According to the Bangkok Post, Payao Poontarat, a former WBC 115-pound champion and winner 1976 Olympic medalist died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) aka Lou Gehrig's disease at the age of 49. Poontarat's life, as well as his boxing career, was short, but he accomplished a lot in both. As an 18-year old, he won light flyweight bronze in the Montreal Olympics. He turned pro five years later and won his world title in 1983, defeating Rafaelo Orono by split decision. He defended once against Guty Espadas, Sr. and then lost his title to Jiro Watanabe, also by split decision. Looking back, Poontarat's accomplishments were overshadowed by Thailand's greates boxer, Khaosai Galaxi, who won the WBA title in the same weight class during Poontarat's reign. Still, Poontarat had a lot of life left in him after his 1985 retirement from boxing, as he became a policeman and then was elected to Thailand's parliament in 2001. Boxingtalk sends its condolences to the ex-champ's family. --Scott Shaffer