BANGKOK: The World Muay Thai Organization (WMO) has announced that it is stripping Brazilian fighter, Thiago Teixeira, of his WMO World Title and banning him from all future WMO activities, citing “politically motivated and fundamentally unsportsmanlike” behavior.

In an official statement released on Thursday, 6 April 2023, WMO announced that a “thorough review” had been conducted on Teixeira’s actions “before and after” his ‘Apex Fight Series’ middleweight title-winning fight in Germany on 1 April, from which the organization determined that the Brazilian fighter’s actions had brought the sport of Muay Thai “into disrepute”.

WMO state that Teixeira has trained and taught Muay Thai for many years, competed at the highest level in the country and also has a "Muay Thai" tattoo on his back. Additionally, the statement says Teixeira “resides on the Island of Koh Samui in Thailand and trains and allegedly has ownership in ‘Super 8 Muay Thai’ and also claims to promote Muay Thai events at a local stadium.”

"However, he now claims that he is no longer a Muay Thai boxer and instead wishes to pursue and represent another martial art” explained WMO, with the other martial art presumably being Kun Khmer.

Teixeira wore a pair of Kun Khmer boxing shorts for his fight in Germany, and was also seen proudly wearing the Cambodian flag around his neck after winning the title.

^{PHOTO: TORSTEN HELMKE}