Thais blamed for tragedy

Former WBC Youth flyweight champion Lito Sisnorio died of head injuries in Thailand early Saturday morning because Thai "mismatchmakers" choose to import inferior opposition for blood-thirsty local fans to enjoy a massacre by a hometown fighter.

Sisnorio, 24, didn’t belong in the same ring as former world flyweight titlist Chatchai Sasakul when they fought at the Mathayom Wat Sing School in Samutprakarn last Friday night. He was only eight years old when Sasakul, 37, turned pro in 1991 and logged only 17 bouts compared to the Thai’s 61.

Sisnorio had lost five of his last six outings while Sasakul had won 25 of his last 26 fights. The disparity in quality was like night and day. Sasakul decked Sisnorio after landing four straight right hooks to the head and the Filipino was declared unfit to continue despite beating the 10-count. Sisnorio later vomited and underwent emergency brain surgery to remove a blood clot at the Piyamin Hospital in the Bangpli district. He died at 2 a.m. Saturday.

Sisnorio’s former manager Jemuel Contayoso said it was a mismatch from the start.

"The Thais made it one-sided," Contayoso told The Star yesterday in a phone interview from Kidapawan. "They wanted a Filipino with a name to be knocked out by Sasakul."

Sisnorio gained a small measure of respect when he stopped Fahpetchnoi Sor Chipathana for the WBC Youth crown in Samutprakarn last October. But he had since lost twice to Thais before facing Sasakul.

Contayoso said he learned of the trip to Bangkok from Sisnorio’s girlfriend Jonahmae (Lalang) Bacus, a junior education student at Central Mindanao Colleges.

"Lito got money from someone to go to Manila from Kidapawan and to Bangkok from Manila," said Contayoso. "According to Lalang, a Visayan broker from Manila called to offer the fight which was arranged by a Thai agent named Panya Prachakorn. They were responsible for bringing Lito to Thailand."

Bacus’ mother Lucia said yesterday Sisnorio was a kind man who was her daughter’s boyfriend the last two years.

"I found out Panya was in Manila and sent money for Lito to go to Davao by bus then fly to Manila and Bangkok," said Bacus. "Lito didn’t tell Uncle Iming (Contayoso) about his plans."

Contayoso, 40, said Sisnorio and another fighter Michael Rodriguez used to live in his home in Kidapawan as stay-ins but last December, they took off without bothering to say goodbye.

Rodriguez said Sisnorio, Roel (Kid) Orais and he left for Bangkok last Jan. 14 in a trip arranged by Panya through Rex Paciones who works for fight agent Bong Obero. The unlicensed three fighters departed without GAB clearance.

Sisnorio faced and lost to Pongsaklek Wonjongkam in Maesot last Jan. 26 and stayed until his fight against Sasakul. He was booked to arrive back home last Sunday.

Contayoso said last Friday, he got a call from Tony Comia of the GAB boxing division.

"Tony saw in the internet, a scheduled fight between Lito and Sasakul in Thailand," said Contayoso, a former Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines president in Cotabato. "I told him I know nothing about it because I am no longer his manager. I have no control over him. Lito was a lost boxer."

Contayoso said he never signed Sisnorio to a contract. "He was always free to go," said Contayoso. "If he did something wrong, I couldn’t do anything about it since I had no hold on him. I manage eight fighters but only three –Arnel Porras, Carlo Besares and Nino Suelo – have contracts with me."

"I discovered Lito as an amateur," said Contayoso. "I supervised his training. He had no vices. He worked out five hours a day. He was a good kid, very dedicated. When he won the WBC Youth title, lots of managers and promoters got interested in him."