Feeling Guilty Over The Death Of 2019 SEA Games Silver Medalist, French Muay Thai Athlete Retires Early

French muay thai athlete, Anthony Durand. (Photo: YouTube screenshot/มวยJKN18)

JAKARTA - Muay Thai athlete from France, Anthony Durand has announced his retirement from the sport he is involved in. This decision was taken after feeling very guilty over the death of his opponent Phanphet Phadungchai.

Durand announced his retirement on Facebook. The 21-year-old fighter also paid tribute to the Phanphet family.

"I realize I'm not responsible for what happened but I can't think 'It's a risk, at some point, you have to accept it'," Durand wrote.

"It's a big shock, maybe he took a lot of punches before that fight. It's inexplicable but it's fate and I have no right to go against it."

Durand then hoped that the deceased could rest in peace. He also committed to their mother, wife, and little girl to contribute financially. "Until they tell me they don't need it anymore," he said.

He then added, "This is my 28th fight, but this is the last. I will not be returning. Thank you to everyone who has been there since my debut and I'm sorry because I know that some people have sacrificed a lot to see me. at the top."

Phanphet and Durand fight at the Thupatemi Air Force boxing stadium in Pathum Thani province, central Thailand, on July 15. Durand's elbow hit Phanphet's jaw ended the fight in the fifth round.

Durand's brutal punch knocked his opponent down and his head hit the canvas hard. The Thai-born fighter was declared 'brain dead' after being rushed to a nearby hospital in Bangkok soon after the incident.

He is known to have suffered a brain hemorrhage as a result of the impact. Phanphet is later pronounced dead from his injuries and leaves Durand feeling guilty.

Doctors initially said Phanphet had entered an "irreversible state of brain death", but the fighter fought for his life on a respirator for nine days before dying on Saturday night.

Phanphet's death has shaken the muay thai world as well as Thailand. Phanphet previously competed for the Thailand national team and won a silver medal at the 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines.