Samart Payakaroon
Samart Popteeratham, known professionally as Samart Payakaroon, is a Thai former professional Muay Thai fighter, professional boxer, and entertainer. He is a former four-division Lumpinee Stadium champion and WBC World Super Bantamweight Champion, as well as the 1981 and 1988 Sports Writers Association of Thailand Fighter of the Year, who was famous in the 1980s and 1990s. He is widely considered one of the greatest Muay Thai fighters of all time.
He has also released several successful albums in Thailand and appeared in multiple films and TV shows. Nowadays he works as a Muay Thai trainer at his own gym in Bangkok. His students include elite fighters such as Chalamchon SamartPrayakaroonGym.
Biography and fighting career
Muay Thai
Samart Thipthamai was born December 5, 1962 in Chacherngsao, Thailand.He began Muay Thai training at 10 years old after being introduced by his older brother, Manus Thipthamai. The First Muay Thai teacher of Payakaroon was Yodtong Senanan who taught both brothers. His first fight name was Lotus. After he fought about a dozen fights, he came to Bangkok to fight at Lumpinee Stadium in 1978.
He possessed an extremely high ring IQ, with lightning quick reflexes, and excellent ring vision. He also fought using creative techniques that were effective and unpredictable, even against elite competition in the 80s and 90s. There were contests where Payakaroon was pushed past the brink of exhaustion, and still gave his opponents the fight of their lives. Even in the period where he was more concerned about his music and acting career, he defeated some of the greatest fighters of his generation.
Boxing
In 1982, he turned to boxing where he fought from a southpaw stance. In 1986, he won a WBC junior featherweight title with a surprise KO over rock-chinned Lupe Pintor in the fifth round and defended against the respected Juan Meza before being stopped by undefeated Australian Jeff Fenech. He made a comeback in the 1990s and challenged unsuccessfully for another world title.Payakaroon was named The Ring's Progress of the Year fighter for 1986. He now teaches Muay Thai and Boxing in Thailand.
Titles and accomplishments
Muay Thai- Lumpinee Stadium
- * 1980 Lumpinee Stadium Pinweight (102 lbs) Champion
- * 1980 Lumpinee Stadium Mini Flyweight (105 lbs) Champion
- * 1981 Lumpinee Stadium Super Flyweight (115 lbs) Champion
- * 1981 Lumpinee Stadium Featherweight (126 lbs) Champion
- Awards
- * 1981 Sports Writers Association of Thailand Fighter of the Year
- * 1981 Sports Writers Association of Thailand Fight of the Year
- * 1982 Sports Writers Association of Thailand Fight of the Year
- * 1983 Sports Writers Association of Thailand Fighter of the Year
- * 1988 Sports Writers Association of Thailand Fight of the Year
- * 1988 Sports Writers Association of Thailand Fighter of the Year
Entertainment career
Music
Between his two stints as boxing champion, Samart signed with Grammy Entertainment, which he released three albums. They are pop music but with his upcountry accent as opposed to central Thailand accent. His first album, Rock Ner Ner. in 1989, contains a famous song On Som talking about him being very proficient in boxing but lacking the same aptitude at getting love from women. His second and third album, Arom Dee and Kun Mai Kun Mike followed in 1990 and 1992 with famous songs Nam Plik Pla Too and Kao Ao Eng respectively.After the release of three albums, he went back to boxing.
Acting
In 2000, Samart starred as a minor antagonist named Chartchai Payakaroon in A Fighter's Blues. He had a role in the 2001 Thai film, The Legend of Suriyothai. He had a major role in the French drama film, Fureur, and was in the 2004 film, The Bodyguard. In 2006, he co-starred in the Thai martial arts film, Dynamite Warrior. He appeared in Muay Thai Chaiya in 2007.In 2015, his biography has created a documentary film released in Mard Payak by NOW26 in a network of Nation Multimedia Group.
Legacy
Samart is considered to be the "Muhammad Ali" and "Sugar Ray Robinson" of Muay Thai. His name holds prestige for followers of the sport to this day.His first name, Samart, translates to "Capable" in Thai and his last name, "Payakaroon," translates to "Dawn of the Tiger." This, in addition with his handsome appearance earned him the nickname "Jade-faced Tiger."
Many modern day fighters, such as Saekson Janjira, Matee Jedeepitek, Kongnapa Kansaek Sor Ploenjit, Lookchang, and Nokweed all look up to Samart and aspire to be like him.
Professional boxing record
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
| 23 | Loss | 21–2 | Eloy Rojas | 8 | 11 Sep 1994 | Clarion MP Resort, Trang, Thailand | For WBA featherweight title | |
| 22 | Win | 21–1 | Jerry Villacorta | KO | 5 | 10 Apr 1994 | Anusom Stadium, Samut Prakan, Thailand | |
| 21 | Win | 20–1 | Boyet Andales | PTS | 10 | 13 Feb 1994 | Provincial Gymnasium, Chachoengsao, Thailand | |
| 20 | Win | 19–1 | Tiger Ari | PTS | 10 | 23 Jan 1994 | Provincial Stadium, Surat Thani, Thailand | |
| 19 | Win | 18–1 | Ignacio Jacome | KO | 5 | 14 Nov 1993 | Bangkok, Thailand | |
| 18 | Win | 17–1 | Rudy Cabiles | PTS | 10 | 8 May 1993 | Bangkok, Thailand | |
| 17 | Win | 16–1 | Hector Cortez | TKO | 4 | 27 Feb 1988 | Samut Sakhon, Thailand | |
| 16 | Win | 15–1 | Hogan Noguchi | TKO | 9 | 8 Nov 1987 | Chachoengsao, Thailand | |
| 15 | Loss | 14–1 | Jeff Fenech | KO | 4 | 8 May 1987 | Entertainment Centre, Sydney, Australia | Lost WBC super-bantamweight title |
| 14 | Win | 14–0 | Juan Meza | TKO | 12 | 10 Dec 1986 | Huamark Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand | Retained WBC super-bantamweight title |
| 13 | Win | 13–0 | Rafael Gandarilla | PTS | 10 | 20 Jun 1986 | Paris, France | |
| 12 | Win | 12–0 | Lupe Pintor | KO | 5 | 18 Jan 1986 | Huamark Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand | Won vacant WBC super-bantamweight title |
| 11 | Win | 11–0 | Byung-Soo Park | KO | 6 | 17 Nov 1985 | Bangkok, Thailand | |
| 10 | Win | 10–0 | Thongberm Vongvianyai | KO | 8 | 13 Oct 1985 | Bangkok, Thailand | |
| 9 | Win | 9–0 | Chor Haphalang | KO | 6 | 15 Sep 1985 | Bangkok, Thailand | |
| 8 | Win | 8–0 | Jaime Enriquez | PTS | 10 | 22 Jun 1985 | Bangkok, Thailand | |
| 7 | Win | 7–0 | Young Ho Lee | PTS | 10 | 24 Apr 1985 | Bangkok, Thailand | |
| 6 | Win | 6–0 | Ekalak Singnakornlueng | PTS | 10 | 6 Feb 1985 | Bangkok, Thailand | |
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Farid Gallouze | TKO | 4 | 9 Nov 1984 | Bangkok, Thailand | |
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Neptali Alamag | 7 | 31 Jul 1984 | Bangkok, Thailand | ||
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Saipa Monod | 1 | 12 Jun 1984 | Bangkok, Thailand | ||
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Juanito Favila | UD | 10 | 24 Apr 1984 | Bangkok, Thailand | |
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Netrnoi Sor Vorasingh | 10 | 24 Aug 1982 | Lumpinee Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand |
Muay Thai record
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Filmography
Television dramas
- 2000 as Chod
- 2001 as
- 2001 as
- 2001 as Prasit
- 2001 as
- 2002 as
- 2003 as
- 2004 as
- 2005 as
- 2005 as
- 2006 as Kra Thong
- 2006 as Thong Bai
- 2010 as
- 2012 as Kom Thoun
- 2013 as Kamnan Jeim
- 2013 as Fahkamron
- 2014 as Kroo Khen
- 2014 as Lung Hin
- 2015 as Lung Ang
- 2015 as Pu Yai Phan
- 2015 as
- 2016 as Thawib
- 2016 as Kammoun
- 2017 as Lung Ban
- 2017 as )
- 2017 as Thid Janta
- 2017 as Kroo Choung Kachin
- 2019 as
- 2019 as Thonkon Thaweewong )
- 2019 as Dr.Chok
- 2020 as Sou Phan
- 2021 Dae Khun Pho Duai Khaeng Kwa as Thianchai
- 2021 Talay Duerd as Thongdee
- 2021 as Phu Pan
- 2021 as Paen
- 2022 Mummy Tee Rak as Kroo Sou
- 2022 Fah Than Tawan as Thom Ya
- 2022 Chart Payak Khom Nak Laeng as Phong
- 2022 Kheha Nang Khoi as Boon
- 202 as
Television series
- 2022 Club Friday The Series : Love Seasons Celebration Ep. Last Happy New Year as Kroo Nong
Television Sitcoms
- 2022 as
Film
- 2023 as