The Isuzu Cup, also known as the Isuzu Tournament, or the Isuzu Cup Tournament is an 8-man Muay Thai tournament which takes place at Siam Omnoi Stadium in Samut Sakhon every year. The tournament is organized by the Tri-Petch Group, owned by Isuzu,[1] and sanctioned by the Sports Authority of Thailand.[2] It is well-known as one of the best and the longest-standing tournament still active in the sport of Muay Thai.[3]

History

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The first Isuzu tournament started in late 1990. The final took place in early 1991 where Rattananoi Tansarinkhan won a decision over Weesanusak Wor.Weerakul.[3]

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.

In 2012, the format was slightly changed as 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.[4]

In 2023, the tournament was moved away from Siam Omnoi Stadium for the first time, as it was entirely fought in the Thai Fight promotion.

Tournament progression

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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.

Prize

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As of 2020:[2]

Tournament winners

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Year Winner Runner-up Weight Notes
1 1990   Rattananoi Tansaringkhan[6]   Weesanusak Wor.Weerakul N/A
2 1991   Robert Kaennorasing[7]   Yodkhunpon Sittraiphum 116 lbs
3 1992   Lakhin Wassantasit[8]   Burklerk Pinsinchai 115 lbs
4 1994   Malaitong Saktewan   Charuad Manwoot N/A
5 1995   MuayEk Kiatchaiyong   Morakot Sor.Thamarangsi N/A
6 1996   Suwitlek Sor.Kaokarat[9]   Chanchai Sor.Thammrangsri 135 lbs
7 1997   Anantasak Panyuthaphum[7]   Singdam Or.Ukrit 126 lbs
8 1998   Samingdet Chor.Watcharin[10]   Petchawang Aborigin N/A
9 1999   Manja Kiatnapachai   Detpanom Lukprabaht N/A
10 2000   Sangmorakot Sor.Ploenjit   Ittidet Sor.Boonya N/A
11 2001   Saenchernglek Jirakriangkrai[11]   Pokaew Sitchafuang 115 lbs
12 2002   Pinsiam Sor.Amnuaysirichok[12]   Wansongkram Or.Phanatnikhom 118 lbs
13 2003   Panomrunglek Kiatmuu9[13]   Wanviset 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[14]   Rittichak Kaewsamrit 118 lbs
17 2007   Phet-Ek Sitjaopho[15][16]   Longern Pitakruchaidan 125 lbs
18 2008   Rungruanglek Lukprabat[17][18]   Manasak Narupai 118 lbs
19 2009   Yodtuanthong Wiramanokul[19]   Parnpet Chor Na Phatthalung 130 lbs
20 2010   Petchmankong Phetfergus[20]   Saenchainoi Pumpanmuang 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 S.J.Danrayong[21]   Sinmanut Sor.Sarinya 140 lbs
24 2014   Chanajon P.K.Saenchaigym[22]   Ekchanachai Kaewsamrit 159 lbs
25 2015   Rungrawee P.K.SaenchaiMuaythaiGym[23]   Detrit Poptheratham 154 lbs
26 2016   PTT Phetrungruang[24]   Diesellek Pangkongprab 154 lbs
27 2017   Aroondet Phetsupaphan[5]   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[25]   Prabsuk Sit-Opal 140 lbs Kongklai won by KO, he went on to win the SAT Fighter of the Year Award by unanimous vote.
31 2021   Petchtongchai TBMgym[26]   Hercules Phetsimean 138 lbs The final was delayed for a year due to the covid-19 pandemic.
32 2023   Suksawat Sangmorakot   Thongchai Petruangrueng 143 lbs The tournament was fought in the Thai Fight promotion, moving away from Siam Omnoi Stadium.

Rules

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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.

References

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  1. ^ "Toshiaki Maekawa of Tri-Petch Isuzu Sales Co. Ltd". 30 July 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Bt2m up for grabs in Isuzu Cup Muay Thai Championship". www.nationthailand.com. Retrieved 2021-02-12. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ a b "THE TOURNAMENTS OF MUAY THAI IN THAILAND". www.siamfightmag.com. Archived from the original on 2020-09-28. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
  4. ^ "ISUZU CUP SUPER FIGHT 2018". drivetripper.com. Retrieved 2021-02-13.
  5. ^ a b "อรุณเดช เพชรสุภาพรรณ คว้าแชมป์ Isuzu Cup ครั้งที่ 27". motortrivia. 2017-02-10. Archived from the original on 2021-07-23. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
  6. ^ "วิศรุต บุตตเขียว". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
  7. ^ a b "ONCE UPON A TIME, MUAY THAI'S GREATEST CHAMPIONS! CHAPTER IV (YEAR 90)". www.siamfightmag.com. Archived from the original on 2021-05-14. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
  8. ^ "Serge Trefeu". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2021-02-07.
  9. ^ [ Muay Thai 1996 ] สุวิทย์เล็ก ส.สกาวรัตน์ VS ชาญชัย ส.ธรรมรังสี [ ISUZU CUP 6 ], 18 August 2021, retrieved 2021-08-18
  10. ^ "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
  11. ^ "[Muay Thai 2001] แสนเชิงเล็ก จิระเกรียงไกร [แดง] VS โพธิ์แก้ว ศิษย์จ่าเฟื่อง [น้ำเงิน][ISUZU CUP 11]". www.youtube.com. 20 August 2021. Retrieved 2021-08-20.
  12. ^ "Log In or Sign Up to View". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
  13. ^ "PANOMRUNGLEK KIATMUU 9". www.siamfightmag.com. Archived from the original on 2019-10-10. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
  14. ^ "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
  15. ^ ""แชมป์อีซูซุ17"เพชรเอก ศิษย์เจ้าพ่อ". new.goosiam.com. Retrieved 2021-02-12.[permanent dead link]
  16. ^ "PhetEk vs Longern | 17th Isuzu Cup Final". YouTube. 18 February 2020.
  17. ^ "Muaythaifocus". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
  18. ^ "รุ่งเรืองเล็ก ลูกพระบาท VS มานะศักดิ์ นฤภัย". youtube.com. 5 January 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.
  19. ^ "ยอดทวนทองคว้าแชมป์". คมชัดลึกออนไลน์ (in Thai). 2009-03-28. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
  20. ^ "PETCHMANKONG KAIYANGHADAO". www.siamfightmag.com. Archived from the original on 2021-01-23. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
  21. ^ "FAHMONGKOL". www.siamfightmag.com. Archived from the original on 2021-05-01. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
  22. ^ "ชนะจน พี เค แสนชัยมวยไทย ครอง "แชมป์อีซูซุคัพ 24" รับ". ryt9.com (in Thai). Retrieved 2021-02-12.
  23. ^ "Vidéo : RUNGRAVEE PK Saenchai vainqueur de l'ISUZU CUP". Muaythaitv (in French). Retrieved 2021-02-12.
  24. ^ "PTT vs Diesellek 2 | Isuzu Tournament Final". YouTube.
  25. ^ Autodeft. "ศึกอีซูซุคัพครั้งที่ 30 "ศึก 30 ปี อีซูซุคัพ" ฉลอง 3 ทศวรรษศึกมวยไทยระดับตำนาน". ศึกอีซูซุคัพครั้งที่ 30 “ศึก 30 ปี อีซูซุคัพ” ฉลอง 3 ทศวรรษศึกมวยไทยระดับตำนาน (in Thai). Retrieved 2021-02-11.
  26. ^ "ปฏักเทพชนะธีรเดชคู่เอกจ้าวมวยไทย "เพชรธงชัย"แชมป์มวยอีซูซุฟัน1ล้าน ... สามารถติดตามต่อได้ที่ : https://www.dailynews.co.th/news/781108/". dailynews.co.th. Retrieved 19 February 2022. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)