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In 2016 it should no longer be said Samart Payakaroon is the greatest fighter the sport has seen. He's had 25+ years at the top, but it's time the Muay Thai world recognizes the new king. Rare it is that a new #1 emerges in any sport with many decades of competitive history. Let's celebrate this man!
Don't confuse greatest with best. Was Samart in 1982 better than Saenchai at any time in his career? Perhaps, but I'm not arguing this. Roy Jones Jr is viewed as one of the BEST boxers ever, but he's not appearing often on top 10 or even top 25 GREATEST lists. With greatest you have to consider longevity, accomplishments, quality of competition, consistency, dominance and all that stuff. Now let's look at the brilliant and unprecedented career of Saenchai and why he is the GOAT.
Saenchai became a top fighter in 1995 and is STILL a top fighter. Over TWENTY years Saenchai has been top tier. Yes, he's retired from the competitive Thai circuit, but it's not because he can't compete anymore. Even in his last fight with Petmorakot he had to dry out to 129 pounds and give up 2 pounds. Maybe no Muay Thai fighter in history can compare to Saenchai in the durability department. In 1996 he beat a legitimate all time great fighter in Thongchai Tor Silachai and today in 2016 he's still got it. Hardly any erosion. This does not happen in Muay Thai. It defies everything. The real once ever! On the other hand Samart became a top fighter in about 1979-1980, and maintained that until 1984 before going to boxing. In 1988 he returned and continued his success, but retired in 1989 after a despondent performance against Wangchannoi. He was dunzo, didn't have it anymore. Generously that's 7 years Samart had as top tier. Saenchai has resided at the top for THREE times longer! Come on!
Samart and Saenchai have all the accomplishments. There's no clear advantage for either. Awards and titles are cool, but you can really tell how great someone is by the their reputation. Saenchai's reputation is a different level. Below are Saenchai's wins where weight can be verified. This starts in 2003 and you can see not once has he been given a weight advantage. However, I'm confident this goes beyond 2003 and that he hasn't had a weight advantage this century. What this says is that the promoters and the betting interest have never viewed any of these opponents to be better than Saenchai at any time. Not one. It also says Saenchai didn't slump. In order to maintain this sort of streak of not getting a weight advantage you have to win. I've never heard of anything like this for another fighter. To consistently give 3+ pounds to elite fighters that are already a lot bigger than you, and to do it over 12+ years is completely nuts. Remember, this is the ultimate young persons sport. All the superlatives! I mean, I'm sure Samart gave up weight and fought bigger (Dieselnoi) opponents in his day, but it cannot be compared to this.
Ronachai Naratrikun (3 pounds)
Puja Sor Suwanee (2 pounds)
Bovy Sor Udomson (5 pounds)
Yodbuangarm Luknanyai (2 pounds)
Kem Sitsongpeenong (2 pounds)
Singdam Kiatmuu9 (even)
Kongipop Petyindee (5 pounds)
Orono Wor Petpun (3 pounds)
Singdam Kiatmuu9 (3 pounds)
Nopparat Kiatkamtorn (3 pounds)
Singdam Kiatmuu9 (4 pounds)
Nong-O Sit Or (even)
Duansompomg Kor Sapaotong (3 pounds)
Jaroenchai Kesagym (5 pounds)
Jomthong Chuwattana (3+ pounds)
Petmankong Kaiyanghadao (4 pounds)
Orono Wor Petpun (2 pounds)
Wuttidet Lukprabart (2 pounds)
Saenchainoi Pumpanmuang (3 pounds)
Saenchainoi Pumpanmuang (3 pounds)
Nong-O Sit Or (3 pounds)
Petboonchu FA Group (3 pounds)
Petboonchu/Sagetdao (even)
Nong-O Sit Or (2 pounds)
Nong-O Sit Or (2 pounds)
Sagetdao Petpayathai (even)
Superbon Lukjaimasaivairee (likely 2+ pounds)
Petboonchu FA Group (2 pounds)
Nong-O Sit Or (3 pounds)
Kongsak Sitboonmee (1 pound)
Petboonchu FA Group (2 pounds)
Sagetdao Petpayathai (even)
Penek Sitnumnoi (1.5 pounds)
Singdam Kiatmuu9 (even)
Kongsak Sitboonmee (2 pounds)
Kongsak Sitboonmee (2 pounds)
Kongsak Sitboonmee (2 pounds)
Nong-O Sit Or (3 pounds)
And in this time, Saenchai only lost twice when the weights were equal. First to Singdam Kiatmuu9 in 2005 at 131 pounds, and then in 2014 to Petboonchu FA Group at 133 pounds. Again, his reputation is on full display in that 2005 Singdam fight. Saenchai would go on to fight in the future at 122 pounds, but they looked at him so highly they had him go up to 131 to fight one of the very best! Whether he had to lose more weight than an opponent or go up and fighter bigger guys, he almost always had the weight disadvantage in some way, but has still been the the most successful and consistent fighter of the 21st century.
But remember, he was killing it in the previous century! At least three eras and three decades, including the backend of the golden era. Attachai Fairtex was great and Saenchai is 4-0-1 against him. Nungubon Sitlerchai and Thongchai Tor Silachai? Certified ATG's! Beat 'em. Neungsiam Fairtex, Pet Ek Sitajaopho 2X, Nongbee Kaityongyut 4X and future Olympic gold medalist Wijan Ponlid. Safe to say he has another 20+ really good wins from 1995-2002. And altogether he's beaten 7 winners of the sports writers fighter of the year. Thongchai, Singdam, Nong-O, Jomthong, Wuttidet, Kongsak and Penek.
Oh, and basically in his spare time he may have accumulated the best international resume of any fighter. 52-1 against opponents who are not Thai and a few wins over good Thais to go with it. 130, 135, 140, 147 it doesn't matter.
Fabio Pinca
Liam Harrison 3X
Tetsuya Yamato
Yetkin Ozkul 2X
Mehdi Zatout
Damien Alamos
Houcine Bennoui
Rafi Singpatong
Andrei Kulebin
Victor Nagbe 2X
Massaro Glunder
Jose Neto X2
Vahid Shahbazi 2X
Singdam Kiatmuu9
Pakon PKSaenchai
Diesellek Uddongmuang
Crown him!
Don't confuse greatest with best. Was Samart in 1982 better than Saenchai at any time in his career? Perhaps, but I'm not arguing this. Roy Jones Jr is viewed as one of the BEST boxers ever, but he's not appearing often on top 10 or even top 25 GREATEST lists. With greatest you have to consider longevity, accomplishments, quality of competition, consistency, dominance and all that stuff. Now let's look at the brilliant and unprecedented career of Saenchai and why he is the GOAT.
Saenchai became a top fighter in 1995 and is STILL a top fighter. Over TWENTY years Saenchai has been top tier. Yes, he's retired from the competitive Thai circuit, but it's not because he can't compete anymore. Even in his last fight with Petmorakot he had to dry out to 129 pounds and give up 2 pounds. Maybe no Muay Thai fighter in history can compare to Saenchai in the durability department. In 1996 he beat a legitimate all time great fighter in Thongchai Tor Silachai and today in 2016 he's still got it. Hardly any erosion. This does not happen in Muay Thai. It defies everything. The real once ever! On the other hand Samart became a top fighter in about 1979-1980, and maintained that until 1984 before going to boxing. In 1988 he returned and continued his success, but retired in 1989 after a despondent performance against Wangchannoi. He was dunzo, didn't have it anymore. Generously that's 7 years Samart had as top tier. Saenchai has resided at the top for THREE times longer! Come on!
Samart and Saenchai have all the accomplishments. There's no clear advantage for either. Awards and titles are cool, but you can really tell how great someone is by the their reputation. Saenchai's reputation is a different level. Below are Saenchai's wins where weight can be verified. This starts in 2003 and you can see not once has he been given a weight advantage. However, I'm confident this goes beyond 2003 and that he hasn't had a weight advantage this century. What this says is that the promoters and the betting interest have never viewed any of these opponents to be better than Saenchai at any time. Not one. It also says Saenchai didn't slump. In order to maintain this sort of streak of not getting a weight advantage you have to win. I've never heard of anything like this for another fighter. To consistently give 3+ pounds to elite fighters that are already a lot bigger than you, and to do it over 12+ years is completely nuts. Remember, this is the ultimate young persons sport. All the superlatives! I mean, I'm sure Samart gave up weight and fought bigger (Dieselnoi) opponents in his day, but it cannot be compared to this.
Ronachai Naratrikun (3 pounds)
Puja Sor Suwanee (2 pounds)
Bovy Sor Udomson (5 pounds)
Yodbuangarm Luknanyai (2 pounds)
Kem Sitsongpeenong (2 pounds)
Singdam Kiatmuu9 (even)
Kongipop Petyindee (5 pounds)
Orono Wor Petpun (3 pounds)
Singdam Kiatmuu9 (3 pounds)
Nopparat Kiatkamtorn (3 pounds)
Singdam Kiatmuu9 (4 pounds)
Nong-O Sit Or (even)
Duansompomg Kor Sapaotong (3 pounds)
Jaroenchai Kesagym (5 pounds)
Jomthong Chuwattana (3+ pounds)
Petmankong Kaiyanghadao (4 pounds)
Orono Wor Petpun (2 pounds)
Wuttidet Lukprabart (2 pounds)
Saenchainoi Pumpanmuang (3 pounds)
Saenchainoi Pumpanmuang (3 pounds)
Nong-O Sit Or (3 pounds)
Petboonchu FA Group (3 pounds)
Petboonchu/Sagetdao (even)
Nong-O Sit Or (2 pounds)
Nong-O Sit Or (2 pounds)
Sagetdao Petpayathai (even)
Superbon Lukjaimasaivairee (likely 2+ pounds)
Petboonchu FA Group (2 pounds)
Nong-O Sit Or (3 pounds)
Kongsak Sitboonmee (1 pound)
Petboonchu FA Group (2 pounds)
Sagetdao Petpayathai (even)
Penek Sitnumnoi (1.5 pounds)
Singdam Kiatmuu9 (even)
Kongsak Sitboonmee (2 pounds)
Kongsak Sitboonmee (2 pounds)
Kongsak Sitboonmee (2 pounds)
Nong-O Sit Or (3 pounds)
And in this time, Saenchai only lost twice when the weights were equal. First to Singdam Kiatmuu9 in 2005 at 131 pounds, and then in 2014 to Petboonchu FA Group at 133 pounds. Again, his reputation is on full display in that 2005 Singdam fight. Saenchai would go on to fight in the future at 122 pounds, but they looked at him so highly they had him go up to 131 to fight one of the very best! Whether he had to lose more weight than an opponent or go up and fighter bigger guys, he almost always had the weight disadvantage in some way, but has still been the the most successful and consistent fighter of the 21st century.
But remember, he was killing it in the previous century! At least three eras and three decades, including the backend of the golden era. Attachai Fairtex was great and Saenchai is 4-0-1 against him. Nungubon Sitlerchai and Thongchai Tor Silachai? Certified ATG's! Beat 'em. Neungsiam Fairtex, Pet Ek Sitajaopho 2X, Nongbee Kaityongyut 4X and future Olympic gold medalist Wijan Ponlid. Safe to say he has another 20+ really good wins from 1995-2002. And altogether he's beaten 7 winners of the sports writers fighter of the year. Thongchai, Singdam, Nong-O, Jomthong, Wuttidet, Kongsak and Penek.
Oh, and basically in his spare time he may have accumulated the best international resume of any fighter. 52-1 against opponents who are not Thai and a few wins over good Thais to go with it. 130, 135, 140, 147 it doesn't matter.
Fabio Pinca
Liam Harrison 3X
Tetsuya Yamato
Yetkin Ozkul 2X
Mehdi Zatout
Damien Alamos
Houcine Bennoui
Rafi Singpatong
Andrei Kulebin
Victor Nagbe 2X
Massaro Glunder
Jose Neto X2
Vahid Shahbazi 2X
Singdam Kiatmuu9
Pakon PKSaenchai
Diesellek Uddongmuang
Crown him!