SRISAKET SOR RUNGVISAI ”I WENT FROM A LIFE OF POVERTY TO BECOMING WORLD CHAMPION”

By BOXING TODAY

The life for Thailand’s Srisaket Sor Rungvisai has dramatically changed since winning the world championship back in March.

The 30-year-old defeated the previously unbeaten Roman Gonzalez over a 12-round majority decision at Madison Square Garden in New York to again claim the WBC super-flyweight title. The win marked the end of a historic run for one fighter, and begun a new chapter for another.

Now, the pair will meet once more in a hugely anticipated rematch at The Forum in Inglewood, California, and Rungvisai is determined to produce a more devastating and clinical performance than the first contest.

In the first round of their fight, Rungvisai drilled his right hand into the body of Gonzalez that put him down to the canvas. Despite having him hurt, Rungvisai was surprised more than anybody himself that it happened.

”For the rematch I am training even harder, I was happy with my win in the first fight, I was surprised when I knocked him down, I did not think he would,” admitted Rungvisai on knocking down Gonzalez in round-one. ”I was surprised because the sting in my punch was not full, maybe it was because of the rhythm that put him down.”

Rungvisai has just finished a heavy training session and his second of the day. He spends four hours a day in camp preparing for this rematch. He has come into this camp lighter in weight and doesn’t have to worry too much on making the weight.

”I am in training for two hours in the morning and two in the evening. There are many exercises that we are doing for the rematch. The morning we are out running and then in the evening will keep practising to make sure everything is going well. I can eat normal and practice hard to be healthy, I do not need to lose too much weight.”

”I am still training at the same place at Metropolitan Camp Promotions,” revealed Rungvisai.

From the beginning of the fight, it was as a brutal and bloody encounter. With both Rungvisai and Gonzalez cut, Gonzalez had a cut over the right eye from an unintentional headbutt and throughout the rest of the fight Rungvisai continued to pound away at it. Gonzalez had blood streaming down his face for the rest of the night but was still battling away. In the end, Rungvisai edged out a victory in a very close fight.

”I do not expect anything new from Roman [Gonzalez] in this fight, I expect to win and beat Roman again,” stated Rungvisai. I trained a lot since the very first time. I guarantee that boxing fans will not be disappointed with the rematch, bececause I intend to punch this time. That would be great, I want boxing fans to watch me punch on the biggest stage. I will show everyone that I am very intent.”

”I want Roman to come see me, I am not as popular as Roman but I have a strong mind, and of course and most importantly I’m coming to fight I will do my best”

”I was very happy when I see my siblings in Thailand. They had a smile, and my family was happy, I was very happy too, there was a lot of happiness,” I went back to Thailand straight away after the first fight, I just did not stop working, and then I entered the training camp for the rematch,” said Rungvisai.

Rungvisai believes he still hasn’t shown the world what he is capable of at his best, and plans to showcase that in a much more convincing win on September 9th.

”I have met all these people through my career and since the the win and I am very happy. I was a poor child once and until then, no one was interested, today they are and I am very happy.”

”I want boxing fans around the world to see how a small boxer from poverty and struggling, got himself to the world stage. I want you to see my heart full of hope through that and my fights. I hope everyone accepts me.”