PHANPAYAK JITMUANGNON (Career 2010-2020)
Phanpayak (The Racy Tiger) Jitmuangnon was born on January 7, 1996 in Samut Prakarn, a city located 30 km from Bangkok. Phanpayak comes from a very poor family of 6 brothers and sisters. The Saeng Ngoen family is a boxing family. The father, Suthep Saeng Ngoen was a boxing enthusiast, he trained his sons in Muay Thai.
Phanpayak’s big brother, born June 21, 1982, was a famous boxer named Kompayak. He fought first under the name of Kompayak Sor Phanajupeth, then, Kompayak Weerasak Lek and for the legendary Fairtex camp with the name of Kompayak Fairtex. In the 2000s, he carried out a lot of hard fights in the big stadiums of Bangkok, he was classified N° 1 in the stadium of Lumpinee in the bantamweight category.
Phanpayak’s little brother is also a great fighter who was a very young champion from central Thailand, his fighter name is Kiewpayak (Tiger’s Fangs). The two brothers often fought in the same evenings in the stadiums of Lumpinee and Radja. Like his brother, Kiewpayak is a slender boxer who uses his middles and knees very well, is a Fimeuu (Technician) and a Muay Kwaa (right-handed boxer). On September 2, 2016, Kiewpayak won the Lumpinee belt in 112 lbs against the formidable Ronnachai Santi-Ubon. He is now fighting in the 126 lbs category where he is ranked N° 3 in the stadium of Lumpinee.
Phanpayak whose real name is Klaw-Teawan Saeng Ngoen started boxing at the age of 8, he wanted to become a great boxer like his first idol, his big brother Kompayak. Phanpayak won his first three fights by KO!
His father put him through very hard training. As a child, Phanpayak would get up at 4 a.m. for a run and train for several hours before heading to school. On weekends, his father took him and his little brother Kiewpayak to fight at village festivals in the provinces. But the Saeng Ngoen family did not have a car. They had to travel by bus and train to go to the villages where the boxing matches were held. His first purse was 300 baht. The small purses won by the little nakmuays sometimes did not even allow them to pay for the return train tickets. So, they were forced to defraud transport to return home…
After learning the basics of Muay Thai from his father, Phanpayak continued his training at Luksadet Bangmanhai camp. Then, at age 15, he joined the famous Jitmuangnon camp in Nonthaburi, north of Bangkok. In this camp, which is one of the most important in Bangkok, there were champions like Phetkarat (TV7 Champion), Phetsiam (400 fights), Peemai (Omnoi Champion, WPMF World Champion), Keng (N° 4 Lumpinee), Kumantong (N° 5 Lumpinee), Rit (N° 5 Lumpinee), Kengkla (Lumpinee Champion, TV7 Champion) and Kengkart (Radja Champion, TV7 champion, Thailand champion).
A year after his incorporation into the Jitmuangnon camp, this wonder boy of Muay Thai, won his first belt in the stadium of Radja in 105 lbs at only 16 years old. In 2012, he beat the great champion Phet Or Phimonsri. The following year, at 17 years old, during a big event organized by the promoter Songchai Ratanasuban, an evening which took place on May 2, 2013, in the stadium of Ratchadamnoen, the young Phanpayak won his second belt in the stadium of Radja (Belt of Radja in 108 lbs) against Ruangsak Sitniwat!
For this shock against the defending champion Ruangsak Sitniwat (Radja Champion in 108 lbs), Phanpayak had trained very hard with his partners from the Jitmuangnon camp. During his training, every day he did 500 middles in the punching bag, then he would run for an hour and immediately after his jogging, he did 500 middles in paos. This gladiatorial preparation paid off. Because Phanpayak won a great victory against the champion Ruangsak who was given favorite for this meeting…
At only 18 years old, this prodigious boxer had already made 230 fights for 198 victories, 30 defeats and 2 draws, Phanpayak now has nearly 300 fights to his credit!
During the year 2013 and 2014, Phanpayak beat the best of the 112 lbs and 115 lbs category such as Phetdam Phetnopakao, Dungpriag Sitkriangkrai, Siangtong Sor Suradej, Phetlamsin Kiatphontip, Yothin Sakaetongresort, Sarawute Phithakpabhadang, Jaikmhodkami Sakami, Chankhadami, Chankhadami, Chankhadami Or Phimonsri and Trakulphet Sor Sommai. Then, Phanpayak moved up the category to face the champions of the 122 lbs and 126 lbs category.
Phanpayak won against the best of the 126 lbs category and he quickly became part of the “Yod” (Fighter best of the best) by receiving purses of 100,000 baht. It is therefore no surprise that in April 2014, Phanpayak was voted “Best Boxer of the Year 2013” by the prestigious The Sport Writers Association of Thailand!
Phanpayak succeeded the two other young phenomena Sangmanee Sor Tienpoh and Yodvicha Por Boonsit who had won this famous trophy in 2012.
The judges gave this coveted title to the young Phanpayak because they considered that he had made a remarkable year 2013 by winning practically all his fights with 8 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat in 10 matches.
In 2013, Phanpayak retained his Radja belt in 105 lbs by beating Yotmanut Petpotong on points. In Buriram, in the North-East, just six days after his fight to defend his title, he lost a points match against the formidable Yuthasak Sakburiram (TV7 Champion in 105 lbs). Then, in the stadium of Radja, he drew against Seankeng Nuicofeeboran (TV7 Champion in 122 lbs).
In the stadium of Lumpinee, he beat by KO, Yothin Sakaetongresort and on points, Sarawute Phithakpabhadang (TV7 Champion in 108 lbs).
In the stadium of Radja, he stole the belt of Radja in 108 lbs from the title holder Ruangsak Sitniwat and beat him again for the rematch, he defeated in the first round the champion of Radja in 112 lbs, Trakulphet Sor Sommai, he won a great victory over the great champion Jomhod Sakami (TV7 Champion in 108 lbs, S1 World Champion in 105 lbs) and in the main fight, he beat Aikmongkol Kaiyanghadao (Thailand Champion and WMC World Champion in 118 lbs).
In 2014, Phanpayak had another great year winning 8 out of 10 fights and winning a Lumpinee belt in 118 lbs. At the start of 2015, Phanpayak was voted “Best Boxer of the Year 2014” for the second year in a row by the illustrious The Sport Writers Association of Thailand!
In 2014, on January 10, in the stadium of Lumpinee, in main fight, he beat Chankrist Or Phimonsri. On April 8, in the stadium of Lumpinee, in main event, he lost against Wanchalong P.K. Saenchai (Lumpinee Champion, TV7 Champion). On May 2, in the stadium of Lumpinee, he defeated in points Phonkrit Sor Jor Vichitpedriew. In June, in the stadium of Lumpinee, for the revenge against Wanchalong, he beat this terrible fighter by KO in the fifth round. In July, in the stadium of Radja, he defeated Phet Or Phimonsri (Champion of Radja, champion of Omnoi). In August, in the stadium of Lumpinee, he won against Serkim Sit-Sor Thor Taew (Lumpinee Champion, TV7 Champion) and won the Lumpinee belt in 118 lbs.
But in September, in the stadium of Lumpinee, he lost his belt of Lumpinee in 118 lbs against Prajanchay PK Saenchai Gym (Lumpinee champion, Radja champion, S1 World champion).
At the beginning of October, in the stadium of Radja, in main event, he beat by KO Denchiangkwan Lamtongkanpeth. At the end of October, in the stadium of Lumpinee, he again beat Serkim Sit-Sor Thor Tiew. On December 9, in the stadium of Lumpinee, for the revenge against Prajanchay, he beat him in points and regained his belt from Lumpinee in 118 lbs. Phanpayak also received the “Best Fighter” trophy of the evening!
The phenomenal Phanpayak had another good year 2015 with 6 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw, he beat great champions such as Luknimit Singklongsi (Radja Champion, WMC World Champion), the terrible Sam-A Kayanghadao (Thailand Champion, Lumpinee Champion, WBC World Champion) for the vacant Lumpinee belt in 126 lbs, and for the rematch between Sam-A and Phanpayak, Phanpayak knocked out Sam-A in the first round with a rear leg high kick dazzling!
In May, he lost his Lumpinee belt against technician Saen Parunchai. But, in December, he got his good back by beating champion Kaonar P.K. Saenchai Gym.
On September 9, in the stadium of Radja, he drew against the prodigy Superlek Mor Ratanabandit (3 times champion of Thailand, 2 times champion of Lumpinee). On October 7, in the stadium of Radja, in the main fight, Phanpayak found Superlek and beat him on points.
On March 26, 2016, Phanpayak was voted “Best Boxer of the Year 2015”, he won the trophy for the third time in a row. This is a historic first, the young Phanpayak, at only 20 years old, entered the pantheon of champions!
This trophy, donated by “The Sport Writers Association of Thailand”, is the most famous in the world of Muay Thai in Thailand.
Since his creation in the 1970’s, only a handful of great champions have had the honor of receiving this Muay Thai “Oscar” several times. The great champion Kongtoranee Payakaroon won it in 1978 and in 1984, the star Saenchai Sor Kingstar received the trophy in 1999 and in 2008, two immense champions had it two consecutive years, Kaensak Sor Ploenchit in 1989 and 1990, Anuwat Kaewsamrit in 2002 and 2003, finally, the living legend of the rings Samart Payakaroon won three times this unique award, in 1981, 1983 and 1988. But until now, none had managed to win it three years in a row. Phanpayak therefore wrote the history of Muay Thai by achieving this exceptional performance. He is nicknamed by Muay Thai fans “Yod Muay 3 Phô Sô” (The super boxer 3 years in a row, Phô Sô = Buddhist year + 543 years, Khô Sô = Christian year)!
Phanpayak is fighting in the 130 lbs category today. In recent years, he has defeated the great champions Superbank Mor Ratanabandit, Chalam Parunchai (KO), Rodlek Jaotalaytong, Phet Utong Or Kwanmuang, Saeksan Or Kwanmuang, Sangmanee Sor Tienpo and Phanpayak Sitchefboontham. But he also lost by KO against the Thai Phet Utong Or Kwanmuang and Muangthai P.K. Saenchai Gym, also against the Brazilian Henrique Muller in Kard Chuek style (Fight without gloves).
At 24 years old, in his new category, Phanpayak no longer dominates the big stadiums circuit in Bangkok as much but this incredible fighter is still one of the best Thai champions of the moment. In 2018, Phanpayak made his entry into the famous One Championship organization where he beat the Portuguese Rui Botelho, in 2019 he defeated the Japanese Masahide Kudo and in 2020 he lost to his old rival Superlek Kiatmuu9 (4 victories for Phanpayak, 2 wins for Superlek, 1 draw). Phanpayak is now nicknamed “The Angel Warrior”. This angel-faced warrior still has some great showdowns to do in the ring!
BY SERGE TREFEU