Isuzu Cup (Muay Thai)

The Isuzu Cup, also known as the Isuzu Tournament, or the Isuzu Cup Tournament was traditionally an 8-man Muay Thai tournament which took place at Siam Omnoi Stadium in Samut Sakhon every year. It is now a 6-team tournament held by Thai Fight. The tournament is organized by the Tri-Petch Group, owned by Isuzu Motors Ltd.,[1] and sanctioned by the Sports Authority of Thailand.[2] It is the most prestigious and longest-standing tournament still active in the sport of Muay Thai.[3]

History

The first Isuzu tournament started in late 1990 under the management of Damrong Puttan and Songchai Rattanasuban at Omnoi Stadium. The final took place in early 1991 where Rattananoi Tansarinkhan won a decision over Weesanusak Wor.Weerakul.[3]

In 1991, the tournament was moved to Samrong Stadium in Samrong, Ubon Ratchathani, under the management of local promoter Anucha Wacharatangka, the manager of eventual tournament-runner-up Yodkhunpon Sittraiphum.[4]

In 1992, the tournament was once again moved, this time to Rajadamnern Stadium and would be managed by Pol. Col. Sewak Pinsinchai, the owner of Pinsinchai Gym and Asawindam ("Black Knight") promotion, and manager of eventual tournament-runner-up Burklerk Pinsinchai.[4]

In 1994, the Isuzu Cup tournament returned to its original location at Omnoi Stadium and would be under the management of Chain Muangchon (Wirat Praianan) - the main promoter of the stadium, - until 2023.[4]

In 2011, as the Tri-Petch Group became a sponsor of the new Thai Fight promotion, which aims for higher-weight talent, the tournament weight was raised to over 135 lbs for the first time. The winner of the Isuzu Cup, Kem Sitsongpeenong was entered into the second edition of the Thai Fight Tournament, which he ultimately won against Fabio Pinca, the winner of the first Thai Fight Tournament in 2010.

From 2012 until 2024, the winner of the Isuzu Tournament would have to participate in the Isuzu Cup Super Fight in order to qualify for the Thai Fight Tournament.[5]

No tournament was held in 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2023, the tournament was moved away from Siam Omnoi Stadium for the first time since 1993, as it was entirely fought in a studio at BITEC Bangna in the Thai Fight promotion.[4] The tournament format was overhauled in the following year.

Tournament progression

The Isuzu Cup Tournament is divided into three stages, starting with the Group Stage, in which the eight participants are divided into two groups accordingly called Group A and B. Each fighters has to fight all of the other members in his group and accumulate points before being able to move onto the next stage. The point system:

• 0 points for a loss
• 1 point for a draw
• 2 points for a decision win
• 3 points for a (technical) knockout win or decision win with a big cut on the opponent

The two fighters with the most points in each group will move on to the second stage, the Semi-finals, with the following match-ups:

• Group A winner vs Group B runner-up
• Group B winner vs Group A runner-up

The last stage is the tournament Final, which pits the winners of the Semi-finals against each other.

Format change (since 2024)

In 2024, the format was changed. Each region of Thailand would put forward a team of three fighters, one for each contested weight: 143, 147, 152 lbs. Six teams - Upper-Isan, Lower-Isan, North, Central, East, and South, - were assembled and the representatives of each team fought representatives of rival teams to obtain points:

• 0 points for a loss
• 1 point for a draw
• 2 points for a decision win
• 3 points for a (technical) knockout win

The four teams with the most points will meet each other in the Semi-finals, and the winning teams will move onto the Final.

Prize

As of 2020:[2]

• The Isuzu Cup champion is awarded ฿1,000,000 Thai baht, and an Isuzu D-Max pickup truck. Additionally, they will have to participate in the Isuzu Cup Super Fight.
• The runner-up is awarded ฿500,000 Thai baht.
• Third place is awarded ฿300,000 Thai baht, and fourth place is awarded ฿200,000 Thai baht.[6]

Tournament winners

N°	Year	Winner	Runner-up	Weight	Notes
1	1990	Rattananoi Tansaringkhan[7]	Weesanusak Wor.Weerakul	N/A
2	1991	Robert Kaennorasing[8]	Yodkhunpon Sittraiphum	116 lbs	Held at Samrong Stadium in Ubon Ratchathani.[4]
3	1992	Lakhin Wassantasit[9]	Burklerk Pinsinchai	115 lbs	Held at Rajadamnern Stadium.[4]
4	1994	Malaitong Saktewan	Jaruad Manwoot	N/A	The tournament was moved back to Omnoi Stadium.[4]
5	1995	MuayEk Kiatchaiyong	Morakot Sor.Thamarangsi	N/A
6	1996	Suwitlek Sor.Kaokarat[10]	Chanchai Sor.Thammrangsri	135 lbs
7	1997	Anantasak Panyuthaphum[8]	Singdam Or.Ukrit	126 lbs
8	1998	Samingdet Chor.Watcharin[11]	Petchawang Aborigin	N/A
9	1999	Manja Kiatnapachai	Detpanom Lukprabaht	N/A
10	2000	Saengmorakot Sor.Ploenchit	Ittidet Sor.Boonya	N/A
11	2001	Saenchernglek Jirakriangkrai[12]	Pokaew Sitchafuang	115 lbs
12	2002	Pinsiam Sor.Amnuaysirichok[13]	Wansongkram Or.Phanatnikhom	118 lbs
13	2003	Panomrunglek Kiatmuu9[14]	Wanwiset Lukbanyai	108 lbs	Due to a draw in the initial Final, the two had to fight again to decide the tournament winner.
14	2004	Anuwat Kaewsamrit	Duwao Kongudom	122 lbs	Anuwat won the Sports Authority and Sports Writers Fighter of the Year Award in that year.
15	2005	Surasing Nongkeepahuyuth	Sittisak Sit-Or	118 lbs
16	2006	Rakkiat Kiatprapat[15]	Rittichak Kaewsamrit	118 lbs
17	2007	Phet-Ek Sitjaopho[16][17]	Longern Pitakruchaidan	125 lbs
18	2008	Rungruanglek Lukprabat[18][19]	Manasak Narupai	118 lbs
19	2009	Yodtuanthong Wiramanokul[20]	Parnpet Chor Na Phatthalung	130 lbs
20	2010	Petchmankong Phetfergus[21]	Saenchainoi Phumpanmuang	135 lbs
21	2011	Kem Sitsongpeenong	Nopparat Keatkhamtorn	148 lbs	First year of Thai Fight partnership, hence the tournament weight increase for following years.
22	2012	Singmanee Kaewsamrit	Superbon Lukjaomaesaivaree	145 lbs
23	2013	Fahmongkol Sor.Jor.Danrayong[22]	Sinmanut Sor.Sarinya	140 lbs
24	2014	Chanajon P.K.Saenchaigym[23]	Ekchanachai Kaewsamrit	159 lbs
25	2015	Rungrawee P.K.SaenchaiMuaythaiGym[24]	Detrit Poptheratham	154 lbs
26	2016	PTT Phetrungruang[25]	Diesellek Pangkongprab	154 lbs
27	2017	Aroondet Phetsupaphan[6]	Duangsompong Nayok-A-Thasala	147 lbs
28	2018	Satanfah Puicharleefresh	Chalampet Tor.Laksong	147 lbs
29	2019	Petchmahachon Jitmuangnon	Ploywitthaya Petsimuen	138 lbs
30	2020	Kongklai EnnyMuayThai[26]	Prabsuk Si-Opal	140 lbs	Kongklai went on to win the SAT Fighter of the Year Award by unanimous vote.
31	2021	Petchthongchai T.B.M.Gym[27]	Hercules Phetsimean	138 lbs	The final was delayed for nine months due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The 32nd edition of the tournament planned for 2022 was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The tournament comes under the management of Thai Fight in 2023.
32	2023	Suksawat Sangmorakot	Thongchai Petruangrueng	143 lbs	The tournament was fought in Thai Fight studio in BITEC Bangna.[4]
Tournament format overhaul comes into effect for the 33rd edition of the tournament.
33	2024	Klasuek Arwutfightgear[28] (North Team)	Petchpakmai Chor.Chanamuaythai (Central Team)	143 lbs	The North Team defeated the Central Team 3-0, earning a unanimous victory. The tournament finals were held outdoors under heavy rain due to a monsoon in Thailand.
		Samurai Si-Opal[29] (North Team)	Yodthewin Mor.Rajabhatchombueng (Central Team)	147 lbs
		Worachaklek Kiatchatchai[30] (North Team)	Chanachai Chor.Chanamuaythai (Central Team)	152 lbs

Rules

The tournament is conducted in Sports Authority of Thailand Muay Thai rules:

• Each fight consists of 5 rounds of 3 minutes with 2-minute breaks between each round.
• Fights can be won by decision, knockout, or technical knockout.
• Fights are conducted with 8 oz boxing gloves.

Since 2024

The tournament is conducted under Thai Fight Kard Chuek rules:

• Each fight consists of 3 rounds of 3 minutes with 2-minute breaks between each round and the possibility of an extra round in case of a draw.
• Fights can be won by decision, knockout, or technical knockout.
• Fights are conducted with Kard Chuek rope wraps.

References

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