Some amazing Muay Thai Practitioners to find out more about and to be inspired.
Apidej Sit Hirun
Apidej Sit Hirun (born Narong Yaenprateep in September 1941, in Samut Songkhram, Thailand) is a legend in Muay Thai circles, best known for his powerful kicks. Apidej simultaneously held no fewer than seven Muay Thai and boxing titles for a period during the 1960's.
Thereafter, he was acclaimed as a national hero and the ‘Muay Thai Fighter of the Century’ by King Bhumibol Adulyadej2 . After his retirement, Apidej taught as an instructor at the Fairtex school outside Bangkok, Thailand alongside modern champions such as Yodsaenklai Fairtex and Kaew Fairtex.
Dieselnoi Chor Thanasukarn
Dieselnoi Chor Thanasukarn (born December 26, 1961 as Charin Sorndee in Tambon Huakoon, Nakhon Luang of Ayutthaya province) was an undefeated Lumpinee Stadium but was (ludicrously) stripped of his title and forced to retire after being undefeated for 4 consecutive years because there was no one in his weight division left for him to fight!
Owing to his exceptional height for a Thai, he was renowned for his trademark knee attacks which made life difficult for his opponents!
Samart Payakaroon
Samart Payakaroon is a legendary Muay Thai boxer born on 5 December 1962 in Chacherngsao Province. His real name is Samart Tiptarmai. He was introduced to Muay Thai when he was 11 years old by his elder brother, Kongtoranee Payakaroon. His Muay Thai teacher was GM Sken’s mentor, Grand Master Yodthong Senanan (who owns the famous Sityodthong camp in Pattaya Thailand). After fought more than 100 matches (orthodox stance), he went to Bangkok to fight at Lumpinee Stadium in 1978. Samart was nicknamed Payaknayok because of his film star good looks and because he fights like a tiger (Payak means tiger in Thai).
Samart’s awards/honours:
* 105 lb Champion of Lumpinee Stadium in 1980 * 108 lb Champion of Lumpinee Stadium in 1980 * 115 lb Champion of Lumpinee Stadium in 1981 * 126 lb Champion of Lumpinee Stadium in 1981
In 1982, he turned to western boxing where he fought from a southpaw stance ( he could fight with equal ability in either stance). In 1986, he won the WBC junior featherweight title with a surprise KO over rock-jawed Lupe Pintor in the fifth round. Samart then defended his title against the respected Juan Meza before being stopped by undefeated Australian Jeff Fenech. Samart was named by the Ring magazine as its ‘Most Progressive Fighter’ for 1986.
Anuwat Kaewsamrit
Anuwat Kaewsamrit (born November 17, 1981) fought out of the Kaewsamrit Gym in Bangkok.
He won the Lumpini and Rajadamnern Champion title and is already seen as a legend in Muay Thai. Anuwat is known for his powerful hands and is often referred to as “Mike Tyson” or “The Iron Hands of Siam”.
Anuwat’s awards/honours:
* Lumpini Stadium Featherweight Champion * Rajadamnern Stadium Featherweight Champion * S1 Featherweight Champion * WBC Featherweight Champion * WPMF Featherweight Champion * Omnoi stadium Super-bantamweight champion * 14th Isuzu cup tournament champion * Rajadamnern Stadium champion at Mini-flyweight, Light-flyweight and super-flyweight. * Two time Muay Thai Boxer of the year award
Changpuek Kiatsongrit
Changpuek Kiatsongrit (born October 13, 1966) is credited with being one of the first Muay Thai fighters to go abroad to fight against other martial arts styles and through his wins, brought fame worldwide to Muay Thai as a devastating martial art. He achieved memorable victories against ‘greats’ such as Rick Roufus, Rob Kaman and Andy Hug. He was also a K-2 (K-1) finalist in 1993, runner up to Ernesto Hoost.
Dany Bill
Dany Bill (born April 28, 1973) is a French Muay Thai fighter and 7-times Muay Thai World Champion. Dany Bill has been one of the best ‘farangs’ (Thai for ‘foreigners’) who have fought in Thailand. He's also a music producer and owns an independent label Underground Academy.
Dany’s awards/honours:
* 1988 French Cadet Muay Thai Champion * 1989 French Junior Muay Thai Champion * 1990 French Senior Muay Thai Champion * 1993-1999 7 times World Muay Thai Champion
Yodsanklai Fairtex
Yodsaenklai Fairtex a.k.a. Yod (born July 1, 1985) is the reigning Light-Middleweight WBC Muay Thai World champion and former three times Lumpinee Stadium champion at 112, 147 and 154 lb. He trains out of Fairtex Gym in Pattaya, Thailand and is the current (2008) and first champion of The Contender Asia.
He was nicknamed "The Boxing Computer" by Thai sports newspapers as a testament to his perfectly clinical fighting technique.
Yodsanklai’s awards/honours
* 2009 WPMF World champion at 160 lb * 2008 Super 8 Guinea tournament champion * 2008 WMC World champion at 154 lb * 2008 WMC Contender Asia champion * 2008 KO World Series Auckland Middleweight champion * 2005 WBC Muay Thai World champion at 154 lb * 2005 Champion of Thailand at 154 lb * 2005 Champion of Lumpinee Stadium at 147 lb * 2003 Champion of Toyota D4D Marathon at 126 lb * 2001 Lumpinee champion at 112 lb
Buakaw Por Pramuk
Buakaw Por Pramuk (born May 8, 1982) is a welterweight Muay Thai boxer and kickboxer, fighting out of Por Pramuk Gym, in Bangkok, Thailand. He is a former Omnoi Stadium champion and two time, 2004, 2006 K-1 World MAX champion. He is a tremendously graceful, all-round, fighter who is a virtuoso in delivering devastating punches and kicks from all angles. Many view him as the best pound for pound fighter on the K1 circuit.
Buakaw’s awards/honours:
* 2006 K-1 World MAX Champion * 2006 K-1 World MAX Champion * 2006 WMC Middleweight World Champion * 2005 S-1 Super-Welterweight World Champion * 2005 K-1 World MAX Finalist * 2004 K-1 World MAX Champion * 2003 KOMA GP Lightweight Champion * 2002 Toyota Muay Thai marathon tournament 140 lb. class winner * Lumpinee Stadium Lightweight 2nd place * Omnoi Stadium Lightweight Champion * 2001 Muay Thai Authority of Thailand Featherweight Champion * Omnoi Stadium Featherweight Champion
Saenchai Sor Kingstar
Saenchai Sor Kingstar (born July 30, 1980) is a living legend in Muay Thai, having won the Lumpini Championship title in three different weight divisions. He is justifiably considered -pound for pound - one of the very best Muay Thai fighters in the world. Saenchai often gives up 5 lbs or more in weight to find worthy opponents in Thailand and abroad. He’s known for having excellent ring vision and speed.
Saenchai’s awards/honours:
* Lumpini Stadium Champion (115 lbs/52 kg) * Lumpini Stadium Champion (118 lbs/53 kg) * Lumpini Stadium Champion (130 lbs/59 kg) * Voted 1999 Fighter of the Year (Thailand) * Voted 2008 Fighter of the Year (Thailand) * 2009 Sports Personality of the Year (Thailand)