that model. So we’re busy and it’s a good business for me to be in.

TSS: What’s your take on boxing in Thailand these days? Do you still watch it?

Muangchai Kittikasem: I don’t usually watch it much and if I do, it’s only for a few minutes.

TSS: Why is that?

Muangchai Kittikasem: Boxing isn’t the same as it used to be. Nowadays it’s all business. The truth is boxing in Thailand has gone downhill in the past 15 years. Before you had guys like Sot Chitlada, Khaosai Galaxy, Chartchai Chionoi, Pone Kingpetch and Samart Payakarun. Now there are so many titles available it’s just not the same. Look at the rankings. You’ve got guys ranked in the top spots who have never beaten anyone. They win one regional title and then they’re in the top ten.

TSS: What do you think about Pongsaklek Wonjongkam and what he’s accomplished?

Muangchai Kittikasem: He’s been marketed well. His people talk about the Hall of Fame and how many times he’s defended his title – but against who? They are the only ones who talk about the Hall of Fame.

TSS: Why won’t he fight in the U.S. or against some of the bigger name fighters?

Muangchai Kittikasem: He won’t fight in the U.S. because he’ll get beat.

TSS: He could do more with his title.

Muangchai Kittikasem: I’m proud to have fought Carbajal and Arbachakov. Even though I lost, I lost to two great boxers, fighters who deserve to be in the Hall of Fame.

TSS: You fought and defeated Sot Chitalada. You’re friends with him. Was it difficult for you to fight him?

Muangchai Kittikasem: Yes, I respect him very much and while I was happy I won, I was sad that I had to beat him.

TSS: Are there any Thai fighters you do like?

Muangchai Kittikasem: No, not really.

TSS: How about western fighters?

Muangchai Kitkasem: Oh, I don’t know. Muhammad Ali is someone I would like to meet. But really, I don’t watch boxing much so I don’t know a lot of the fighters.

Time to go eat. Are you hungry?

TSS: No, I ate lunch right before I came here.

Muangchai Kittikasem: Ok, we’re finished? I’m really hungry and need to get some lunch.

TSS: No problem. Thanks for meeting with me.

Muangchai Kittikasem: No problem. Call me anytime.

Despite the talk of IBF champion Wladimir Klitschko getting it on with WBC champion Oleg Maskaev to once and for all begin unifying the heavyweight division, there appears to be a one small obstacle standing in the way of the fight coming off, and that obstacle’s name is José Sulaiman.

Of course Sulaiman, for those who have been living in a snow cave or underwater the last few decades, is the grand poobah of the WBC, which is just one of several sanctioning bodies that feed off the boxing and perpetuate hoax upon hoax on those who respect boxers and love the sport.

According to Kevin Iole in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, “The fight won't proceed without the blessing of WBC president Jose Sulaiman,� who in that well crafted sentence sounds a little too much like the pope for us skeptics and nonbelievers.

Klitschko’s manager, Shelley Finkel, spoke with Iole and said he doubts Sulaiman is likely to be swayed by something as persuasive as reason.

"You know how these organizations work," said Finkel. "We're not getting any closer to closure, and even though Wladimir wants the fight and Oleg wants the fight and the public wants the fight, the one person who has to say yes,� aka Sulaiman, whose relationship with Don King—the promoter whose vested interests include Sam Peter, Nicolai Valuev and Shannon Briggs—clouds all issues concerning the heavyweight divison, “isn't sounding too positive. He said he'd think about it, but he's afraid he'd get sued,� by whom is not stated, “and he doesn't want to go through that, and, honestly, I'm just not that optimistic."

Dennis Rappaport, Maskaev’s promoter, by contrast was ever so slightly more hopeful—he described himself as “guardedly optimisticâ€?—than the clearly frustrated Finkel, because, he said, "such a fight would be for the betterment of the sport," words that might not be the sweetest night music to the ears of Señor Sulaiman. Read more at the BLOG 

Despite the talk of IBF champion Wladimir Klitschko getting it on with WBC champion Oleg Maskaev to once and for all begin unifying the heavyweight division, there appears to be a one small obstacle standing in the way of the fight coming off, and that obstacle’s name is José Sulaiman.

Of course Sulaiman, for those who have been living in a snow cave or underwater the last few decades, is the grand poobah of the WBC, which is just one of several sanctioning bodies that feed off the boxing and perpetuate hoax upon hoax on those who respect boxers and love the sport.

According to Kevin Iole in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, “The fight (Klitschko vs. Maskaev) won't proceed without the blessing of WBC president Jose Sulaiman,� who in that well crafted sentence sounds a little too much like the pope for us skeptics and nonbelievers.

Klitschko’s manager, Shelley Finkel, spoke with Iole and said he doubts Sulaiman is likely to be swayed by something as persuasive as reason.

"You know how these organizations work," said Finkel. "We're not getting any closer to closure, and even though Wladimir wants the fight and Oleg wants the fight and the public wants the fight, the one person who has to say yes,� aka Sulaiman, whose relationship with Don King—the promoter whose vested interests include Sam Peter, Nicolai Valuev and Shannon Briggs—clouds all issues concerning the heavyweight divison, “isn't sounding too positive. He said he'd think about it, but he's afraid he'd get sued,� by whom is not stated, “and he doesn't want to go through that, and, honestly, I'm just not that optimistic."

By contrast, Dennis Rappaport, Maskaev’s promoter, was ever so slightly more hopeful—he described himself as “guardedly optimisticâ€?—than the clearly frustrated Finkel, because, he said, "such a fight would be for the betterment of the sport," words that might not be the sweetest night music to the ears of Señor Sulaiman. Read more at the BLOG 

Middleweight king Jermain Taylor, who wants to move up in weight after another easy defense, this time against Sergio Mora, has been mentioned as a possible Calzaghe challenge, but the fight most people want to see is Joe versus the recently un-retired Bernard Hopkins, who appears to have abandoned his quest to fight WBC heavyweight champion Oleg Maskaev, at least for now.

"You can say what you want about Bernard Hopkins,� the 41-year-old Hopkins, referring to himself in the third person, told icWales on Sunday, “but the one thing you can't deny is that I'm a star. I'm in the top three pay-per-view fighters in the last few years as I fight people with credibility, for example Felix Trinidad, Oscar De La Hoya, Jermain Taylor and Antonio Tarver. I guarantee a huge audience.�

There is no denying that Hopkins is a star, but so is Calzaghe, albeit not of the magnitude of B-Hop, at least not yet.

"Joe Calzaghe hasn't a track record on pay-per-view so he cannot dictate terms over here. He may be able to do what he wants in England, but in America he's a nobody,� continued Hopkins. "If Calzaghe wants Bernard Hopkins, he'll have to pay. I'm a businessman first, fighter second. And I'm not chasing Joe Calzaghe. Joe Calzaghe must understand I don't need him, he needs me. If he thinks I'm fighting in England, it's not going to happen.�

Although I’m not privy to the ultimate ins and outs of making Calzaghe’s first bout after Manfredo, that’s Frank Warren's doing, my understanding is that Manfredo was chosen as a steppingstone specifically to draw an American audience to the Welshman’s next fight, which will be broadcast on HBO, before Calzaghe comes to the States to fight his fight on this side of the pond.

"His promoter Frank Warren will want the best deal for him and his fighter, but I'm big box office and must be paid accordingly. But I'm always fair and this deal can be done quickly one way or another. Then I can go back to having fun and making money without taking the punches.�

For those who wonder how Hopkins makes money without taking punches, he offered a few details: "I'm setting up real estate, I'm CEO of a promotion company and I've movie deals coming out of my arse, so I don't need the fight.�

Admittedly, Hopkins, should he fight Calzaghe, will be the toughest customer Joe has faced during his stellar career.

“I'm not your ordinary fighter. Joe Calzaghe doesn't just need a big fight but a big name fight,� said Hopkins. "Forget Jermain Taylor. The only credible legend out there at the moment is Bernard Hopkins. Roy Jones Jr. is a spent force. It's no big deal knocking him out. I'm the man… It's Bernard Hopkins, who is a living legend, versus Joe Calzaghe, who wants to be a living legend. But it's more than Bernard Hopkins vs. Joe Calzaghe, it's orthodox vs. southpaw and USA vs. Britain.�

For those who think Hopkins’ trash talk indicates he has no respect for Calzaghe, think again.

"Joe Calzaghe showed why he has been a champion for damn near a decade," said Hopkins. "He can fight. He's a tough, in-your-face fighter with the boxing skills to imitate a modern-day Jake LaMotta. LaMotta was a tough, rugged guy. Even if you broke his nose he'd still come back for more. Joe has the heart of Arturo Gatti and epitomizes a boxer's mentality." Read more at the BLOG 

But '06 may just be a springboard to an outstanding '07—which promises to deliver the kind of thrills and chills that recent years have only approached.

Here are the most compelling matchups for the new year.

1. Oscar De La Hoya vs. Floyd Mayweather: Why is '07 so promising? Because this gem is already signed, sealed and delivered for May 5 in Las Vegas. This is a fight that boxing needed—a fight that will draw in the casual sports fan and make the fight game meaningful again. Who knows? Maybe Sports Illustrated will take a break from golf and tennis long enough to put a boxing match on its cover again. That's how big this fight is going to be.

It offers all sorts of interesting contrasts and plots and subplots. Mayweather is the pound-for-pound king, but he has never fought at 154 pounds. De La Hoya is bigger, but will have not fought in a year by the time Cinco de Mayo rolls around. Mayweather has never fought anybody with the deadly combination of power, speed and experience that De La Hoya possesses. De La Hoya has never fought anybody with the supreme natural ability of a Mayweather. And, on top of all that, Mayweather's dad, Floyd Sr., will remain as Oscar's trainer. Even he wants to see his son get whupped.

You can say what you want about boxing. But the sporting world's eyes will be fixed on a patch of blue canvas on the first Saturday in May. And maybe that will be the impetus that catapults boxing to a bigger stage.

2. Marco Antonio Barrera vs. Manny Pacquiao 2: Surprising that this one would be so anticipated, considering the pounding that Pacquiao administered to Barrera three years ago. But, again, boxing needs this fight. Pacquiao is probably boxing's second-best pound-for-pound fighter behind Mayweather. And he is one of its top draws, along with De La Hoya. His chief nemesis is Barrera, one of the top fighters of his generation and one of the best pugilists in Mexican boxing history. This fight is a natural, and needs to happen before either (especially Barrera) gets older. Besides, Marco has maintained since '03 that his mountain of distractions leading up to the Pacquiao fight were the reasons for his horrible performance. He may have a point. He has yet to look that bad since. So, let's see, once and for all, who the better man is.

3. Wladimir Klitschko-Nicolay Valuev: We have to throw a heavyweight matchup in the mix, and what better spectacle than these two behemoths in the ring together? Klitschko is 6-foot-7, 245 pounds. Valuev is 7-foot, 325 pounds. And both hold heavyweight title belts. A showdown between the giants would go a long way in determining a legitimate heavyweight champion. Klitschko would be a favorite, since his skills are proven. But Valuev is more than just a circus-act, as he proved against Monte Barrett. The guy can do some things. It'd be more competitive than Klitschko-Calvin Brock, that's for sure.

4. Bernard Hopkins-Joe Calzaghe: Sadly, this one will probably never happen. Hopkins has gone on record saying that he doesn't see the point, that Calzaghe doesn't get him juiced up. (And Oleg Maskaev does?) Too bad. Because this would be as intriguing a showdown as boxing can offer. Calzaghe is a southpaw who demonstrated his ability in a March slashing of Jeff Lacy. He's got incredibly fast hands, and throws them in rat-a-tat-tat combination that makes life miserable for opponents. Hopkins, of course, is the master boxer who, despite his 40-plus years, is as well preserved as any fighter in boxing. The king of the middleweight division for more than a decade, including a record 20 title defenses, would the "Executioner" be able to devise a plan to beat Calzaghe? Besides that, Joe is younger and naturally bigger. Here's hoping that B-Hop changes his mind.

5 .Jermain Taylor-Winky Wright 2: The first fight, fought last June, was a classic. Both men displayed power, speed, and boxing skill. As well as grit and toughness. But, as fair as the draw verdict was, it was completely unsatisfying for the fighters and the fans. Wright, who incorrectly complained about the decision initially and sulked for a while, seems to be coming to terms with a Taylor rematch. He was typically brilliant against the smaller Ike Quartey two weeks ago, while Taylor appeared raw and amateurish in a decision over tough Kassim Ouma last week. Both remain in the pound-for-pound top five. All they need now is a boxing ring in which to fight. Let's get it done, guys.

6. Miguel Cotto-Antonio Margarito: Well, for those of us who severely underestimated Cotto and picked him to lose on Dec. 2 against Carlos Quintana, it's time to eat crow. And praise Cotto. What a performance the Puerto Rican sensation turned in, boxing brilliantly before putting the hurt on Quintana in the form of devastating body shots. There is no doubt now that Cotto is a welterweight—a huge welterweight who looks as strong and wide as an ox. Moving up from 140 to 147 pounds was the best decision Cotto could make. So what would happen against Margarito, another big, strong, hard-punching fighter who is hungry for stardom? The edge probably goes to Cotto, since Margarito struggled with the unranked Joshua Clottey, and often looked wild. But a Cotto-Margarito showdown would rekindle memories of classic Puerto Rican-Mexican showdowns like Julio Cesar Chavez-Edwin Rosario and Pipino Cuevas-Angel Espada. Besides, they have to wait for De La Hoya and Mayweather to finish their business anyway.

7. Ricky Hatton-Jose Luis Castillo: Lucky for boxing fans, Hatton abandoned his ill-advised hop up to welterweight and is back where he belongs at 140 pounds. Also lucky for boxing fans, Castillo stopped starving himself and is also campaigning at junior welterweight. The result, if they ever fight, could be one of the greatest wars in division history. How could it miss? The Englishman Hatton, with his relentless, bull-like style, vs. the Mexican Castillo, the seasoned, hard-punching veteran who is one of the toughest, hardest fighters of his generation. You'd have to go with Hatton, because he's younger and naturally bigger. But Castillo has made a career of doing the unexpected (upsetting Stevie Johnston in 2000, upsetting Mayweather in '02—even though he didn't get the decision; and upsetting Diego Corrales in the rematch). And he is a three-time lightweight champ. A war for sure.

8. Jorge Arce-Vic Darchinyan: Like Hopkins vs. Calzaghe, Arce vs. Darchinyan will probably never happen. Why? Well, Arce, after years struggling to make the flyweight limit of 112 pounds, moved up to junior bantamweight and the more comfy 115. Darchinyan, meanwhile, remains at flyweight, destroying everything in his wake. It's too bad. Arce, unpredictable, powerful and strong, would have been Darchinyan's most difficult challenge. There's still a possibility that, if enough money is dangled in front of their faces, it could happen. But both have other options (Lorenzo Parra and Pongsaklek Wongjonkam for Darchinyan and Nobuo Nashiro for Arce), and will probably pursue those.

9. Israel Vasquez-Jhonny Gonzalez 2: Why the hell not? Their first fight was filled enough violence to make Wes Craven cringe. And the end, with Vasquez rallying dramatically to save his title, was one of the best in-fight comebacks of recent memory. By virtue of the rematch rule (once a fighter is knocked out, he is usually knocked out faster in the rematch), you'd have to favor Vasquez. But Gonzalez was winning the fight for nine rounds. Maybe he can come up with another game plan.

10. Shane Mosley vs. winner of De La Hoya-Mayweather: There are some who believe that Mosley matches up better with Mayweather than does De La Hoya. Why? Because of his speed. Oscar still has some quickness, but not like "Sugar" Shane, who seemed to rediscover his blurring combinations in his rematch with Fernando Vargas. And, last we saw, Mayweather the speed demon didn't react well to speedy, aggressive opponents (remember the first four rounds of the Zab Judah fight?). Mosley isn't Judah. He's big, strong, determined and takes a hell of a punch. And he's been fighting guys twice his size (Winky Wright), so fighting someone smaller like Mayweather would be welcomed.

And, if De La Hoya upsets Mayweather? Nothing better than a defining rubber match. De La Hoya can't be thrilled about losing to Sugar twice, the second time controversially (some say dubiously). What about their Golden Boy partnership, you ask? Well, when millions of dollars are to be made, and a chance for a company to grow by leaps and bounds exists, that partnership makes even more sense. De La Hoya-Mosley 3? This is boxing. Stranger things have happened.