R.I.P Ramon Dekkers

[Flea Man]

Originally Posted by RJJFan

Cocaine is not good for the heart. RIP.

Bit disrespectful.

[HeGlassedMe]

R.I.P.
Off topic, what's a "Farang Nak"?

[superman1692]

Holy shit man, this is a shock! So sad, he still had several decades ahead of him! RIP champ.

[David B]

Originally Posted by HeGlassedMe

R.I.P.
Off topic, what's a "Farang Nak"?

a practitioner of Thai Boxing who is not originally a Thai from birth

[yaca you]

RIP Dekkers.

[nvs]

RIP Dekkers. He was one bad mofo.

Dead at only 43 makes it an even bigger tragedy. RIP champ.

[boranbkk]

Today's a sad day, Farang MT has lost it's true founding father, the guy who showed if you've got the heart for it, you can get on a plane, walk into the Lumpinee and knock Thais on their arses in their own backyard at a time when the sport was still pretty fresh back home......wow!

The guy inspired a whole generation to follow in his footsteps. He was a crucial pioneer and the first poster boy in what was a misunderstood and developing sport at the time. He not only commanded the respect of the international MT scene but more importantly and impressively the ultra conservative Thai fight scene that at the time had very little respect for what the rest of the world had to offer in their national sport, but he made them sit up and take notice....the Diamond and Europe had arrived! He became the benchmark fighter that all quality farang even to this day are judged and compared against by the Thais. We've lost one of the most exciting fighters the sport has ever scene Thai or non Thai. He could mix it with anyone, win or lose always showing bundles of aggression and heart, he'd relentlessly come, hunting and stalking until he could unload those vicious hand and feet combos with such spite and malice it'd make you wince just watching. He was, brave exciting and humble which is all you can ask of any MT hero.

He was a massive superhero figure in my mind in the 90s, an idol figure who had a massive impact on the early part of my MT life. His example was instrumental in my decision to go out to Thailand in the late 90s for which I'll always be grateful. I know it's a cliche and everyone says it, but he was also a really nice guy, well at least when I met him in BKK. It's truly a sad day for the whole MT world as both the Thai scene and the international scene has lost and will miss a true irreplaceable MT ATG.

RIP Ramon "Diamond" Dekkers

Here he is at the start of it all as a kid, seems he was born with that relentless fighting spirt! (Dekkers Stripes)

[boranbkk]

Originally Posted by HeGlassedMe

R.I.P.
Off topic, what's a "Farang Nak"?

Foreign boxer. "Farang" means foreigner with light skin and “Nak Muay” just translates as “Boxer” and is used to refer to Muay Thai fighters, Boxers, Amateur Boxers, Wrestlers and “MMA” fighters alike. It’s been adopted in the West by guys who don’t speak Thai and has been used incorrectly for some time now outside of Thailand in the sense that it is used by westerners to refer to only Thai boxers.

“Nak” is just a Thai prefix used to show someone who has a vocation, you then combine it with the action and this makes the vocation For example:

Nak Rien = Student
Nak Turagit = Business man
Nak Tong Tio = Tour Guide
So in the fight world:
Nak Muay Thai = Thai Boxer
Nak Muay Sakon = Western Styled Boxer (Pro)
Nak Muay Samak Len = Amateur Western Styled Boxer
Nak Muay Baum = Wrestler and surprisingly MMA fighter.

[Vic-JofreBRASIL]

Originally Posted by boranbkk

Today's a sad day, Farang MT has lost it's true founding father, the guy who showed if you've got the heart for it, you can get on a plane, walk into the Lumpinee and knock Thais on their arses in their own backyard at a time when the sport was still pretty fresh back home......wow!

The guy inspired a whole generation to follow in his footsteps. He was a crucial pioneer and the first poster boy in what was a misunderstood and developing sport at the time. He not only commanded the respect of the international MT scene but more importantly and impressively the ultra conservative Thai fight scene that at the time had very little respect for what the rest of the world had to offer in their national sport, but he made them sit up and take notice....the Diamond and Europe had arrived! He became the benchmark fighter that all quality farang even to this day are judged and compared against by the Thais. We've lost one of the most exciting fighters the sport has ever scene Thai or non Thai. He could mix it with anyone, win or lose always showing bundles of aggression and heart, he'd relentlessly come, hunting and stalking until he could unload those vicious hand and feet combos with such spite and malice it'd make you wince just watching. He was, brave exciting and humble which is all you can ask of any MT hero.

He was a massive superhero figure in my mind in the 90s, an idol figure who had a massive impact on the early part of my MT life. His example was instrumental in my decision to go out to Thailand in the late 90s for which I'll always be grateful. I know it's a cliche and everyone says it, but he was also a really nice guy, well at least when I met him in BKK. It's truly a sad day for the whole MT world as both the Thai scene and the international scene has lost and will miss a true irreplaceable MT ATG.

RIP Ramon "Diamond" Dekkers

Here he is at the start of it all as a kid, seems he was born with that relentless fighting spirt! (Dekkers Stripes)

Great post and that first video is fantastic, I had never seen before.

[Flea Man]

Great stuff Boran

[PIRA]

Like Boranbkk said - a trailblazer for farang and legendary coach. RIP.

[Aquamarine]

OMG that is so shocking. One of my heroes.

God bless the diamond. A true legend.

[Peter__1987]

RIP Ramon Dekkers

[oatman12345]

Originally Posted by boranbkk

Foreign boxer. "Farang" means foreigner with light skin and “Nak Muay” just translates as “Boxer” and is used to refer to Muay Thai fighters, Boxers, Amateur Boxers, Wrestlers and “MMA” fighters alike. It’s been adopted in the West by guys who don’t speak Thai and has been used incorrectly for some time now outside of Thailand in the sense that it is used by westerners to refer to only Thai boxers.

“Nak” is just a Thai prefix used to show someone who has a vocation, you then combine it with the action and this makes the vocation For example:

Nak Rien = Student
Nak Turagit = Business man
Nak Tong Tio = Tour Guide
So in the fight world:
Nak Muay Thai = Thai Boxer
Nak Muay Sakon = Western Styled Boxer (Pro)
Nak Muay Samak Len = Amateur Western Styled Boxer
Nak Muay Baum = Wrestler and surprisingly MMA fighter.

If a black guy goes to Thailand would he be called a farang or is there a different name for him? If so what is it?