Yodsanklai Fairtex past fights with Favre

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

The fight took place in May, a couple of months after he beat the shit out of Rafik Bakkouri. Watching this fight I can’t help but think this is a new form of tourism? You get dudes who pay big money to go on canned hunts so they can bag some big game, maybe this is the latest craze… get your ass beat by a Muay Thai champion.

Seriously though how heavy is this guy? I heard Rafik paid something like 100,000 baht or about ($3,300) for the privilege of taking one of Yodsanklais knee in his gut. I’m sure this guy had to plunk down a little more. (charge by the lbs) If any of you feel like loosing some loot, just pop down to Pattaya, throw down a side bet of 100K+ and you too can get your ass handed to you!

I don’t know much about Favre… I don’t know what his deal is but I’m not sure what he got out of it? I know there are a lot of people out there who are looking to collect Thai scalps… yeah I was in Thailand…trained and beat a Thai.

Yodsaeklai, Lamsongkram, Both Defend Titles

Monday, June 23, 2008

Thai superstar Lamsongkram Chuwatana won every round against French champion Farid Villaume to easily defend his WBC MUAYTHAI Middleweight crown in Montengo Bay Jamaica last night (20 June)

Lamsongkram broke Farid's right rib cage in the second round with punishing knees. He then extended his advantage to run out easy winner on points.

On the same card WBC defending super welterweight champions Yodsaenklai Fairtex proved far too strong for Malaipet Team Diamond.

After three lightening and entertaining rounds that had thousands of Jamaican's cheering, Yodsaenklai work like a precision fighting machine totally eclipse Malaipet who was unable to continue at the beginning of the fourth round after sustaining a serious cut under the eye caused by elbow strikes.

The third WBC MUAYTHAI World Title was won by Super Cruiserweight Australian Steve McKinnon, who showed great courage to triumph over Dutch toughman "bad boy" Ashwin Balrak.

McKinnon started strong and never let up to win the vacant title by a comfortable margin.

Yodsaenklai: The Pride Of Muay Thai

Monday, June 16, 2008

The pride of Muay Thai Yodsaenklai Fairtex has made a huge contribution to promoting Muay Thai worldwide after becoming the first winner of Contender Asia.

Yodsaenklai Fairtex became the first champion of the Contender Asia - the world's first Muay Thai reality show - last week. The victory is a huge boost for both the Thai traiditonal martial art and the fighter himself. The show, which was filmed in Singapore for two months, has helped promote Muay Thai worldwide and made Yodsaenklai famous on the international stage.

"Foreigners know me better now," said the 158-pound Yodsaenklai who took the winner's cheque of 5 million baht. The 22-year-old boxer adds the Contender Asia trophy to his collection of titles which include three Lumpini championship belts in 105, 147 and 154 pounds and WBC Muay Thai 154 pound belt. "Joining the Contender Asia was a great experience for me. I can now speak English a bit after staying there for two months," said the fighter who normally speaks Northeastern dialect as he is a native of Nong Bua Lam Phu's Nonsang district.

It was his older brother Yodkangwan, a former Muay Thai fighter, who inspired him to take. Because of his big physique compared to Thai standards, he stands 171cm and weighs 72kg - it is difficult for Yodsaenklai to find a Thai opponent.

"I have not fought a Thai opponent for about one year," he said. "There are few Thais at my weight."But he has turned this obstacle into opportunity. He has fought abroad and also tried K-1. "Taking on foreigners is not that tough, but can be difficult. up the sport. Because their family was so poor, Yodsaenklai had no choice but follow in the footstep of his brother to make a living.

"I took up Muay Thai when I was eight because of my brother and poverty," he said. Yodsaenklai has fought for four camps - Saknipaporn, Sith-Khru-Od, Petchyindee and now Fairtex. His technique is second to none with his powerful hands and elbows his most dangerous weapons. "I can fight them but sometimes the referee does not understand Muay Thai rules,"he said. He says K-1 is difficult for him because the knee and elbow are not allowed. However, the sport is much more lucrative than Muay Thai. He also earns more when he takes on a foreigner in Muay Thai.

The Pattaya-based boxer receives around 85,000 baht per fight against a Thai opponent but gets in the region of US$10,000 (about 320,000 baht) against a foreigner.

With the Contender Asia title under his belt, he believes his handlers can ask for higher fees. His promoter Banjong Busarakamwong agrees. He says his boxer could get up to US$15,000 from his next fight against a Russian opponent in a World Muay Thai Boxing Council (WMC) championship in Sweden.

A fee is split 50-50 between Yodsaenklai and the Fairtex camp (50% goes to Yodsaenklai, 20% to his camp, 20% to his promoter and 10% to his trainer), and the boxer himself is satisfied with the share. "It is not a problem for me because I stay at the camp for free," he said. After all, each fight fee is huge compared to a mere 20 baht he received from his first fight at a temple fair in Ban Na Dee in his hometown.

Yodsaenklai has fought 213 fights with a record of 163-44-6 (45KOs). He plans to box for another seven years. By that time, he will be 29 which may be too old for the sport.

Understandably, he feels grateful to Muay Thai which has given him and his family a better life. He has given most of his prize money to his mother who has lived in Bangkok since she divorced his father many years ago. With the Contender Asia crown, his life will certainly become better.

Yodsaenklai on WBC Muaythai Titles in Jamica

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Three WBC MUAYTHAI World Titles head a super card spectacular scheduled for Kingston, Jamaica on 20 June

The event is one of the biggest professional Muaythai events ever staged outside of Thailand and features the top WBC defending champions Yodsaenkklai Fairtex and Lamsongkram Chuwattna.

Fresh was winning the Asian Contenders TV series against WBC Australian rival John Wayne Parr, Yodsaenglai will take on USA-based Thailand superstar Malaipet Team Diamond.

While the undefeated and undisputed WBC champion Yodsaengklai is heavily favored to retain his super welterweight crown, Malaipet has been training hard for his one shot at the prestigious title.

Yodsaenklai is also booked to fight Dutchman Marco Pique in he huge Holland V Thailand WBC MUAYTHAI World Championships to be staged in Holland on 30 November. The SLAMM WBC promotion includes several world titles with the match-ups featuring the best Thais and Dutch Muaythai fighters. But this month the eyes of all Muaythai fans are focused on he big Jamaica event that has fight fans in the Caribbean buzzing.

Promoter Dennis Warner said the build-up in Jamaica had been sensational. ?There?s a lot expectation with the big names like Lamsongkram and Yodsaenklai certain to draw a big crowd?

Middleweight champ Lamsongkram will have to be at is best against French superstar Farid Villaume, who is known for his lightening KO punches. Lamsongkram is famous for his strong grappling and is the master of the elbow weapon.

The Super Cruiserweight WBC World Championship also holds a lot of interest with top ranked Dutchman Ashwin Balrak matched against Australian Steve McKinnon for the vacant title.

McKinnon has taken the WBC limelight from fellow countryman Natham Corbett who has been unable to defend his WBC cruiserweight belt.