National hero
Srisaket set to meet PM before parade in Si Sa Ket
Newly-crowned WBC super-flyweight champion Srisaket Sor Rungvisai returned to a warm welcome yesterday.
Hundreds of well-wishers, including his father Chiamsak Wangek, mother Noolek and girlfriend Patchareewan Kanha, greeted him at Suvarnabhumi airport.
The 30-year-old fighter, who is known in Thailand as Srisaket Nokornloung, dethroned Nicaragua’s Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez with a majority decision at New York’s Madison Square Garden on Saturday.
It is one of the biggest upsets in recent boxing history as the Thai, whose real name is Wisaksil Wangek, entered the ring as a 14-1 underdog.
“I am happy to see the smiles on the Thai people’s faces,’’ Srisaket said after his arrival from New York.
“I was confident that I would surely win before the outcome was announced.”
Srisaket and his handlers will meet Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at Government House on March 28 and the fighter said he would ask the premier to help him become a military officer.
A welcome ceremony in his hometown in Tambon Tae of Si Ka Ket province is planned for March 29 when he will enjoy a parade in an open-top car along with 10 elephants.
His promoter Surachart Pisitwuttinun of Nakornloung Promotion said he would try to help Srisaket keep the title as long as possible.
Asked if he wanted Srisaket to have a rematch with Gonzalez, Surachart said this would depend on the Los Angeles-based K2 Promotions.
“We may have an immediate rematch or allow Srisaket to face another boxer before facing Gonzalez,’’ he said.
“We will study the tape to find ways for Srisaket to beat Gonzalez in the next fight.”
After suffering the first defeat of his glittering career, Gonzalez, rated as the best pound-per-pound boxer before the loss, said he thought he won and called for an immediate rematch.
Two judges scored the bout 114-112 in favour of Srisaket while the other saw it 113-113.
“I’m a little dinged up. I thought I won the fight. I want an immediate rematch. I want to get my title back,” said Gonzalez, 29.
Srisaket earlier said he would like to fight Gonzalez again.
The Thai first won the WBC super-flyweight title in 2013 after beating Japan’s Yota Sato.
The following year, he lost the crown to Mexico’s Carlos Cuadras in his only loss since 2010.
Gonzalez became a world champion in his fourth weight division in September after a unanimous-decision victory over Cuadras.
Srisaket is Thailand’s third current world champion.
The other two are WBC minimumweight stalwart Wanheng Menayothin and Knockout CP Freshmart, who holds the WBA belt in the same weight class.