Khaosai Galaxy vs. Kongtoranee Payakaroon

Khaosai Galaxy vs. Kongtoranee Payakaroon was a boxing match held at the Lumpinee Stadium on the Rama IV Road, Bangkok on January 26, 1988, to the world WBA super flyweight championship.

Date	Tuesday, January 26, 1988
Venue	Lumpinee Stadium, Rama IV Road, Bangkok, Thailand
Title(s) on the line	WBA Junior bantamweight championship
Tale of the tape
Boxer Khaosai Galaxy Kongtoranee Payakaroon Nickname Sai taluang-sai (ซ้ายทะลวงไส้, "The Left That Drills Intestines") Hometown Phetchabun, Thailand Chachoengsao, Thailand Purse ฿300,000 or 400,000 (about) ฿100,000 Pre-fight record 32-1-0 (29 KO) 13-1-0 (9 KO) Age 28 years, 8 months 27 years, 6 months Height 165 cm (5 ft 5 in) 170 cm (5 ft 7 in) Weight 115 lb (52 kg) 114.5 lb (52 kg) Style Southpaw Orthodox Recognition WBA Junior bantamweight Champion WBA No. 1 Ranked Junior bantamweight Former WBC Super flyweight Challenger
Result
Khaosai wins via 12–round unanimous decision (118–110, 116–113, 116–114)

Background

After Kongtoranee Payakaroon changed his style from Muay Thai to professional boxing, he won a total of 9 consecutive fights, including one defeating former WBC super flyweight champion and Summer Olympics bronze medalist, a fellow Thai Payao Poontarat. On December 19, 1987, he challenged for the WBC super flyweight champion with reigning Gilberto Román at Indoor Stadium Huamark, the result was that he was defeated badly after 12 rounds, with swollen face from Román's punches.

Kongtoranee continued to fight for another 3 times until he was ranked no. 1 in the super flyweight (then junior bantamweight) category of the WBA.

For Khaosai Galaxy, at that time, he was flourishing as the Thai favorite. He has successfully defended his title a total of 6 times, all by knockout, and has also traveled overseas twice to fight (the 4th defense in Curaçao with Israel Contreras and the 5th defense in Indonesia with Ellyas Pical). The confrontation with Kongtoranee was therefore the 7th title defense and was also a mandatory fight.

This match, it received overwhelming attention from Thais all over the country as "Suek Sailueat" (Thai: ศึกสายเลือด, "lineage battle"). Also, the second encounter between Thai boxers after Chartchai Chionoi vs. Puntip Keosuriya in the 1960s.

In fact, Khaosai and Kongtoranee knew each other before, as Kongtoranee was Khaosai's sparring partner around 1983 before Khaosai challenged for the vacant title against Dominican Eusebio Espinal, Khaosai trained at the gym of Yodtong Senanan, Kongtoranee's trainer.

Kongtoranee later recounted that one time when they were sparring, Khaosai punched him in the head, which was wearing a headgear. He was dizzy and admitted that Khaosai's punches were really heavy.

The fight

The bout took place at Lumpinee Stadium, Kongtoranee's home circus. It starts at 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM and live on Channel 7. Kongtoranee was in the blue corner, uses the style "Hit-and-run" throughout the campaign.

Kongtoranee boxed in circles from rounds one to twelve, until it looks like he was almost running away. Wichian Neelikanon the ring announcer and commentator describe that if Kongtoranee could run away, he would have run away, also likened to "the police chasing a thief".

For Khaosai, he was the one who kept attacking. In the fifth round, he was the one who made a mistake and was hit by Kongtoranee's right cross, and he lost his balance, causing him to fall to the canvas and be counted out by the Japanese referee Ken Morita. He got up immediately without any signs of dizziness or injury and continued to pursue.

After the fight ended, Kongtoranee and his staff including his promoter Songchai Rattanasuban went up on the ring and shouted with confidence that he was the victor. At the same time, the audience in the circus, most of whom were Kongtoranee's fans, also believed in it. While Khaosai and his entire staff were dejected because they thought they were sure to lose.

As soon as the results were not announced, most people were already aware, chaos erupted on the ring. Many people jumped onto, making it impossible to announce the results. Wichian announced several times that all unrelated people should leave the ring, otherwise he would not be able to announce the results. Songchai Rattanasuban was clearly furious, to the point of snatching the microphone from Wichian and shouting, "You can't announce it. It's cheating." Along with the sound of the audience shouting together that "Cheating, Cheating, Cheating".

The results, Khaosai won by unanimous decision 118–110, 116–113, 116–114 from three judges.

Aftermath

This fight became widely discussed and criticized. It also caused a rift in the relationship between Songchai Rattanasuban and Niwat Laosuwannawat, Khaosai's manager and promoter. As time passed, the two cleared the air.

Kongtoranee admitted years later that he was truly defeated. The reason he used such a fighting style was because he learned from fighting in Muay Thai, where judges tend scores to boxers who have beautiful fighting styles or show superiority over their opponents. He himself also admitted that even if he were the champion, he would not be able to defend the title for long.

Both Khaosai and Kongtoranee recounted that during the fight, Kongtoranee said, "I want your belt." Khaosai replied, "I won't give it."

For Kongtoranee Payakaroon, this is his last western boxing match before returns to Muay Thai, his record for 14 fights is 12 wins (9 on knockouts), 2 losses.

While Khaosai Galaxy, he continued to defend his title until 19 times. In late 1991, he vacated and retired, setting a record as the world champion with the most title defenses in the 115 lb category and most among Asian boxers until today. However, Kongtoranee Payakaroon being the first challenger he has failed to knock out, one of three times in his 19 title defenses.