Payao Poontarat
Encyclopedia
Payao Poontarat (October 18, 1957 – August 13, 2006) was a Thai
boxer
who, at the age of 18, won the bronze medal in the men's Light flyweight
(-48 kg) category at the 1976 Summer Olympics
. He was the first Thai to win an Olympic medal.
, Phayao Poontarat came from a poor family. As a child, he sold flowers in the resort city of Pattaya
to help support his younger siblings. Like many poor boys in Thailand, he took up Muay Thai
, and he proved to be a gifted boxer. He switched to international boxing and won a place on the Thai Olympic team in 1976.. Though he finished with a bronze medal, Phayao gained attention by defeating the 1972 Olympic gold medal winner, Gyogy Gedo, in the quarter finals. He trained hard for the 1980 Moscow Olympics, but his hopes for a gold were ended by the United States led boycott
over of the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan
. Instead, he turned professional and on November 27, 1983 became WBC
superflyweight world champion by defeating Rafael Orono
of Venezuela
in a split decision. In his first title defence, against Guty Espadas
of Mexico
, Phayao was behind on all the score cards, but saved his championship belt with a 10th round knockout. Phayao was then challenged by Japan's Jiro Watanabe
and agreed to meet him. When they met in Osaka
on July 5, 1984 Phayao lost by a controversial 12 round decision. The World Boxing Council viewed the tape and ordered a rematch. It took place in November, with Phayao losing by a technical knockout in the 11th round.
and in 2001 was elected as member of parliament for his home-province. A year later, he began to suffer from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. The disease is uncurable, and in 2006 Phayao died at the age of 48 at Siriraj Hospital
in Bangkok. He was survived by his wife and several children
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
who, at the age of 18, won the bronze medal in the men's Light flyweight
Light flyweight
- Professional boxing :The weight limit at light flyweight in professional boxing is 108 pounds . When New York legalized boxing in 1920, the law stipulated a "junior flyweight" class, with a weight limit of 99 pounds. When the National Boxing Association was formed in 1921, it also recognized this...
(-48 kg) category at the 1976 Summer Olympics
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
. He was the first Thai to win an Olympic medal.
Olympic results
- Defeated Remus Cosma (Romania) 4-1
- Defeated Aleksandr Tkachenko (Soviet Union) 3-2
- Defeated György GedóGyörgy GedóGyörgy Gedó is a former Hungarian boxer.Gedó was born in Újpest, Budapest, Hungary. He won the gold medal in the light flyweight division at the 1972 Summer Olympics...
(Hungary) 4-1 - Lost to Li Byong-UkLi Byong-UkLi Byong-Uk is a retired North Korean boxer, who won two Olympic medals in the men's Light Flyweight category.- Olympic results :1976*Defeated Sidney McKnight KO 1*Defeated Henryk Średnicki 3-2...
(North Korea) RSC 2
Boxing career
Born in the village of Bang Sapan, Prachuap Khiri KhanPrachuap Khiri Khan Province
Prachuap Khiri Khan is one of the central provinces of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Phetchaburi in the north and Chumphon in the south. To the west it borders Tanintharyi Division of Myanmar....
, Phayao Poontarat came from a poor family. As a child, he sold flowers in the resort city of Pattaya
Pattaya
Pattaya is a city in Thailand, located on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, about 165 km southeast of Bangkok located within but not part of Amphoe Bang Lamung in the province of Chonburi....
to help support his younger siblings. Like many poor boys in Thailand, he took up Muay Thai
Muay Thai
Muay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese kickboxing systems, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and muay Lao from Laos...
, and he proved to be a gifted boxer. He switched to international boxing and won a place on the Thai Olympic team in 1976.. Though he finished with a bronze medal, Phayao gained attention by defeating the 1972 Olympic gold medal winner, Gyogy Gedo, in the quarter finals. He trained hard for the 1980 Moscow Olympics, but his hopes for a gold were ended by the United States led boycott
Boycott
A boycott is an act of voluntarily abstaining from using, buying, or dealing with a person, organization, or country as an expression of protest, usually for political reasons...
over of the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. Instead, he turned professional and on November 27, 1983 became WBC
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
superflyweight world champion by defeating Rafael Orono
Rafael Orono
Jesus Rafael Orono is a former super flyweight boxing champion from Venezuela.-Amateur career:Born in Patono, Sucre, Orono began as an amateur and compiled a record of 49 wins and 8 losses.-Amateur highlights:...
of Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
in a split decision. In his first title defence, against Guty Espadas
Guty Espadas
Guty Espadas was a Mexican professional boxer who won the World Boxing Council Flyweight Championship. He is also the Father of former World Champion Guty Espadas Jr.-WBC Flyweight Championship:...
of Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, Phayao was behind on all the score cards, but saved his championship belt with a 10th round knockout. Phayao was then challenged by Japan's Jiro Watanabe
Jiro Watanabe
is a Japanese former boxerWatanabe, who fought only in Japan and South Korea, was one of the first World Super flyweight champions, as the division was relatively new when he was crowned.-Biography:...
and agreed to meet him. When they met in Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
on July 5, 1984 Phayao lost by a controversial 12 round decision. The World Boxing Council viewed the tape and ordered a rematch. It took place in November, with Phayao losing by a technical knockout in the 11th round.
Political career
Giving up boxing, Phayao Poontarat became a Thai policeman with the rank of captain. He joined the Democratic PartyDemocrat Party (Thailand)
The Democrat Party is Thailand's oldest political party and was the main coalition government party of the 23rd House of Representatives of Thailand. The Democrat Party's current leader is Abhisit Vejjajiva, incumbent opposition leader and former Prime Minister. The party upholds a conservative...
and in 2001 was elected as member of parliament for his home-province. A year later, he began to suffer from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , also referred to as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a form of motor neuron disease caused by the degeneration of upper and lower neurons, located in the ventral horn of the spinal cord and the cortical neurons that provide their efferent input...
, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. The disease is uncurable, and in 2006 Phayao died at the age of 48 at Siriraj Hospital
Siriraj Hospital
Siriraj Hospital is the oldest hospital in Thailand, located in Bangkok on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, opposite Thammasat University's Tha Phrachan campus...
in Bangkok. He was survived by his wife and several children