Samart Payakaroon

Samart Payakaroon
สามารถ พยัคฆ์อรุณ
Born Samart Tiptarmai
(สามารถ ทิพย์ท่าไม้)
5 December 1962
Chacherngsao, Thailand
Native name สามารถ พยัคฆ์อรุณ
Other names Payaknayok
(พยัคฆ์หน้าหยก)
(e.g. The Jade Faced Tiger)
Nationality Thailand Thai
Style Muay Thai, Boxing
Fighting out of Bangkok, Thailand
Team Songchai Rattanasuban
Sahasompop Srisomwong
Suchart Kerdmek
Trainer Yodtong Senanan (Muaythai)
Sukjai Sappalek (Boxing)
Ismael Salas (Boxing)
Professional boxing record
Total 150
Wins 129
By knockout 30
Losses 19
Draws 2

Samart Payakaroon, real name Samart Tiptarmai (born 5 December 1962 in Chachoengsao Province), is a Muay Thai boxer. He is considered by many to be the greatest Muay Thai boxer of all time, becoming a world champion in both Muay thai and in Boxing.

Thai Boxing career

Samart has an older brother, Kongtoranee Payakaroon, who induced Samart to start training in Muay Thai. Samart started Muay Thai training when he was 11. The First Muay Thai teacher of Samart was Yodthong Senanan (Kru Tui) who taught both Samart and Kongtoranee. His first fight name was Samart Lookklongket. After he fought about a dozen fights (orthodox stance), he came to Bangkok to fight at Lumpinee Stadium in 1978.

Muay Thai Honors

Awards

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 in Thailand.

Music

Between his two stints as boxing champion, Samart signed with a Grammy winning label and released three albums. They are pop music but with his upcountry accent ('"Ner" เหน่อ) as opposed to central Thailand accent. His first album, Peedongmembur. (ร็อคเหน่อๆ) in 1989, contains a famous song On Som (อ่อนซ้อม - not enough practice) 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 (อารมณ์ดี) and Kun Mai Kun Mike (คันไม้คันไมค์) followed in 1990 and 1992 with famous songs Nam Plik Pla Too (น้ำพริกปลาทู) and Kao Ao Eng (เกาเอาเอง) respectively.[1] After the three albums, he went back to boxing.

Acting

Samart 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.

Preceded by
Lupe Pintor		 WBC Super Bantamweight Champion
18 Jan 1986– 8 May 1987 		Succeeded by
Jeff Fenech

References

  1. ↑ Artist Name: Samart Payakaroon, iKey (GMM online music store), accessed December 27, 2007.

External links