Early in the week, Ruenroeng dispatched Germany’s Arthur Bril for the right to face Italy’s Carmine Tommasone in the qualifying round.
Ruenroeng is one of the two professional boxers who are competing in the qualification matches under the International Boxing Association (AIBA)
AIBA recently allowed professional boxers to jump into the final qualifying tournament for the Rio Games, a move that initially caught the attention of professional boxers who wish to win Olympic medals for their countries. But it was vigorously opposed by promoters and boxing sanctioning bodies.
Two of the more prominent boxers who earlier expressed intention to compete were Manny Pacquiao and Wladimir Klitschko, but they may have been prevailed upon by their promoters.
Before joining the Rio Olympics Qualification event, Ruenroeng suffered his first loss in his professional career against Filipino Johnriel Casimero in a rematch last May in Beijing.
Ruenroeng’s entry in the 2016 Rio Olympics is his second since 2008 when he qualified to represent his country to the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing after winning a bronze medal at the 2007 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Chicago and a gold medal at the King’s Cup in Bangkok in 2008
The 36-year-old Thai boxer had a 17-fight winning streak before his lone loss to Casimero last May. He held on to his IBF Flyweight title for two years after winning it against Filipino challenger Rocky Fuentes in 2014.
