Earlier this week, Chatri Sityodtong hosted an exclusive dinner with top Thai promoters, gym owners, and media members to discuss various hot topics and take questions. One notable subject was GLORY Featherweight champion Petchpanomrung, who recently made his ninth successful title defense with a dominant performance against Miguel Trindade in front of a sold-out Rotterdam Ahoy at GLORY 100.
With kickboxing’s growing popularity in Thailand thanks to ONE Championship, many journalists asked whether Chatri has plans to sign the 30-year-old Buriram native. Rumors have been swirling that Petchpanomrung earns just $40,000 per fight in GLORY — a figure Chatri was quick to criticize, urging the Thai champion to sign with ONE Championship once his contract expires.
"It's sad to hear that his purse is very low — it’s almost equivalent to what fighters on ONE Friday Fights earn. He should negotiate with GLORY for a purse that's 5–10 times higher. Or he can come to ONE and fight the best of the best.
Petchpanomrung is very skilled, but in his nine title defenses, most of the opponents he faced weren't top-level. GLORY’s featherweight division isn't that strong. Their best division is heavyweight. I respect Petchpanomrung, and I'd like to sign him when his contract expires. ONE will pay him much more than GLORY."
There’s been plenty of movement in the 65 kg divisions of both GLORY and ONE Championship. GLORY is set to stage another Featherweight Grand Prix in partnership with RISE, while ONE’s acquisition of K-1 champion Yuki Yoza has stirred up new interest.
