Isuzu Cup (Muay Thai)

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The Isuzu Cup, also known as the Isuzu Tournament, or the Isuzu Cup Tournament was traditionally an 8-man Muay Thai tournament which took place at Siam Omnoi Stadium in Samut Sakhon every year. It is now a 6-team tournament held by Thai Fight. The tournament is organized by the Tri-Petch Group, owned by Isuzu Motors Ltd.,[1] and sanctioned by the Sports Authority of Thailand.[2] It is the most prestigious and longest-standing tournament still active in the sport of Muay Thai.[3]

The first Isuzu tournament started in late 1990 under the management of Damrong Puttan and Songchai Rattanasuban at Omnoi Stadium. The final took place in early 1991 where Rattananoi Tansarinkhan won a decision over Weesanusak Wor.Weerakul.[3]

In 1991, the tournament was moved to Samrong Stadium in Samrong, Ubon Ratchathani, under the management of local promoter Anucha Wacharatangka, the manager of eventual tournament-runner-up Yodkhunpon Sittraiphum.[4]

In 1992, the tournament was once again moved, this time to Rajadamnern Stadium and would be managed by Pol. Col. Sewak Pinsinchai, the owner of Pinsinchai Gym and Asawindam ("Black Knight") promotion, and manager of eventual tournament-runner-up Burklerk Pinsinchai.[4]

In 1994, the Isuzu Cup tournament returned to its original location at Omnoi Stadium and would be under the management of Chain Muangchon (Wirat Praianan) - the main promoter of the stadium, - until 2023.[4]

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.

From 2012 until 2024, 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.[5]

No tournament was held in 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2023, the tournament was moved away from Siam Omnoi Stadium for the first time since 1993, as it was entirely fought in a studio at BITEC Bangna in the Thai Fight promotion.[4] The tournament format was overhauled in the following year.

Tournament progression

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.

Format change (since 2024)

In 2024, the format was changed. Each region of Thailand would put forward a team of three fighters, one for each contested weight: 143, 147, and 152 lbs. Six teams—Upper Isan, Lower Isan, North, Central, East, and South—were assembled, and the representatives of each team fought against representatives of rival teams to earn points:

  • 0 points for a loss
  • 1 point for a draw
  • 2 points for a decision win
  • 3 points for a (technical) knockout win

The four teams with the most points will meet each other in the Semi-finals, and the winning teams will move onto the Final.

Prize

As of 2020:[2]

Tournament winners

Rules

References

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