KHUNSUK PETCHSUPAPAN“THE ROMAN WARRIOR”
KHUNSUK PETCHSUPAPAN
“THE ROMAN WARRIOR”
BY SERGE TREFEU
SIAMFIGHTMAG@SINCE2005
Khunsuk Petchsupapan, whose real name is Chamnan Chimnok, was born on December 5, 1978, in the village of Phum Lam Nao, Kaeng Khro district, Chaiyaphum province (northeast Thailand). The Chimnok family had two children, Chamnan being the eldest.
He discovered Muay Thai at the age of 12, under the guidance of coach Thawin Phiraksa. His first fight didn’t go as planned, as he was knocked out in the first round… But Chamnan didn’t give up. Tenaciously, he persisted in the sport and, through hard work, managed to rack up his first victories.
Chamnan then chose the combat name Khunsuk, meaning “the warlord,” when he joined the Sun Weela Rewadee camp, where he fought under the name Khunsuk Sun Weela Rewadee. It was at this camp that he began to make a name for himself, fighting regularly in the Bangkok area. He also trained at the Samphanthi camp, located in Nonthaburi.
He then joined the prestigious Petchsupaphan camp, run by the great promoter Sia Boo Muang Phet (Pradit Srisaphirak), with Ajahn Yay Muangsuphan as his head coach. The camp, located in Phetchaburi (160 km south of Bangkok), was renowned for producing great champions. Among the most famous are Namsuk Petchsupaphan (Lumpinee champion, winner of the TV7 Tiger Cement Tournament), Mongkolchai Petchsupaphan (Radja champion, TV7 champion, Omnoi champion), Phetmanee Petchsupaphan (Lumpinee champion), Phueng Noi Petchsupaphan (Lumpinee champion), Fahmongkol Petchsupaphan (Omnoi champion).
Khunsuk built a reputation for his devastating kicks and fearsome knee strikes. Gamblers quickly dubbed him “Asawinmameud” (the black knight), and later “Nakrop Roman” (the Roman warrior).
A formidable fighter with a very strong physique, Khunsuk was feared for his middle kicks, reputed to be the most powerful on the circuit at the time.
He first came to the attention of Bangkok’s top promoters when, at the age of 18, in 1996, he defeated the robust Rakhangkaew Sakmuangklaeng in a fierce fight.
In 1997, after unsuccessfully competing against champion Waritnoi Chumpornpitak and the formidable Muay Khao (knee specialist) Bakjo Sor Pannuch, Khunsuk was given a golden opportunity to challenge the 130 lbs Radja champion, Thewaritnoi SKV Gym, a great champion who later defeated the star Buakaw Por Pramuk in 2001.
At just 19 years old, Khunsuk achieved a remarkable feat by defeating Thewaritnoi and capturing the 130 lbs Radja title!
In 1998, at the Lumpinee Stadium, Khunsuk faced the current star, nicknamed “Batman,” Samkor Kietmontep (Lumpinee champion in 122 lbs, 130 lbs, 135 lbs, and Thai champion in 135 lbs) on March 3. Despite a strong performance, he lost on points to this legend.
But on October 10 of the same year, Khunsuk put on a tremendous performance by defeating Lumpinee’s other great star, Mathee Jadeepitak (Lumpinee champion, WMC world champion).
The year 1999 was exceptional for the Black Knight of Chaiyaphum.
On March 26, 1999, he defeated the then-star Lamnamoon Sor Sumalee (Lumpinee champion at 115 lbs, 126 lbs, and 130 lbs), nicknamed “Khun Khao Weetan” (the vampire knee), to win the Lumpinee 130 lbs title.
At just 21 years old, Khunsuk became champion of Bangkok’s two largest stadiums, Radja and Lumpinee, a remarkable feat.
On May 11, still at Lumpinee Stadium, he defeated Attachai Por Samranchai (Lumpinee Champion), a superb technician who, a few years later, would dominate numerous European champions.
A month later, on June 22, at Lumpinee Stadium, Khunsuk took his revenge against the phenomenal Samkor Kietmontep, confirming his status as a rising Muay Thai star.
In July 1999, at Lumpinee Stadium, Khunsuk caused a surprise by defeating the immense champion Kaolan Kaovichit (Lumpinee champion in 115 lbs, 130 lbs, and 147 lbs, WMTC world champion in 135 lbs, voted Best Boxer of the Year in 1998). Kaolan was the heavy favorite for the match, but Khunsuk, on the rise, won brilliantly.
On August 10, 1999, still at Lumpinee, the two men met for a rematch, this time with the Lumpinee 135 lbs title on the line. In a fight of rare intensity, Khunsuk defeated Kaolan by knockout, winning the title as well as the “Best Boxer of the Evening” trophy. A real accolade.
A third fight took place shortly after, in Phetchaburi province, where Khunsuk defeated Kaolan once again. In a total of four fights, Khunsuk would defeat the star Kaolan Kaovichit three times!
In 2000, on January 29, at Lumpinee, Khunsuk continued his prestigious run by defeating Kaoponglek Luksuratham (Lumpinee champion at 130 lbs, world champion at 140 and 147 lbs, and 1995 Boxer of the Year).
That same year, Khunsuk fought two titanic matches against superstar Namsaknoi Yudthagarngamtorn (Lumpinee champion at 112 lbs, 130 lbs, and 135 lbs, WMC and WAKO world champion, and Boxer of the Year in 1996 and 1999).
The two men were considered the best boxers in Thailand at the time. Finalists for the prestigious “Boxer of the Year 1999” award from the prestigious Sports Authority of Thailand, their duel would decide the outcome.
Khunsuk had won six straight bouts in 1999, with triumphs over Lamnamoon Sor Sumalee (Lumpinee 130 lbs title), Attachai Por Samranchai, Samkor Kietmontep, and Kaolan Kaovichit three times (including a memorable knockout for the Lumpinee 135 lbs title).
As for Namsaknoi, he had five wins against Kochasan Singklongsee, Baiphet Loogjaomaesaiwaree, Thongthai Sitchomphob, and Lamnamoon (Lumpinee 130 lbs title).
On February 29, 2000, at Lumpinee, Khunsuk and Namsaknoi faced off for the final. In a high-intensity fight, it was Namsaknoi who won, earning the title of “Best Boxer of the Year 1999”.
On November 4, 2000, they met again for the Lumpinee 135 lbs title, held by Namsaknoi. Despite a heroic fight, Khunsuk lost again on points.
In total, the two champions faced each other four times, but Khunsuk would never defeat the man nicknamed “the emperor of the rings”…
In 2001, at the Lumpinee stadium, Khunsuk faced his old rival Samkor Kietmontep. On May 11, the two warriors neutralized each other in a draw. A year later, they met again at Lumpinee, and this time, Samkor won on points.
The year 2002 was a complicated one for Khunsuk, marked by his clashes with Thai icon Buakaw Por Pramuk. Initially defeated for the Omnoi belt at 140 lbs, he faced Buakaw on December 14th in the semifinals of the prestigious Toyota Marathon. Once again, Khunsuk lost on points. Buakaw would go on to win the tournament that year.
In 2003, on March 28th, Khunsuk and Samkor met for the fifth time. In a fierce battle, Khunsuk narrowly won on points. But on May 2nd, for their sixth and final clash, Samkor took his revenge. Their rivalry would go on to become legendary, with six fights: two wins for Khunsuk, three for Samkor, and one draw.
That same year, Khunsuk faced Buakaw twice again: on May 31st at Omnoi, and then six months later at Lumpinee. Both times, he lost on points. In four encounters, Khunsuk would never manage to beat the man who would become the world’s K-1 star…
On October 7, 2003, at Lumpinee, Khunsuk faced another legendary name: Frenchman Jean-Charles Skarbowsky, nicknamed Namhom Morana (“The Deadly Scent”). A formidable puncher, Skarbowsky ended the fight in the fourth round with a devastating elbow that forced the referee to stop Khunsuk, who was too injured to continue.
On April 10, 2004, in Bangkok, Khunsuk bounced back by defeating Radja champion Mangkong Kiatsomkorn on points.
A few months later, on December 5, 2004, at the King’s Birthday Grand Show, Khunsuk faced Skarbowsky in the S1 tournament (-72 kg), one weight class above their usual weight. Khunsuk shone. He defeated Skarbowsky in the quarterfinals, dominated Wanlop Sitpholek (Thailand champion, world champion) in the semifinals, and won the final against the Czech Michal Hangsut. Khunsuk was crowned the winner of the S1 Tournament!
However, in 2005, Skarbowsky definitively gained the upper hand. On February 18th and again on March 25th at Lumpinee, the Frenchman defeated Khunsuk on points. On June 4th, at Omnoi Stadium, Skarbowsky concluded their rivalry with a fourth-round knockout. The two warriors would go on to face each other five times, in epic duels.
On April 30th, 2005, Khunsuk scored a decisive victory against Petchnamek Sor Siriwat (Lumpinee champion, WMC world champion), before drawing in their rematch on October 7th.
On September 9th, 2005, at Lumpinee, he faced Narupol Fairtex for the 140 lbs Thai title. After an intense fight, Khunsuk lost on points.
His last fight took place in Hong Kong, against puncher Ekapol Juke (WKN world champion). Khunsuk lost by knockout.
Nicknamed “the Roman Warrior” (Nakrop Roman), Khunsuk left his mark on the 1990s and 2000s with his powerful style, devastating kicks, and steely mentality. He inflamed the Bangkok punters, taking on the greatest and besting the likes of Saendet Sasiprapa Gym, Michael Thamkasem, Krikchai Kaewsamrit, and the star Thedkiat Sitthepphithak.
After his long career, Khunsuk became a trainer in Hong Kong for three years. But he had to return to Thailand to treat bone tuberculosis. Once recovered, he returned to the ring, this time in the role of mentor. Today, in Bangkok, the legendary “Black Knight” passes on his knowledge and heritage to new generations, faithful to his passion for Muay Thai.