The head of PK.Saenchai gym posted on Facebook today with a very meaningful and insightful post.
Here’s what Sia Khaek, boss of PK.Saenchai gym had to say today on Facebook:
“All fighters at PK.Saenchai gym must be grateful to Chatri Sityodtong. Without ONE Championship events, fighters in this gym and beyond would not have the opportunity to escape poverty. I teach my fighters to understand and appreciate the kindness and support he has given.
At PK, when we organize fights, there are always costs, profits, and losses to consider. We have to calculate hotel expenses from Tuesday evening until Saturday for the whole team, medical fees, staff in the warm-up room and at ringside, the rental cost of Lumpinee boxing stadium, the number of personnel, referees, announcers, everything requires money.
I teach my fighters: if there were no ONE Championship events, who would be able to buy a house, a car, or land? Who would have savings? Who could pay off their parents’ debts?
Look at Suriyanlek, my former fighter. He received 10 bonuses totaling 3,500,000 baht. Without ONE, many fighters competing today might have already quit and gone into other professions.
Personally, I cannot build houses for every fighter, and sponsors would not step in to help like this. Right now, many supporters like P’Pong Suphan, Khun Ting Note, Sia George, Sia Tom, Sia Leh, and Sia Lek support ONE Championship.
That is why I say Muay Thai has grown because of ONE Championship. Foreigners now come to train at every gym. In Phuket alone, there are over 300 daily, and at PK Gym, more than 20 when before there were none. Now income is spreading so everyone can earn a living.
Thank you very much to Chatri and ONE Championship.”
One thing I’d like to note of the back of what Sia Khaek sad, it’s always the entitled foreigners who have most likely never stepped foot in Thailand complaining about ONE Championship, Thais appreciate ONE and what they have done for Thai fighters and that’s all that matters, ONE have given Thai fighters a platform and a way out to escape poverty, if you don’t like people who run ONE or they way they handle their finances that’s totally fine but you should come to terms with it as there are still many years to come, I remember in 2024 till now people were on the timeline saying “ONE has a few months left” “ONE are running out of money” and they’re still going stronger than ever!