What do you do when you’ve fought 400+ times, won 358 of those match, and want to challenge yourself? Well if your Sarm- A you head to boxing. There is a fairly sizeable contingent of nak muay who tried there hand at western boxing and excelled… (Samart, somluck, Manus, Jomthong) there are more but I can’t recall them at the moment.
This was Sam-A’s professional boxing debut, from earlier in the month, we only have 1 round of footage… Sarm-A goes on to win by TKO in the first round. I’m always a bit suprised that nak muay can make the transition so easily. I would have thought a life time of doing muay thai would be counterproductive, limited footwork, head movement, would cripple a nak muay… I guess you don’t get to 358 wins by not having decent hands.
Can anyone think of other nak muay who went on to box?
August 1, 2012 at 9:57 am
Kaosai Galaxy was initially a muaythai fighter, he even fought the main event at Lumpini at one of the former trainers at Keatkhamtorn (Ajahn Lae).
I also believe Saenchai did a fair bit of pro boxing? I think Sarm-A will do well. Many of them Lukbarnyai fighters fight both muaythai and boxing as well.
I’m wondering how much the top level Thais earn fighting western boxing compared to MuayThai.
August 1, 2012 at 10:25 am
i know that the young Songkhom Sakhomsil (the one that ko’ed The-Lek) tried pro boxing this year. and back in the days Ole Kiatoneway tried boxing, but just 4 bouts, 2wins and 2lost if i remember right
August 1, 2012 at 4:12 pm
It wasn’t a win on first round. I saw the fight at Sam-A’s academy on channel 7 and it was a TKO at 3rd or 4th round… I’m not sure anymore.
August 1, 2012 at 4:23 pm
I don’t know… the whole time I’m watching this, I just want to see him fire the left leg.
August 1, 2012 at 9:45 pm
Really good technical Thai boxers can do well in boxing. The technique, discipline, coordination, balance, brains and over skill these type of fighters offer means a near seamless transition to boxing.
Look at Panomrunglek Kiatmuu9. He’s 35-1 in boxing, but you never think of him as a puncher when he fights Muay Thai. He just brings the things he’s learned as a technical Muay Thai fighter into boxing. These type of fighters, even though they aren’t known for it in Muay Thai will always have more success in pro boxing than the fighters known for knockouts from punches.
Wanheng Meenayothin is another one. I don’t know if held any stadium titles, but he was ranked top 10 at Lumpini for years, and switched between Muay Thai and boxing. http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=383177&cat=boxer
August 2, 2012 at 8:35 am
wow Wanheng is undefeated since 2007!