7 August 1976
Payao punches his way into Olympic history
Teenage boxer Payao Poontarat returned to a hero’s welcome after becoming Thailand’s first Olympic medal winner, having captured the bronze in the light flyweight division in Montreal.
Payao, 18, became a medallist by defeating a former Olympic champion and European amateur champion. He missed an opportunity for a gold or silver, losing on points in the semi-finals after suffering a cut over his eye, which he claimed was caused by a head butt.
Offers were already being made to the young boxer to turn professional, but Payao said he would prefer to continue his education and become an engineer. Payao won the bronze medal by beating former Olympic champion Gyorgy Gedo of Hungary in an upset decision on July 28. Four of the five judges gave the bout to the Thai.
Payao eventually did turn professional and won the WBC world junior bantamweight championship during the early 1980s.
7 August 1976
Payao punches his way into Olympic history
Teenage boxer Payao Poontarat returned to a hero’s welcome after becoming Thailand’s first Olympic medal winner, having captured the bronze in the light flyweight division in Montreal.
Payao, 18, became a medallist by defeating a former Olympic champion and European amateur champion. He missed an opportunity for a gold or silver, losing on points in the semi-finals after suffering a cut over his eye, which he claimed was caused by a head butt.
Offers were already being made to the young boxer to turn professional, but Payao said he would prefer to continue his education and become an engineer. Payao won the bronze medal by beating former Olympic champion Gyorgy Gedo of Hungary in an upset decision on July 28. Four of the five judges gave the bout to the Thai.
Payao eventually did turn professional and won the WBC world junior bantamweight championship during the early 1980s.