Petchlamphun Denies Throwing Fight at Rajadamnern and Opens Up After Being Removed from the Ring: “I Never Thought of Betraying My Profession”

Petchlamphun Kiatkhajon broke his silence following the controversy surrounding his last appearance at Rajadamnern Stadium. Accused of fighting without effort and removed from the ring by the referee, the fighter spoke out on Saturday (31) to deny any attempt to throw the fight and explain what happened that night.

The incident occurred on Wednesday (28) during the Palangmai (New Power) promotion card at Rajadamnern. Petchlamphun faced Wanpadet NF.Looksuan in the red corner in a fight in the 132-pound category when, in the fourth round, the referee stopped the bout, citing insufficient effort. The match ended in a no contest.

In a statement released by the Siam Muay page, Petchlamphun stated that his performance was affected by a combination of physical and psychological factors. The fighter acknowledged that he is going through a rough patch but insisted he never intended to betray his profession.

“In my last fights, my form has not been good. I still haven't managed to find my best level and I am lacking confidence,” he explained.

Indeed, the situation had not been favorable. Prior to the incident against Wanpadet, Petchlamphun had suffered knockout losses in the fourth round to Lohthong on September 23 and to Tuangsap on July 22, both at Rajadamnern.

The athlete, who has fought several times at ONE Friday Fights at Lumpinee, also revealed that he learned about the fight less than a week in advance. According to him, his routine has changed, and he now has to balance training with work.

“My preparation was not good because I am also working. I don’t train just to fight like I used to,” he stated.

Another point raised was the weight difference. Accustomed to fighting at 128 pounds, Petchlamphun explained that he moved up to 132 in his last two or three fights. “For a fighter, even a pound makes a difference,” he emphasized.

Pressure from Bettors Started Before the First Round

One of the most striking parts of his statement involves the betting environment. Petchlamphun recounted that he heard boos from the audience, made up of bettors (the 'sianmuay'), even before the first round began. He admitted that this made him nervous and pressured.

According to the fighter, at the end of the first round, Nah Daeng Khaosai (the name he mentioned, with a request for permission) approached him to say that the betting was not going well, urging him to fight properly and be careful not to be booed. However, the warning had the opposite effect.

“I became even more anxious. In the second round, I couldn’t focus and didn’t fight like I usually do,” he reported.

Petchlamphun also stated that the referee pressured him during the fight. “He told me not to throw the fight, not to do that. I lost even more concentration,” he said.

The Thai fighter contested the impression that he was not genuinely reacting: according to him, anyone who reviews the fight will see that he was indeed hit. The audience might think the strikes were not strong, he noted, but for a fighter, even a pound makes a difference.

Investigation Found No Evidence of Fight Throwing

In his statement, Petchlamphun mentioned that after leaving the ring, stadium officials and the promoter investigated and checked everything about him, concluding that there was no evidence of fight throwing. For the fighter, the negative atmosphere that night led to distorted betting and a poor performance, which explains the criticism.

“I never thought of betraying my profession,” he declared.

He also shared that on that same night, stadium officials and the assistant promoter of the Palangmai card took him to file a police report.

Apology and Promise for Change

In closing, Petchlamphun apologized to the promoter, Rajadamnern Stadium, those involved, and all who follow his career.

“It was an expensive lesson. From now on, if my body is not ready and I haven’t trained fully, I won’t accept fights. Everyone has the right to speak and think. Thank you,” he wrote.

The statement reveals a delicate side of Muay Thai in Thai stadiums: the pressure from the audience, the weight of betting, and the impact that a poor performance can have on a fighter's reputation. For Petchlamphun, the night at Rajadamnern ended without a winner, but he is now trying to regain his form and confidence.

Source: Siam Muay page (Popchakorn) on Facebook.