Controversy Arises Over Gender Identification in Upcoming Struggle. Japanese kickboxer Panchan Rina ignited controversy days earlier than her scheduled match in opposition to Thai microweight champion “Amp The Rocket” Suwanan Boonsorn by questioning her opponent’s gender id.
Gender Confusion in Japanese MMA
Panchan, who boasts an expert document of 19 wins, one loss and one draw throughout kickboxing, posted a message on social media stating that she didn’t care whether or not Boonsorn’s “coronary heart is male or feminine,” however requested that Boonsorn shave her beard for struggle evening.
The put up provoked swift criticism from followers and fellow fighters. Commenters famous that Boonsorn, born June 14, 1996 in Bangkok, is registered as feminine with the United Arab Emirates Jiu-Jitsu Federation, which requires athletes to current passports at weigh-in. Thailand doesn’t allow authorized modifications to gender markers on passports or civil registers, indicating that Boonsorn has been feminine since beginning. Suwanan Boonsorn was born feminine and competes in opposition to females in MMA and jiu-jitsu.
A number of critics characterised Panchan’s feedback as greater than typical pre-fight trash-talk. One observer wrote, “If you happen to’re a fighter, present respect to your opponent. The opponent is a girl, you recognize? Delete it.” One other argued that posts implying Boonsorn is biologically male danger deceptive followers and unfairly undermining her status.
Boonsorn, a former Full Steel Dojo microweight champion, has compiled a 5-6 combined martial arts document since debuting in 2014 and holds the inaugural Jewels microweight title. She has twice competed in Rizin event bouts and earned a number of submissions in Deep Jewels occasions. Her grappling credentials embrace blue-belt standing in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and participation within the Abu Dhabi World Skilled Jiu-Jitsu Championship in 2018 and 2019.
Japanese and international fans condemned Panchan’s remarks as insensitive. “Even if you want to hype up the fight, you should know what is acceptable,” one comment read. Another noted that targeting personal characteristics unrelated to performance – such as a beard, which some consider a matter of individual expression – crosses the line from promotion into defamation.
Panchan Rina
In late 2022, she was arrested and briefly detained in Hyōgo Prefecture on suspicion of defrauding a fan by selling a poster purportedly signed by superstars Tenshin Nasukawa and Takeru for ¥99,900, though the signatures were forged. Panchan immediately admitted the act, attributing her actions to financial losses of some ¥15 million incurred through an alleged investment scam, and issued a public apology before resuming her fighting career in mid-2023.
Panchan, 31, began her combat sports career in Tokyo’s amateur Muay Thai circuit in 2017 earlier than turning skilled in 2019. She captured her first skilled belt in August 2020 and later secured the Knockout Feminine Atomweight crown.
