Sad ending to boxer Srisaket’s love story

Her post has stunned the Thai public, which still vividly remembers how Srisaket got down on one knee to propose to her last September and talked about their sweet relationships during their most difficult years. 
Patchareewan had been Srisaket’s live-in girlfriend for about 14 years. 
“We ended it well so please respect our decision. We will stay friends and there are no hard feelings on either side. I would like everyone to give him their support as he fights to bring pride and fame to the country [in the boxing ring]. Thank you for your support,” Patchareewan said on her Facebook. 
She attached photos of the former couple smiling, emphasising that their friendship remained strong despite the break-up.
A few hours before the break-up post, Patchareewan uploaded a message hinting at the split, writing: “[I] already wired the money back. This is the start of my being officially single. Good luck.”
The break-up declaration drew many comments, most of them expressing encouragement although some speculated about what had caused the split.
Srisaket, whose real name is Wisaksil Wangek, did not have an easy life, migrating from the Northeast to Bangkok where he held several jobs, including as a security guard at a Bang Na department store and a garbage collector, before rising to fame in the boxing ring.
Srisaket defeated the former titleholder Roman “Chocoltito” Gonzalez during their rematch last September, becoming the first Thai boxer to successfully defend the title in the US.
Upon his victorious return to Thailand on September 12, he surprised Patchareewan, his girlfriend of 14 years, by going down on one knee and asking her marry him in front of his family and supporters at Suvarnabhumi Airport. Srisaket’s village-headman father Jiamsak Wangek said yesterday that he was puzzled by the break-up although he admitted that Patchareewan’s parents had the previous evening collected five cows that she had left for Jiamsak to rear.
“I don’t want to believe that they have split up” Jiamsak said. “They have been through so many things together. They even shared one boiled egg when they were poor.”
Jiamsak said he hoped the couple would calm down and be patient. 
“When you stay together, quarrels sometimes happen,” he said.