Politicians and boxing organisers have accused Muay Thai star Buakaw Por Pramuk of damaging the country's traditional martial art after he took part in the Thai Fight event in Pattaya on Tuesday.
Although he did not get approval from the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) or his handlers, Buakaw fought Russian Rustem Zaripov and therefore violated boxing law.
Buakaw remains under contract with Por Pramuk but has said he will no longer fight for the camp because of unfair treatment.
Camp owner Pramuk Rojanatan held a press conference yesterday along with Bangkok MP Samart Maluleem and boxing promoter Songchai Rattanabusan.
And in his first press conference since Buakaw left the camp last month, Pramuk urged the boxer to talk to him to try and settle their differences.
"I have not been able to contact him although I have made hundreds of phone calls," he said.
"I am ready to talk to him."
Asked about Buakaw's claim that the camp owed him three million baht, Pramuk said: "It is not true. He always lies."
Democrat MP Samart, who helped draft the Boxing Act 1999, said Buakaw was a disgrace.
He said the fighter had damaged the reputation of his sport because he participated in the Pattaya event without the green light from the authorities and his camp.
Samart added that he felt the Pattaya bout was a farce as Buakaw fought without being weighed in on the previous day and his opponent Zaripov was a substitute boxer because the original fighter was not available.
Buakaw comfortably stopped the Russian in the second round.
"How can a boxer fight without weighing in?" Samart said.
Songchai claimed Buakaw violated the law because he is being influenced by a third party.
"We should help all concerned parties to find a way out of this situation," he said.
"Buakaw can turn a crisis into an opportunity by talking to Pramuk."
Surat Sianglor, who owns a Muay Thai camp, said that the saga had affected everyone in the sport.
Nopparat Buddharatmanee, of Thai Fight organiser Sport Art Co, said that the company did not want to become involved in the rift between Buakaw and the Por Pramuk camp.
But he added that Buakaw had to participate in Thai Fight bouts because he signed a two-year contract to fight in the event.
Under the deal, Buakaw receives 750,000 baht for a domestic bout and one million baht for an overseas fight, Nopparat said.
