THE first of the overseas boxers for Saturday night's Battle on the Goldfields II event have touched down in Bendigo.
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Thai fighters Saranyaphong Theinthong and Atitaya Saisin went through their paces at the California Gully gym of brother Pat and Gary Connolly on Tuesday night.
Light flyweight Theinthong is up against American Marina Ramirez, who arrived in Australia on Monday.
Tough Filipino Neil John Tabanao, who will fight emerging Australian star Ibrahim Balla for the vacant WBO Oriental featherweight title in the night's main event, landed in Bendigo on Wednesday.
The Thais appearance on the Bendigo card has been made possible through a developing alliance between Bendigo promoter Lynden Hosking and his Thai contemporary Narongwas Buamas.
They first worked together on the most recent Hosking Promotions show in Warrnambool on April 9.
Hosking said the agreement would provide potential overseas opportunities for boxers in both countries, including Bendigo pair Brad Morgan and Matt Hall.
"It's about helping each other - Narongwas is very well known in Asia and we're hoping we can have a reciprocal relationship going where we can tale some guys and girls over to Thailand, or China," he said.
"Especially with the (Australian) girls, it's very hard to find quality opponents for our fighters - this gives them a good stream of potential opponents.
"The Thai girls are all love to fight and they're tough.
"We don't want easy fights for our girls."
Narongwas, who managed about 30 fighters, including a handful of Asian champions, said the deal gave his fighters exposure outside their home region and continent.
"The girls love to come out here and see Australia," he said.
Saisin, a featherweight, will be making her boxing debut against Queenslander Chemeka Johnson, but is a veteran of more than 60 Muay Thai bouts across the last seven years.
"I want the (boxing) experience," she said.
"And I want to be a champion."
Theinthong is lining up for her sixth bout and despite a 0-5 record, has already fought for a world title.
The 28-year-old lost a points decision against Dan Bi Kim for the International Female Boxers Association World minimumweight title in South Korea in 2014.
Battle on the Goldfields II is on Saturday at Bendigo Stadium.
