Mongkutphet revealed that a referee approached her during the medal ceremony at the 2025 SEA Games and said, "I am sorry."
On 18 December 2025, after Arisara Nun-ied, also known as Mongkutphet Phetpraowfa, a female Thai boxer in the 45 kg category, gave an interview following the 2025 SEA Games gold medal final, which ended in her defeat amid doubts from spectators and the boxing community.
Similarly, “Siabot” Natdet Wachiraratwong, promoter of the Petchyindee camp, admitted to Thairath Sport that it was a disgraceful fight, unlike anything he had ever seen before in his life, especially since the competition was held on home soil.
Recently, Mongkutphet posted on Facebook, "What am I supposed to think? After the medal ceremony finished, several foreign referees came up and said to me, 'I am sorry, I am sorry,' two or three of them."
The phrase "I am sorry" can be interpreted in two ways: "I apologize" or "I feel sorry for you," and it remains unclear which meaning the referee intended when speaking to her.
