What Can Happen When You Are Pushed Too Far: Thai Opinion

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EDITORIAL

What can happen when you are pushed too far

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Boxers and other athletes need good support systems if they are to maintain sporting performance and longevity, as well as their physical and mental health

The recent disappearance of muay Thai superstar Buakaw Por Pramuk has revealed the dilemma facing many Thai boxers. Should he continue fighting regardless of his physical safety to please his camp and his fans, or should he be concerned for his health and his mental wellbeing?

At any rate, Buakaw's temporary disappearance highlights the need for a good support system to help boxers overcome outside-the-ring challenges.

The welterweight muay Thai champion recently reappeared after he had gone missing for 10 days. There was much speculation over his whereabouts and the reason for his going into hiding, but Buakaw told reporters that he went away because he was not prepared mentally to go back into the ring.

The two-time K-1 World MAX champion should be standing on top of the world. He is an international hero. But the 29-year-old boxer showed that he can be as insecure as anybody else who comes under intense pressure. He felt he has been badly treated mentally to the point where he could no longer stand it.

"I have been poorly treated since 2009 and enough is enough," he told reporters on Monday. "I can stand tough training, but not poor treatment. It is about the mind, not the body."

Buakaw's decision to go into hiding at the peak of his boxing career seemed to be misguided, indeed. He was scheduled to go to Europe to display his superlative martial arts skills. He was also supposed to go to Japan this month as part of an official government delegation to offer support to Japan after last year's tsunami, and to demonstrate the "unbeaten" spirit of the Thais after last year's massive flooding here. But these events were all abruptly cancelled.

From what Buakaw revealed in his first interview since his return, he looks nowhere near the fierce competitor of old. In fact, Buakaw was crying for help. He said that he had a chronic injury and he needed a rest. He does not know what to do next. But his next move is unlikely to include his current Por Pramuk boxing camp.

Thailand prides itself on producing many great boxers. The nation has often shared the joy of victory with our local heroes. But there is also the other side of the coin, as many of these successful boxers barely make a decent living after they leave the ring. These boxers may have good trainers and managers to drive them to the top of their game, but they are usually not equipped with other skills such as basic financial management or legal knowledge to enable them to negotiate the best deals for themselves. Buakaw, who is from Surin, apparently has not received any other kind of education or training since he joined the Por Pramuk boxing gym at the age of 10.

Of course, promoters and sponsors certainly want to see their boxing stars light up a stadium, but this can eventually become a problem if the boxers feel that the reward is not worth the fight. After all, boxers know that every time they lace up their gloves, they stand a high chance of physical injury. Sometimes an injury can be permanent, ending a stellar career overnight. Buakaw obviously feels that he is at this point, and that he is not physically or mentally fit enough at this time.

Boxers usually refrain from discussing in public their injuries and level of compensation because it can affect their future opportunities. Open criticism of the powers-that-be in the boxing business can mean career suicide.

Buakaw did not spell out clearly what he meant by "poor treatment". His unexpected disappearance does not mean all the blame should be placed on others. Nonetheless, his high-profile hiatus should serve as a lesson that, for both an athlete and his camp to prosper together, all parties must care for and respect each other. Better support systems should be provided for boxers, most of whom start off in the sport at an early age, as Buakaw did.

Knowing that their boxers are well looked after, fans can wholeheartedly cheer for their heroes with confidence that they are giving their all. Fans will feel only anger and disappointment if boxers are not able to give their best because of problems outside the ring.

-- The Nation 2012-03-14

[Jeii3000]

These type of situations happen way too often and for good reasons. As mentioned in the article,

if a fighter moans and groans about physical and or mental issues, it could spell disaster and possibly

career suicide.

Hope he gets the support he needs to pull through.

[TheWalkingMan]

I agree. I hope the guy gets the support he needs.

[robblok]

Sounds like he was forced to fight and i bet he did not make as much money as his promotors and so on.

[Thai at Heart]

Many boxers in the rest of the world get taken to the cleaners by managers, so I doubt very very much it is any different here. One story in the UK told of how a young guy recently topped himself when he told his manager he was considering quitting, because his contract basically stated he would have to repay the promoter a very large wedge of money claimed to have been invested in him by the management.

[animatic]

Buakaw's had around 250 professional fights.

He has more than earned the right for some injury downtime,

by far beyond most all fighters I have ever heard of.

TIme for a rest and likely new management. If he felt compelled to miss

such high profile and no doubt well paid appearances as mentioned above,

then there is some thing deeply, fundamentally and compellingly wrong.

[anterian]

Yet boxers, footballers etc still get better money than soldiers.

[smutcakes]

Yet boxers, footballers etc still get better money than soldiers.

pay soldiers footballers wages