Bangkok-based muaythai promoter Elite Boxing held a press conference at Gaysorn Plaza in Bangkok yesterday to announce the schedule for the much anticipated second series of Thailand VS Challenger (TVC). Featuring a total of five confirmed events in both Europe and Asia, all sanctioned by the WMC, TVC (2011) will be launched at a Grand Opening at the River City Hall in Bangkok on July 23.
The press conference was chaired by His Excellency General Pichit Kullavanijaya, Honorary Life President of the World Muaythai Council (WMC), and it was announced that proceeds from ticket sales at the TVC Grand Opening on July 23 will be donated to General Pichit’s “Muaythai Against Drugs” foundation.
Other prominent speakers included WMC Vice-President, Mr. Stephan Fox, who spoke of his belief that high profile international events like the TVC Series are vital in supporting the work of the WMC to see muaythai eventually gaining recognition as an Olympic Sport.
Elite Boxing was represented by co-founders Toli Makris and Seth Fishman, as well as by the heads of the company’s new subsidiaries in Germany (Serdar Karaca), Russia (Stanislav Bukhlov) and Greece (George Pergialis). Long-time Elite Boxing allys, Songchai Ratanasuban and Pariyakorn Ratanasuban, were once again on hand to give their support, and Samuel Pagal of Eurosport spoke of his delight at the prospect of broadcasting 2 TVC events live in Europe this year.
All fighters from this Saturday’s Grand Opening also took a break from their hectic preparations to share their thoughts ahead of what promises to be a very exciting series.
Following the success of last year’s inaugural TVC Series, which was televised to an estimated 600 million homes in 180 countries around the world, Elite Boxing has now announced the schedule for TVC (2011).
The series will kick off with a Grand Opening at the swanky River City Hall in Bangkok. The TVC Grand Opening fightcard will include 5 world-class international fights, featuring such muaythai superstars as Bovy Sor Udomsorn, Kaoklai Kaennorsing, Saenchanoi Pumphanmuang, Nonsai Sor Sanyakorn and Saiyok Pumphanmuang of Thailand taking on Bernueng Topkingboxing (Thailand), Cyrus Washington (USA), Antoine Siangboxing (France), Hong Guang (China) and Valdet Gashi (Germany) respectively.
The second appointment for the 2011 TVC Series will be the Queen’s Cup on August the 12th, in Honour of His Majesty the Queen of Thailand. The TVC will then move to Germany for Thailand VS Europe at the impressive Carl Benz Arena in Stuttgart on September the 17th. Launching Elite Boxing’s subsidiary, Elite Boxing Germany, headed by Serdar Karaca who spoke of his delight at the continued growth of the TVC brand.
Thailand VS Europe is one of two TVC events that will be broadcast live by Eurosport across Europe. The second will be Thailand VS Germany in November. Samuel Pagal of Eurosport Fight Club also confirmed that Eurosport will broadcast highlights of the Grand Opening on Augsut 4.
In October, another new Elite Boxing subsidiary will host its first event when Elite Boxing Russia headed by successful local promoter Stanislav Bukholov takes TVC to Russia for the first time for Thailand VS Russia.
The series will end back in Germany in November with Thailand VS Germany at the Blautal Centre in the southern German city of Ulm. This will be the second Thailand VS Germany event at this venue following a very successful debut there in the TVC (2010) Series.
For more details of the TVC (2011) Series, visit the Elite Boxing website: www.elite-boxing.com
