Many thanks to Eric from MuayThaiisLife for sending this over. He did a write up on this yesterday. Here is a rough transcript of the video.
” Well, if you ask me if I want to go back? I’d have to say no, I don’t want to go back, I just want to rest, and look after my health”
Interviewer: can you explain where you’ve been for the past 10 days?
Buakaw: I’d like to apologize to my fans, and thanks to the people who’ve been looking after me. I had a personal issue with the camp that has been weighing on me… it’s been an issue since 2009.
It was something that has been bothering me for quite sometime… I’ve never had issues with my training, I’ve never skipped training, and I’ve always been diligent… I was constantly criticized and put down, they said I was disrespectful… I just couldn’t take it anymore.
Interviewer: What would they say to you?
Buakaw: (so it’s going to get lost in translation but it’s basically a very direct and rude way of speaking to someone) “ I’m really getting tired of you” , “ You’re a real pain”etc. (The translation isn’t that bad, but the way it’s being said is fairly harsh)
but I’ve always worked hard, and been respectful, I’ve never had issues with my training nothing for them to complain about. I didn’t deserve it.
Interviewer: So where were you?
Buakaw: I was in a special place (my place) where nobody could find me. So I left with my trainer…. nobody saw me, I never the left the house. I don’t want to say where though.
Interviewer: So you’ve been injured…
Buakaw: Yes, I’ve had some issues. I had a fitness trainer who looked after my health, who left as well…
It’s been building up for years… I was really considering hanging up my gloves in 2009, I was tired, injured and quite stressed.
I don’t want to retire, I haven’t thought that far ahead, I just want to rest, I want to look after my health, retirement, that’s for another day. For now I just want to rest and get well.
Yes I’ve spoken with the camp; we’ve been in touch… We are trying to find a way to work things out, but we still haven’t found a way.
Interviewer: Do you still want to be Buakaw Por. Pramuk?
Buakaw: Yes I do, I want to fullfill my responsibilities, but I want to be happy, I want to be free from the stress and tension of the camp
Interviewer: You say you want freedom, does that mean you don’t wanto be at the camp anymore?
Buakaw: Well, if you ask me if I want to go back? I’d have to say no, I don’t want to go back, I just want to rest, and look after my health.
March 12, 2012 at 6:40 pm
It’s sad to hear that he’s been exploited to this degree by Por Pramuk. Hopefully his next step as a fighter is with another camp and in better health.
March 12, 2012 at 7:52 pm
Man, this shit makes me sad. i think it’s good he’s looking publicity, so the world can see how fighters are dealt with.
Ive said it before and I am going to say it again. This is exactly what happened to namsaknoi, and obviously, Por Pramuk doesnt give a fuck about their fighters but only about their purse. Foreign people should boycot Por Pramuk gym completely, and i hope a generous manager will stand up to take Buakaw in.
I really hope he is going to be okay. And it makes it hard for me to love a sport that treats his HEROES like second class citizens. Fighters are kings like King Pha Chao Sua, not poor Isan beggars
March 12, 2012 at 8:43 pm
I’m hoping his well-deserved time off and possibly a change in camp will get back his love for fighting.. I still enjoy seeing him fight.
March 13, 2012 at 2:06 am
Buakaw is one of my favorite fighters and its sad to see a guy that has brought many people so much joy through his MT skills and him as a sincere Champion, in such a depressing spot in life.I knew his disappearance had something to do with his Camp.
The world is full of “don kings”.
Good Luck to him.
March 13, 2012 at 4:05 am
hope other fighters in other camps do the same
March 13, 2012 at 4:29 am
what is this mystery injury?? is this implying that he was fighting injured? was the fitness trainer a love interest perhaps? why would the trainer be fired if its buakaws best interest health-wise?
March 13, 2012 at 4:38 am
who made him cut his hair like that?
March 13, 2012 at 5:38 pm
Hahahaha!! That haircut is beyond epic.
March 13, 2012 at 7:45 am
that hair cut reminds me of one of the characters from robin hood.. Its an old anglo style haircut me thinkest…
March 13, 2012 at 9:01 am
HAHAHAHAHA
March 13, 2012 at 5:40 pm
If he is done with fighting, I could see him being visa-ed out to teach.
March 14, 2012 at 12:49 pm
Wonder if the old injury is a right leg one. He became very lead leg dominant, his stance even favored it. When that clip came out with the resistance bands I wondered if he was rehabbing an injury. Oh well props to the old boy for fighting for high stakes with it, lesser mortals would have just taken time off.
Interesting Bruce Lee look..seems his hair is having an Occupy movement up there
March 14, 2012 at 9:37 pm
thats not bruce lee hair. thats a coconut cut.
March 14, 2012 at 2:00 pm
I saw an article that said he only got 200$ and shared housing even though he fought in K-1 for 1,000,000+ baht a fight…how’s that for a manager’s purse split? lol
March 15, 2012 at 1:54 pm
Buakaw Should come to the states. We need talented instructors here to teach Mma fighters. Plus more $ here for him
March 16, 2012 at 9:24 am
I wouldn’t be surprised if Evolve Gym in Singapore tries to get him. They hired Namsaknoi last year and it seems the owner pays his trainers really well and gives them a good path. They are all up in the MMA Asia scene though, so I wouldn’t see Buakaw fighting much if he did that though..
I recently saw a story where Evolve has Orono VPP (who has been a trainer there for some time) making the transition to MMA if you can believe that…
March 16, 2012 at 7:06 pm
I saw that. Also, from the small amount of MMA I seen in SE Asia, it seems that they do a lot more stand up than grappling, which is very exciting to the audience.