Samart Payakaroon, real name Samart Tiptarmai, is a former Muay Thai fighter, professional boxer and entertainer.
16 Facts About Samart Payakaroon
2.
Samart Payakaroon is considered by many to be the greatest Muay Thai fighter of all time, becoming a multiple time Lumpinee Stadium champion, as well as a WBC world champion in boxing.
3.
Samart Payakaroon went on to have an entertainment career, releasing several successful music albums in Thailand and appearing in several films.
4.
Samart has an older brother, Kongtoranee Payakaroon, who induced Samart to start training in Muay Thai.
5.
The First Muay Thai teacher of Samart Payakaroon was Yodtong Senanan who taught both Samart Payakaroon and Kongtoranee.
6.
Samart Payakaroon possessed an extremely high fight IQ, lightning quick reflexes, and excellent ring vision.
7.
Samart Payakaroon fought using creative techniques that were effective and unpredictable, even against elite competition in the 80s and 90s.
8.
Samart Payakaroon made a comeback in the 1990s and challenged unsuccessfully for another world title.
9.
Samart Payakaroon was named The Ring's Progress of the Year fighter for 1986.
10.
Between his two stints as boxing champion, Samart Payakaroon signed with a Grammy Entertainment winning label and released three albums.
11.
In 2000, Samart starred as a minor antagonist named Chartchai Payakaroon in A Fighter's Blues.
12.
Samart Payakaroon had a role in the 2001 Thai film, The Legend of Suriyothai.
13.
Samart Payakaroon had a major role in the French drama film, Fureur, and was in the 2004 film, The Bodyguard.
14.
Samart Payakaroon is considered to be the "Muhammad Ali" and "Sugar Ray Robinson" of Muay Thai.
15.
Samart Payakaroon's name holds prestige for followers of the sport to this day.
16.
Many modern day fighters, such as Saekson Janjira, Matee Jedeepitek, Kongnapa Kansaek Sor Ploenjit, Lookchang, and Nokweed all look up to Samart Payakaroon and aspire to be like him.