So when Muay Thai superstar Buakaw walked out of last Saturday’s K-1 Championship match in Pattaya last weekend, was it because he didn’t want to participate in a fixed match or something else?
Speaking to his fans and members of the media yesterday, Sombat “Buakaw” Banchamek seemed to hint as much without seeming willing to say it outright.
The 31-year-old fighter, who was disqualified after walking out after the bout’s third round, said he did it for the sake of “Muay Thai pride.”
“I decided to leave the stage for my pride and Muay Thai’s which is the profession that I love,” Buakaw said. “Since I was 7, I’ve never refused to fight when I’m in the ring, but this time I felt my profession is being tarnished, so I sought my own solution. People may or may not understand what I did, but I insist I did not abandon my duty in the ring.”
Buakaw said it was unfair judges added a fourth “sudden death” round to what was supposed to be a three-round fight, especially as he was generally considered to be dominating his German opponent, who he’d easily trounced earlier this year.
After Buakaw was formally disqualified for walking out, Germany’s Enriko Kehl was named the new champion.
Allegations persist the fix was due to online gambling, but Bakaw would not comment on that specifically.
“I want the spectators to judge for themselves,” he noted.
Last week he reportedly filed a police complaint related to the K-1 event, but said he still participated because he would have been in breach of contract with its organizers.
Buakaw added his physical condition was 100 percent and he was convinced that he’d won in the first three rounds, but the judges said otherwise.
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