The Isuzu Cup, also known as the Isuzu Tournament, or the Isuzu Cup Tournament is an 8-man Muay Thai tournament which takes place at Siam Omnoi Stadium in Samut Sakhon every year. 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 well-known as one of the best and the longest-standing tournament still active in the sport of Muay Thai.^[3]

History

The first Isuzu tournament started in late 1990. The final took place in early 1991 where Rattananoi Tansarinkhan won a decision over Weesanusak Wor.Weerakul.^[3]

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.

In 2012, the format was slightly changed as 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.^[4]

Many Muay Thai fans have criticized the tournament weight since the start of the partnership with Thai Fight as the lower divisions are generally considered to have stronger competition.

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, where it will be:

• Group A winner vs Group B runner-up
• Group B winner vs Group A runner-up

The third, and last stage is the tournament Final, which pits the winners of the Semi-finals against each other.

Tournament Winners

N°	Year	Winner	Runner-up	Weight	Notes
1	1990	Rattananoi Tansaringkhan[6]	Weesanusak Wor.Weerakul	N/A
2	1991	Robert Kaennorasing[7]	Yodkhunpon Sittraiphum	116 lbs
3	1992	Lakhin Wassantasit[8]	Burklerk Pinsinchai	115 lbs
4	1994	Malaitong Saktewan	Charuad Manwoot	N/A
5	1995	MuayEk Kiatchaiyong	Morakot Sor.Thamarangsi	N/A
6	1996	Suwitlek Sor.Kaokarat[9]	Chanchai Sor.Thammrangsri	135 lbs
7	1997	Anantasak Panyuthaphum[7]	Singdam Or.Ukrit	126 lbs
8	1998	Samingdet Chor.Watcharin[10]	Petchawang Aborigin	N/A
9	1999	Manja Kiatnapachai	Detpanom Lukprabaht	N/A
10	2000	Sangmorakot Sor.Ploenjit	Ittidet Sor.Boonya	N/A
11	2001	Saenchernglek Jirakriangkrai[11]	Pokaew Sitchafuang	N/A
12	2002	Pinsiam Sor.Amnuaysirichok[12]	Wansongkram Or.Phanatnikhom	118 lbs
13	2003	Panomrunglek Kiatmuu9[13]	Wanviset Lukbanyai	108 lbs	Due to a draw in the initial Final, the two had to fight again to decide the tournament winner.
14	2004	Anuwat Kaewsamrit	Duwao Kongudom	122 lbs	Anuwat won the Sports Authority and Sports Writers Fighter of the Year Award in that year.
15	2005	Surasing Nongkeepahuyuth	Sittisak Sit-Or	118 lbs
16	2006	Rakkiat Kiatprapat[14]	Rittichak Kaewsamrit	118 lbs
17	2007	Phet-Ek Sitjaopho[15][16]	Longern Pitakruchaidan	125 lbs
18	2008	Rungruanglek Lukprabat[17][18]	Manasak Narupai	118 lbs
19	2009	Yodtuanthong Wiramanokul[19]	Parnpet Chor Na Phatthalung	130 lbs
20	2010	Petchmankong Phetfergus[20]	Saenchainoi Pumpanmuang	135 lbs
21	2011	Kem Sitsongpeenong	Nopparat Keatkhamtorn	148 lbs	First year of Thai Fight partnership, hence the tournament weight increase for following years.
22	2012	Singmanee Kaewsamrit	Superbon Lukjaomaesaivaree	145 lbs
23	2013	Fahmongkol S.J.Danrayong[21]	Sinmanut Sor.Sarinya	140 lbs
24	2014	Chanajon P.K.Saenchaigym[22]	Ekchanachai Kaewsamrit	159 lbs
25	2015	Rungrawee P.K.SaenchaiMuaythaiGym[23]	Detrit Poptheratham	154 lbs
26	2016	PTT Phetrungruang[24]	Diesellek Pangkongprab	154 lbs
27	2017	Aroondet Phetsupaphan[5]	Duangsompong Nayok-A-Thasala	147 lbs
28	2018	Satanfah Puicharleefresh	Chalampet Tor.Laksong	147 lbs
29	2019	Petchmahachon Jitmuangnon	Ploywitthaya Petsimuen	138 lbs
30	2020	Kongklai EnnyMuayThai[25]	Prabsuk Sit-Opal	140 lbs	Kongklai won by KO, he went on to win the SAT Fighter of the Year Award by unanimous vote.
31	2021	Petchtongchai TBMgym[26]	Hercules Phetsimean	138 lbs	The final was delayed for a year due to the covid-19 pandemic.

Rules

The tournament is conducted in Sports Authority of Thailand Muay Thai rules:

• Each fight consists of 5 rounds of 3 minutes with 2-minute breaks between each round.
• Fights can be won by decision, knockout, or technical knockout.

References