Muay Thai athlete Mahahin Petkiatpet has been banned for life by ONE Championship following his second-round knockout loss to Dionatha Santos Tobias at ONE Friday Fights 89. The match ended in a knockout raised eyebrows among insiders, sparking widespread speculation that Petkiatpet may have intentionally thrown the fight.
MAHAHIN PETKIATPET BANNED FOR LIFE
The controversy surrounding the bout has led to an investigation by ONE Championship, with the organization swiftly taking action to impose a lifetime ban on the 25-year-old fighter. The decision was made after the fight generated suspicions, particularly regarding the way Petkiatpet seemed to offer little resistance during the second-round stoppage.
Mahahin's team, Kiatpetch Promotions, has publicly apologized for the incident, with promoter Deer Kiatpetch expressing regret over the embarrassment caused. "I am one of the promoters who can offer boxers to fight in the program ONE Lumpinee," Kiatpetch said in a statement. "I have to apologize to ONE deeply that the boxers in my affiliation have caused damage to the organization. I did not sit still and immediately watched and the results were not good."
Kiatpetch further emphasized the need for adherence to standards of competition, "Mahahin no longer fights and agrees with the punishment. Let this case be a sample case with a boxer from Kiatpetch. I am ready to support all boxers to make progress, but I ask all boxers to be honest with their profession and fully engage in their fights."
Speculation has centered around the possibility of gambling fraud, with some suggesting that Mahahin intentionally threw the match to influence betting outcomes. Allegations of fighters betting on themselves to lose in order to win a wager are not new, and such actions are illegal in all organizations.
"The Muay Thai fighter may have been involved in match-fixing," Kiatpetch remarked, “Boxers need to know that if they violate ONE's contract, they will be held accountable. We will take strict action against any violation of this nature.”
Kiatpetch confirmed that Mahahin's training would be put on hold indefinitely. While there is still uncertainty surrounding the specifics of the situation, Kiatpetch has left the door open for the fighter to explain his actions. "We’re open to hearing from him about what happened. If his explanation makes sense, we may consider giving him another chance. However, one thing is certain – he has brought embarrassment to the team, and his future in this sport is now in question."
For now, Mahahin's career hangs in the balance as he faces a lifetime ban as a consequence of his actions.
