Thai Boxer Faces Arrest For Fraud In South Africa

[sriracha john]

Thai boxer faces arrest for fraud

BOXING SOUTH AFRICA (BSA) is planning to formulate charges to have Thai fighter Fahsai Sakkreenin arrested for fraud after the Thai submitted a false medical certificate for his IBO Junior-Featherweight title clash against Mdantsane fighter Zolani Marali.

Meanwhile Sakkreenin has taken refuge at the Thailand Embassy.

The fight, scheduled for Emperors Palace, has since been cancelled after the Thai admitted he suffered from Hepatitis B.

Sakkreenin had initially refused to undergo medical tests after arriving with his medical report from Thailand.

And according to BSA director of operations Loyiso Mtya, the Thai and his manager even attempted to dupe the medical doctor who was testing him by having his manager tested on his behalf.

“They were trying to have the manager tested in his place, but their trick was discovered by Golden Gloves Promotion (GGP) secretary Shona MacTaggart,” said Mtya.

Under these circumstances Mtya feels there is prima facie evidence to have the Thai arrested.

Mtya said BSA will send off a strongly-worded letter to the Thailand Boxing Commission demanding an explanation on Sakkreenin’s conduct and the authenticity of the medical report he brought to the country.

BSA has long banned South African fighters from fighting in Thailand due to the flawed medical boxing regulations of that country.

SA fighters are only allowed to fight in Thailand in exceptional cases such as when the world body contested is in complete control of the bout as was the case in Vusi Malinga’s bout against Thai Veeraphol Sahaprom in a WBC bantamweight title eliminator which Malinga won by a fourth round knockout in June last year.

Mtya stopped short of declaring a blanket ban from dealing with Thailand fighters, but insisted that if it happens in future the Thailand Commission would have to satisfy BSA that everything was aboveboard.

“For instance we will demand the fighter’s medical report to come directly from the Thailand Commission,” said Mtya.

GGP boss Rodney Berman declared that he would never work with Thailand fighters again.

“I can place on record now that I will never deal with Thailand fighters again after what happened,” he vowed.

Berman said he would also write his own letter to demand explanation and clarity on the medical report Sakkreenin submitted.

“There is a serious case of fraud here and we need to get to the bottom of it,” said Berman.

He is also considering suing Sakkreenin for the expenses he incurred by bringing him to South Africa when the Thai did not disclose his medical condition.

- Daily Dispatch (South Africa) / 2009-03-19

===================================================================

South African boxer Zolani Marali

Title bout off as boxer refuses blood test

Saturday night’s big boxing tournament, featuring a fight for a vacant world title, is off.

The junior lightweight bout for the vacant IBO title between South Africa’s Zolani Marali and Fahsai Sakkreenin of Thailand was called off yesterday when the Thai refused to subject himself to a blood test.

Afterwards, Sakkreenin revealed that he had Hepatitis B which led to the cancellation of the tournament.

The tournament, scheduled for Emperors Palace, was expected to be one of Golden Gloves’ major events of the year. The tournament is now expected to take place on April 2, although this could not be confirmed last night.

It is a huge setback for promoter Rodney Berman, who is locked in a bitter rivarly with Branco Milenkovic.

For Marali this would have been a chance to redeem himself after a controversial defeat last year in Australia against Billy Dib. Marali’s trainer, Collin Nathan, said last night that his fighter had been in peak condition for the fight and was disappointed. “I am giving my fighters, who would have taken part in the tournament, three days off,” said Nathan. He said Marali had been perfectly prepared for the fight, “but this is what happens in boxing”.

There was no comment from promoter Berman last night on the cancellation of the tournament.

- The Times (South Africa) / 2009-03-18

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Sakkreenin refuses blood test!

Whole card is canceled

Fahsai Sakkreenin, the Thai super-featherweight who holds the IBF Pan-Pacific featherweight title, refused to take a blood test at the pre-fight medical just three days before his fight against Zolani Marali for the vacant IBO super-featherweight title, scheduled to take place in Johannesburg on 21 March.

Sakkreenin’s actions left Golden Gloves promoter, Rodney Berman stunned and disappointed. As a result of Sakkreenin’s strange refusal the tournament, which also featured two All-Africa title fights, was immediately cancelled.

Shona McTaggart, Berman’s operating manager, said that Sakkreenin had submitted documentation purporting to be a health clearance from the Thai Commission, but that she had an uneasy feeling as to its authenticity.

“When he refused point blank to take the required routine blood test at the pre-fight medical my suspicions were confirmed,” she said.

Sakkreenin, who has a 24-1 record, last fought on February 21st when he scored a fourth round KO victory over the Indonesian, Ivan Bone in Thailand. “Golden Gloves has never encountered anything as bizarre as this in its long history,” Berman said.

According to Berman, after giving some spurious reasons for not wishing to undergo a blood test, the Thai fighter eventually admitted that he was aware that he had a medical condition which would be revealed by a blood test and which would prevent him from fighting.

Golden Gloves plans to re-schedule the promotion to 2 April and to find a substitute opponent for Marali.

- Fight News.com / 2009-03-18

==================================================================

FAHSAI SAKKREERIN

IBF PAN PACIFIC FEATHERWEIGHT CHAMPION

==================================================================

Fahsai Sakkreerin

RING NAME: FAHSAI SAKKREERIN

PASSPORT NAME: MR.SURASAK MAKORDAE

BIRTH DATE: 6 NOVEMBER 1981

BIRTH PLACE: CHIANGMAI, THAILAND

DIVISION: FEATHERWEIGHT

RANKING: #12 in IBF FEATHERWEIGHT

Fight Record:

http://www.kkboxing.com/index.php?lay=show...mp;Id=538679828

Edited March 19, 2009 by sriracha john

[Moonrakers]

Is Hepatitis B not transmitted through body fluids?

If so then what an extremely irresponsible thing to do, knowingly running the risk of infecting another person.

[TAWP]

Shamefull.

[neverdie]

If it had happened in 'reverse' but here in Thailand, he would probably be thrown in the slammer for a dozen years. Perhaps he would of been hunted down and executed for making someone lose face

[sriracha john]

Is Hepatitis B not transmitted through body fluids?

If so then what an extremely irresponsible thing to do, knowingly running the risk of infecting another person.

Yes, which is why boxers are prohibited from fighting when they have it.

How is hepatitis B spread transmitted?

Hepatitis B virus is spread or acquired through exposure to infected blood or the body's secretions.

Hepatitis B At A Glance

Injury to the liver by hepatitis B virus is caused paradoxically by the body's immune response, which actually is the body's effort to eliminate the virus from infected liver cells. The liver injury is not caused directly by the virus itself.

- Medline

Edited March 19, 2009 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

Thai boxer faces arrest for fraud

BOXING SOUTH AFRICA (BSA) is planning to formulate charges to have Thai fighter Fahsai Sakkreenin arrested for fraud after the Thai submitted a false medical certificate for his IBO Junior-Featherweight title clash against Mdantsane fighter Zolani Marali.

Meanwhile, Sakkreenin has taken refuge at the Thailand Embassy.

If it had happened in 'reverse' but here in Thailand, he would probably be thrown in the slammer for a dozen years. Perhaps he would of been hunted down and executed for making someone lose face

Maybe he thought he was in a similar situation there and ran off looking for protection from the Embassy.

Edited March 19, 2009 by sriracha john

[Briggsy]

Taking refuge in the Thai Embassy? I wonder how they feel about it.

[BigSnake]

South Africa being somewhat of a corrupt nation, as well as Thailand, I guess the thought it would be a cake walk to the fight. HMMMMMM!

[TheWalkingMan]

At minimum, he should be stripped of his title and banned from boxing. The manager should be banned from boxing also as he participated in fraud. Both should serve jail time as this was something that could have caused grief to the ref and ringside people with flying body fluids. Totally out of line behavior.

TheWalkingMan

[rockhardbkk]

At minimum, he should be stripped of his title and banned from boxing. The manager should be banned from boxing also as he participated in fraud. Both should serve jail time as this was something that could have caused grief to the ref and ringside people with flying body fluids. Totally out of line behavior.

TheWalkingMan

Actually, boxers with Hepatitis fight all the time here in Thailand and no one cares. That's because there is no legitimate boxing commission that oversees western boxing. Once this happens, many they'll be some changes but I wouldn't count on it.

The chances of Sakkreerin being prosecuted are none and none, that is, unless he goes back to S. Africa, and I don't see this happening. He'll fight in Thailand again, but not overseas. Thai fighters having their fights canceled is actually more common than one might think....former champions Sirimongkol Singwangcha and Chatchai Sasakul are two of the more well-known fighters who have had their fights canceled at the last minute because of Hep....this is Thailand.

[sriracha john]

Thai boxer faces arrest for fraud

BOXING SOUTH AFRICA (BSA) is planning to formulate charges to have Thai fighter Fahsai Sakkreenin arrested for fraud after the Thai submitted a false medical certificate for his IBO Junior-Featherweight title clash against Mdantsane fighter Zolani Marali.

Meanwhile, Sakkreenin has taken refuge at the Thailand Embassy.

As an update for the title fight that happened yesterday....

Marali beats Diaz for super feather title

Associated Press - April 2, 2009

JOHANNESBURG (AP) - Zolani Marali of South Africa won a unanimous decision against Mexico's Gamaliel Diaz to take the vacant IBO super featherweight title on Thursday.

Diaz replaced Fahsai Sakkreenin of Thailand, who withdrew with hepatitis B two weeks ago.

=============================================

no further word on Fahsai and whether or not he is still holed up in the Thai Embassy.....

Edited April 3, 2009 by sriracha john

[imaneggspurt]

A Thai still performing with hep b,. sounds familiar,.

[ClaytonSeymour]

Whilst I'm not defending his actions, it should be noted that it isn't only Thai boxers who have their bouts cancelled through Hepatitis B. Amongst others, two former champions who spring to mind would be Henry Akinwande & Ray Mercer, along with current 'joint' WBA heavyweight champion, Ruslan Chagaev, who also had to pull out of a title fight through Hepatitis B.

Edited April 3, 2009 by ClaytonSeymour

[rockhardbkk]

Thai boxer faces arrest for fraud

BOXING SOUTH AFRICA (BSA) is planning to formulate charges to have Thai fighter Fahsai Sakkreenin arrested for fraud after the Thai submitted a false medical certificate for his IBO Junior-Featherweight title clash against Mdantsane fighter Zolani Marali.

Meanwhile, Sakkreenin has taken refuge at the Thailand Embassy.

As an update for the title fight that happened yesterday....

Marali beats Diaz for super feather title

Associated Press - April 2, 2009

JOHANNESBURG (AP) - Zolani Marali of South Africa won a unanimous decision against Mexico's Gamaliel Diaz to take the vacant IBO super featherweight title on Thursday.

Diaz replaced Fahsai Sakkreenin of Thailand, who withdrew with hepatitis B two weeks ago.

=============================================

no further word on Fahsai and whether or not he is still holed up in the Thai Embassy.....

He's back in Bangkok and keeping a low profile...nothing is going to come of his actions other than it's going to make promoters more wary. One fighter I know is going to be tested at Bumrungrad, even though he's already been tested, and then will be tested again just so there are no qualms about him going overseas to fight. It's a must for these guys as they and the Thai promoters are burning out the scene here.

[sriracha john]

no further word on Fahsai and whether or not he is still holed up in the Thai Embassy.....

He's back in Bangkok and keeping a low profile...nothing is going to come of his actions other than it's going to make promoters more wary. One fighter I know is going to be tested at Bumrungrad, even though he's already been tested, and then will be tested again just so there are no qualms about him going overseas to fight. It's a must for these guys as they and the Thai promoters are burning out the scene here.

Thank you for the additional information.

Do you know if he difficulties exiting South Africa?

The boxing authorities there seemed extremely peeved at his fraudulent charade (justifiably so given their financial losses incurred with having to call off a title fight and rescheduling with a different boxer).

Did he have to make a "Great Escape"?

[rockhardbkk]

no further word on Fahsai and whether or not he is still holed up in the Thai Embassy.....

He's back in Bangkok and keeping a low profile...nothing is going to come of his actions other than it's going to make promoters more wary. One fighter I know is going to be tested at Bumrungrad, even though he's already been tested, and then will be tested again just so there are no qualms about him going overseas to fight. It's a must for these guys as they and the Thai promoters are burning out the scene here.

Thank you for the additional information.

Do you know if he difficulties exiting South Africa?

The boxing authorities there seemed extremely peeved at his fraudulent charade (justifiably so given their financial losses incurred with having to call off a title fight and rescheduling with a different boxer).

Did he have to make a "Great Escape"?

No, this was a civil matter and I doubt criminal charges would be pressed regardless.

The promoter lost approximately $45,000 U.S. because of this guy so he has a right to be pissed. Fighters should be legitimately tested once when they find out about their overseas fight and should be immunized. Then when they get to the country they have nothing to worry about. Instead, the cheap ass promoters don't want to spring for the $20 and they have problems.

The main problem however, is the lack of any proactive, legitimate boxing commission. The Thailand Boxing Commission is not an authorized boxing commission, instead it is a Muay Thai commission that the Sports Authority allows to pass off phony boxing records and information simply because SAT would rather deal with amateur fighters (they get money from the government) instead of pro fighters. They also claim to have a shortage of personnel which is simply untrue as I've been to the Boxing Board of Control and there are people running around everywhere. Now what they're doing is up for debate but the manpower is certainly there.

[sriracha john]

^ thank you for the enlightening insights...

Sounds like the boxing community is a real mess here in many regards.

I have to say when researching this thread, the issue of legitimacy came to my mind when, after viewing 3 different sites about Fahsai, and they came up with 3 different "official" stats for his win-loss-draw record.

[Scott]

What, you mean they don't accept fake certificates in S.A.--how awful!