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In his swan-song Olympiad attempt and perhaps the last bout in his life, the 33-year-old  trounced  the  30-year-old Pan American Champion 8-2  to produce the second gold medal for Thailand in Beijing after Prapawadee Jaroenrattanatarakoon  won the women's 53kg weightlifting event last week.

Somjit, who had to shed tears after crashing out early in Athens four years ago, is one of the most favourite Thai athletes due to his strong determination and well disciplinary.

He will return to Thailand on  Monday a multi-millionaire with more than Bt15 million incentive money from the government and private sectors waiting on homesoil.

Meanwhile in Thailand, thousands of families, fans and media crews bombarded houses of the two boxers, Somjit's in Nakhon Ratchasima and Manus's in Ratchaburi, to watch live coverage and lend supports.

Somjit's wife, Sasithorn, said she was very happy about the victory.

She said she has not prepared anything for her husband yet, but she will definitely have something special for him.

"He is always determined,and he did it," Sasithorn said.

She said Somjit will become a boxing coach.

"The victory was the present for the seventh birthday for his son," Sasithorn said.

"My father is so cool. I want to be like him," the boy said on a TV live coverage.