Suriyan Sor Rungvisai to face Anselmo Moreno on Saturday
Suriyan Sor Rungvisai traveled halfway around the world to face Anselmo Moreno on Saturday night in Moreno’s native Panama.
Suriyan (46-6-1, 23 knockouts) intends to become the WBC’s No. 1 contender to Shinsuke Yamanaka, who he lost against 18 months ago.
The recently turned 27-year-old – a pro for nearly 10 years – is well versed on what the former long-reigning WBA bantamweight titlist brings to the ring.
“I think Moreno has very good tactics and rhythm,” he said. “On the other hand, his (punch tolerance) is questionable as he was knocked down by Abner Mares before. Overall, I think he is a great champion with impressive achievements. I respect for him for his past achievements but I am also a former world champion and I have experience fighting many top boxers in different divisions. I am very confident in my ability to win the fight.”
Traditionally Thai fighters are near imperious fighting at home, however, they aren’t known as good travelers.
Suriyan has a record of 0-4-1 on the road. He remains unbowed and optimistic.
“No, it is not a concern,” he said confidently. “I am now a lot more experienced than I used to be and I am ready to take any challenge anywhere in the world.”
Nakornloung Promotions president Surachart Pisitwuttinan, who has run his boxing promotional company for nearly 30 years, feels there are several reasons for this: “There’s a lot of factors that affect the boxers when we travel the world. The traveling, the environment, the fans, the food.”
Pisitwuttinan first came into boxing as a hobby. His company has produced four world champions so far. Veeraphol Sahaprom and Sirmongkol Singmanassuk were followed more recently by Suriyan and Srisaket Sor Rungvisai.Interestingly, many Thai fighters adopt sponsorship and use that as part of their names. Suriyan, like his stablemate Srisaket – also a former WBC 115-pound beltholder – add Sor Rungvisai to their names after a senator they both respect.
Mr. Pisitwuttinan promotes Suriyan (the WBC’s No. 1 ranked fighter at bantamweight), Srisaket (WBC No. 1 at junior bantamweight) and Nawaphon Por Chokchai (WBC No. 1 at flyweight). He hopes, out of the three, he can get two champions.
The Nakornloung Promotions gym is in Nonthaburi Province – depending on traffic, anything from a 15-minute drive to two hours away from Bangkok – is a relatively new gym. The fighters also live on the compound.Training in Thailand is notoriously tough and far more rigorous than in the west.
“I had the movie theater business for over 50 years,” he explained. “It was started by my father. There was one movie – “Rew Guar Jai Grai Geurn,” a drama about a drug addict who caught HIV and passed it on to his girlfriend – that was very famous but it was a very long time ago. It won the equivalent of six Oscars.
He no longer produces films but still owns the theater. In his youth, he won an amateur tournament and became interested in boxing. Mr. Pisitwuttinan has three sons who are also involved in boxing.