To say that I was looking forward to this fight would have been a huge understatement. I think the fact that he was on this card was 60% of the reason I decided to go.
I lucked out and was able to score a press pass, so I made my way back to the fighter’s area. I’m a bit torn about doing interviews prior to the fight. Clearly there is a time and place to get your questions in… Maybe when they’ve just arrived or when their getting their hands wrapped.
warming up
I was able to have a quick chat with Yod and Anuwat, but Bovy… he’s a little difficult to gauge. He seemed “more” relaxed when he was getting taped up, and I should have jumped on the chance.
The second time I came back in he had already been rubbed down and had his game face on. I watched as he paced menacingly back and forth, throwing punches and elbows intermittently. I’ve been around a lot of Thai nak muays during their warm up, but I’ve never seen a Thai nak muay who was so agro.
focusing
As I mentioned in the previous post, it felt like he could have snapped on anyone on the room…
Cut to the fight…
Did not expect that at all… I wouldn’t have called that in a million years. I was sitting between the mixfight.nl and yougoodfight.be guys and we just there completely slack jawed.
I would love to see a rematch… I know he’s coming to the UK in a couple of months. I’ll definitely try to get the interview then. Just hope he doesn’t smash me for bringing up this fight. Actually might make for some interested footage. I can see going viral, “blogger get’s smashed for asking stupid question”
December 3, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Hey Nop, I’m getting “Invalid or unknown video link”
December 3, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Thanks Frank!
Nice it’s taken 10 hours for someone to let me know?
December 3, 2009 at 6:24 pm
Maybe a bunch of us seen the fights already on youtube or somewhere? Anyway, I don’t see Bovy’s style taking him much further.
December 3, 2009 at 7:03 pm
you tell him that…
December 3, 2009 at 7:07 pm
Bovy is one of my favorite fighters and it was tough seeing the fight end how it did… I was hoping for an all out war.. still love bovy though, his style is so vicious.. i wonder how much damage his brains takin over time? but, WAR BOVY
December 3, 2009 at 7:29 pm
It was a fluke. Everyone gets caught with their hands down at least ONCE. I hate it when fight fans ruin a fighters reputation online because of one fight. I was shocked to see him go down from one perfect shot, but it just proves that no one is invincible.
For future posts regarding Bovy’s career being over; anyone who says that Bovy is done can have a Coke and a smile and stfu please. Who in their right minds wants that to happen? No one. Promoters don’t, fighters don’t, and his manager doesn’t.
So respectfully, stfu.
December 3, 2009 at 7:37 pm
On topic: Bovy was out of his feet during the count, we all see that but if the ref was speaking Thai Bovy would’ve put his hands together since this isn’t something he’s ever had to do.
KO recall is like drunken recall, if you get knocked down in Thailand, they don’t tell you to put your hands up. They count to 8 as fast as they humanly can and say fight so the crowd can see a KO finish.
I think he could’ve pulled through in the clinch and got a cut.
December 3, 2009 at 7:45 pm
@ Nathan: I dont know if you were referring to my post but I don’t want to make it seem like I think Bovy is done in any way shape or form because that never even crossed my mind. He’s one of the toughest fighters ever to step into a ring, and yes of course, even the toughest get caught sometimes…
I also agree with you that Bovy wasn’t completely gone during the count. Yes he was a bit out of it, but he obviously didnt know what the ref was talking about.. but imo he was trying to tell the ref that he was fine and ready to fight. I also agree that he could have came back and dominated in the clinch or even just trading punches.. weve seen him get overwhelmed by punches before against Fabio Pinca, come back, and moments later send Fabio to the mat. Granted, he got caught with a hard shot this time.. but I think he would have came back somehow.
Bovy will be back soon and Im sure right now as we speak, he is very eager to get back as soon as possible
December 3, 2009 at 8:21 pm
at first i was completely bummed out at the outcome of this fight but seeing bovy get ko’d kinda humanizes him. i love his fighting style and i can only count on one hand how many times i have seen bovy in trouble (internet video knowledge stricly : / ) so it was kinda cool seeing his chin tested. the way he went down conjured one of those “oh fuck” reactions but to see him bounce up and ready to (wobbily) go at it again is a serious show of heart. dude fucking rules.
December 3, 2009 at 9:27 pm
I won’t say his career is over, but his best days are definitely behind him. The guy takes a tremendous amount of punishment in virtually every fight he is in. And that has been consistent throughout his career.
As far as who in their right minds wants him to be finished? You can count me as one. I’d like him to get out at some point, before it drags on too much. Is that time now? I cannot say, I don’t know. But I think it’s not too far off. I’d like the guy to be able to enjoy life after his career is over.
Of course the promoters don’t want him to be finished, he’s a good draw, and we all know what that mean$$$$.
December 4, 2009 at 1:51 am
Bryan, I understand your perspective on wanted him to retire happily. The only problem is that he won’t retire happily. He’s a poor fighter, he isn’t rich and never will be.
Bovy will follow in 90% of all Thai’s footsteps and become a pad holder, drinking whiskey, and smoking massive amounts of cigs everyday wishing he could still get fights.
The only hope for his happy retirement is that he wins more fights in Holland, learns English or Dutch, and gets his ass into a respected boxing camp. Sad but very very true.
December 4, 2009 at 2:01 am
Sad but true, eh?
December 4, 2009 at 2:04 am
Its a shame that most muay thai fighters have such hard lives even after they retire. We idolize many of them, but yet that changes nothing. I hope muay thai really grows so these guys can get paid.
December 4, 2009 at 2:42 am
Although I admire Bovy’s physical and mental fortitude (wish I had a fraction of it!), I much prefer watching nak muays with slick technique with the power still there.
December 4, 2009 at 2:54 am
Nathan I think your comment was for me.
Bovy, has been “caught” more than once with his hands down. Bovy takes a lot of damage in a lot of his fights. That kind of damage takes a toll- you’re telling me that he is just as good as ever with that kind of in and out punishment? I am not saying he’s done fighting, but he’s not going to be beating the top level guys much longer. Even Anuwat has a bit of a similar style (although, much better, elusiveness), and he hasn’t looked as dominant as he once was.
December 4, 2009 at 3:03 am
So respectfully, have a Pepsi, and STFU- but really don’t I await your reply
December 4, 2009 at 3:22 am
Ah, I see that others have made my point already.
December 4, 2009 at 8:12 am
My comment was a general venting of my frustration from bandwagoners who stop respecting a fighter because they lose. Same thing happens to MAX fighters when they lose the title, same thing happens in UFC.
I don’t post on MMT to call people out, I have too many other ways of creating stress in my life.
December 4, 2009 at 4:19 pm
internet hug and kiss please
December 4, 2009 at 6:34 pm
Understood, Nathan! Thanks for the reply, I am far from a bandwagoner, and I too get frustrated with fair weather fans, but we must look at the inevitable effects of such damage that fighters with this style take.
In boxing, Arturo Gatti (RIP), had a similar style early on, and currently Ricky Hatton- both careers did not last as long (at least in the highest level) as other elites.
December 7, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Man, that was vicious KO. I really wanted to see Mosab KOed, he walks around like he’s the shit. Better full of shit.