BevBlog: Coke, Pepsi and an Olympic boxer

In one of the stranger quirks of the now-global “Cola Wars,” Pepsi and Coke squared off over the rights to promote themselves on the hopes of an Olympic boxer from Thailand.

Reuters reported that a Thai Pepsi distributor beat Coke to the punch by setting up promotional tents at Worapoj Phetkum’s home. Coca-Cola’s Thai agents countered by cutting a deal with the boxer’s father, Thaweep. Thaweep declared that both companies can stay, as long as they behave.

“If they make problems, both will have to leave,” Thaweep told Reuters.

In other words, he wants a good, clean fight.