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August, 2000 --
As part of a series of sports highlights in CNMI this year, Tinian is gearing up
for the first Tinian 2000 Asia Pacific Muay Thai Boxing Championship, which will
be held on August 5, 2000 starting 6:30 p.m. at the Tinian Gymnasium.
The Hong Kong & Macau Free-Fighting Association in conjunction with Tinian
Dynasty Hotel & Casino, the Tinian Mayor’s Office and Mariana’s
Visitor’s Authority will hold its first international Muay Thai boxing event
for the first time outside an Asian country.
The ancient art of Muay Thai boxing has a history centuries old dating as far
back in late 13th century Thailand. The national sport of Thailand, Thai boxing,
or Muay Thai as the Thai people call it, is considered superior to international
boxing as an art of self-defense being that its approach resembles that of a
real free-for-all fight. It ranks second to professional boxing (western
boxing).
For the past 9 years, the Hong Kong & Macau Free-Fighting Association has
participated in different international grand tournaments throughout Japan,
Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan and the Mainland China. These tours helped
promote Thai boxing in the Asia Pacific regions. And now with its first
tournament in the CNMI, the group hopes to advance Thai boxing’s popularity
among sports enthusiasts in the Marianas, and hopefully to other sports
aficionados in the neighboring islands.
This year’s Muay Thai boxing championship features some of the best fighters
from Asia -- Korea’s champion Kim Sung Won will pit against People’s
Republic of China’s Liu Da Wai who previously won the title of “Hong Kong
boxing king”. Also from China, Liu Fei who won 78 over 80 different scale
tournaments will meet his match with Thailand’s Wanchana Wongrat. Nicknamed
the “killer king” in Hong Kong and Australia, Nick M. from New Zealand will
fight against China’s Tang You Kai. Another bout will be that of Takahiro
Sasara, one of Japan’s favorites, against Chumpong Chumputhong of Macau.
Other champion boxers who will join the tournament this August include Heo Yoon
Jae (Korea), Sandaj (Thailand), Bob Fujii (Japan), Yu Pei Bin and Qi Le Ping
(both from Hong Kong), Shan Chapman and David Gahan (both from New Zealand).
Opportunities to meet the contestants before the big event will be held at
Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino and a similar gathering in Saipan will also be
set with dates and venues to be announced at a later date.
Tickets for the big event will be available from third week of July at the
Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino. Call the Casino Guest Services at (670)
328-2233 for more information. General admission is $50 and ringside is $500.
50% discount for CNMI and Guam residents and non-resident workers.
Muay Thai Boxing Results - Who Won
August, 2000 --
Kickboxing fans crowded the Tinian
island’s Multipurpose Gymnasium Saturday August 8, 2000 with an audience
estimated at 1,500 who showed up to witness the first ever Tinian 2000 Asia
Pacific Muay Thai Boxing Championship.
It was an evening of kicks and punches -- the Muay Thai way. Kickboxing
champions from Asia Pacific exhibited fierce fighting techniques that kept the
audience glued to their seats for more than five hours.
Muay Thai warriors from Korea, People's Republic of China, Thailand, New
Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong, and Macau, waged fights against each other in a
five-round match, aiming for that championship title.
In the first match, Korea's world-class top fighter Kim Sung Won and China's
"dangerous" boxer Liu Da Wai struck a draw, both demonstrating equally
crafted kicks and punches.
Thailand's Wanchana Wongrat, 18, during the second match, knocked out China's
Lui Fei in a bout that ended after only one round.
Nick "the Killer" M, a five-year Thai Boxing champion in New Zealand
and Australia, conquered China's Tang You Kai, in a close, exciting match that
kept the audience at the edge of their seats.
Macau's Chumpong Chumputhong bested Japan's vice-king Takahiro Sasara, who fell
down at least four times after succumbing to his defeat.
Adept in the offensive and aggressive fighting style, dubbed as “Crazy
Horse” Heo Yoon Jae of Korea overthrew Hong Kong's Yu Pei Bin, who conquered
the tournaments in China, in a five, three-minute round match.
New Zealand's champion, Shan Chapman, emerged the winner in a tough battle with
Macau's Dajpayak, a Thai-bred boxing warrior with vast experience in
international boxing meets.
It was also a dead heat between Japan's Bob Fujii and Qi Le Ping of Hong Kong,
after they engaged in a five, two-minute round match that exhibited their equal
punching and kicking combinations skills.
For the final and most awaited match, crowd-favorite David Gahan from New
Zealand, nicknamed as the "the Killer of Thai Boxers," beat Thailand's
"Vice King" in the kickboxing arena in a grueling competition that
kept the audience clamoring for more.
Before his Tinian victory, Mr. Gahan has been popularly known as the boxer who
knocked down seven fighters in competitions held within five months in Bangkok,
a miracle feat noted by his rivals.
In the end it was the New Zealand team who claimed victory for the highest
score. More boxing exhibitions followed after the official matches.
Tinian's grand Thai Boxing Championship ended with a cocktail reception held at
the Jackpot Lounge of the Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino, the event's prime
sponsors.
The Hong Kong and Macau Free-Fighting Association Limited, a major international
Muay Thai entity in Asia, has initiated efforts to attract local CNMI residents
to develop a leaning toward this marital arts tradition. |
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