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Name: Saensak Muangsurin
Height: 5'7

Boxing record
Total fights 20
Wins 14
KO's 11
Losses 6 (2)

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One truth about Boxing, is that Muay Thai fighters are used for warm-up fights for top talents looking to stay busy. Similarly-named Thais can be found on many fighters ring records, losing in auspicious fashion. Sometimes, they turn up with no reputation and quickly stake one as a hardcase, upsetting the odds on their favoured opponents and punishing them for underestimating them.

Saensak Muangsurin was no different. Former World title challenger Testuo 'Lion' Furuyama found this out the hard way, being battered by the unheralded Thai to a 7th round stoppage, the first of his career, and just two fights after going the distance with ATG Light Welterweight champ Antonio Cervantes for the WBA title.

Muangsurin had only one pro bout going into the fight. A 1st-round stoppage win against tough Filipino journeyman Rudy Barro. Barro, much more experienced, takes the fight to the awkward opponent in front of him, and for his troubles gets sparked brutally with a cold one-shot K.O.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EV7LpzM7Ug[/ame]

In only his third pro bout, Muangsurin took on WBC title holder Perico Fernandez, who had won the vacant title in a fight with Furuyama after Bruno Acari had vacated the strap. A solid European champion well into the 1980s, Fernandez was stopped by his awkward opponent in the 8th round. Saensak Muangsurin remains the man to win a version of the World title in the fewest number of fights, and extended his run to 3-0 (3) with two wins over top 5 opposition.

A better prepared Lion Furuyama awaited him and was more eager than ever to claim his first 'World' title. They were to engage in a closely contested 15 round war of attrition in Furuyamas homeland.

Muangsurin Vs Furuyama II (No Sound)

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83CaMh0XH4A[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYzmrdaggO8&feature=related[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTcsdvcuTtk&feature=related[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAJM5ij3evA&feature=related[/ame]

This is the first fight where I really found myself capable of assessing Muangsurins qualities. In terms of technical ability: throw it out the window. Muangsurin shows little co-ordination, and gets by on a few key things: his awkward Muay Thai guard (hands up to parry/palms facing outwards); his solid chin and strong second wind; clubbing heavy handed shots. Putting all of them attributes together, he was a durable hardman who carried his power late into 15 round fights, and could really cause damage with single shots, often telegraphed but thrown with real conviction from a strong 140lber.

Furuyama outworks the champion throughout, as Muangsurin moves backwards and allows the challenger to come to him and throw, but it's Muangsurin who does more damage when he connects. As the fight goes on he lets his hands go more, having allowed the plucky Japanese to throw the kitchen sink at him. Muangsurin wings in hooks, and tries to hard to time his left cross, but his wild, heavy shots get through more and more as he goes into the Championship distance for the first time. Muangsurin W15 Furuyama in a real blood-and-guts scrap and closely fought battle.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k88DTfCks8Q&feature=related[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkN5-5iZ71w&feature=related[/ame]

In a fight I can't find much out about, Muangsurin lost his title via decision to a Euro-level fighter in Miguel Velasquez. Muangsurin quickly avenged his loss with a 2nd round stoppage in his last fight of 1976.

In 1977, Muangsurin went on an amazing run of 6-0 (3) which included a 15th rnd stoppage win over top contender Monroe Brooks, and a stoppage of Guts Ishimatsu, one of the perennial contenders at 135lbs in the preceding decade.

Guts was a hot-and-cold fighter who could sometimes pull quality victories out of the bag, as he did against an unmotivated Ken Buchanan a few years earlier, but is arguably mostly known for being superbly picked part by a peak Lightweight Duran, which IMO is one of the best displays of his perfect ability to pick his punches.

Needless to say, Muangsurin is a far different obstacle. Guts starts off well here, but Muangsurin is too strong, absorbs the Jap' boxers early aggression and and clubs him down to a resounding 6th round stoppage.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF3dPppPuZw[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHYMqcvLsZs[/ame]

Muangsurin went the 15-round distance twice among these six defences; besting old foe Perico Fernandez, and supposedly being very, very lucky indeed to win a hometown decision over slick and durable Saoul Mamby, who would nonetheless go on to be title holder in his own right and a top Light Welterweight stylist. He went on to defend his title with two more championship rounds stoppages, including future title challenger Jo Kimpuani, an experienced fighter.

Muangsurins style was catching up to him though, and he lost his title via 13th round stoppage to Sang Hyun Kim. Kim, a gangly Korean, went on to lose by stoppage to Mamby and lose his title; the only time I've seen him is in a pitiful showing against a prime Aaron Pryor.

Moving up to Welterweight, the former 140lb title holder Muangsurin lost a lot of what made him a dangerous opponent. As if to solidify the problems he would have implementing his size and strength advantages further up the scale, he was pitted against a rising Welterweight star from Detroit with a stellar amateur career and freakish frame: 22-0 Thomas Hearns.

Muangsurin has no chance here, but his effort is commendable. He tries his usual style of laying back and letting his opponent throw the kitchen sink at him, which is obviously a shocking gameplan against a young Tommy Hearns Muangsurin tries to fight fire with fire on more than one occasion, his wild Southpaw swings are no match for Hearns' footspeed, his superb hands sending heavy artillery Muangsurins way constantly.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hy2Hx2qMEZk[/ame]

This is an amazing display of the sheer toughness that Muangsurin possessed. Being felled heavily numerous times, he is nearly decapitated in the final found by the famous Hearns right hand that sent so many to sleep. (7:24)

Incredibly, Muangsurin gets up and resumes fighting, swinging heavy single shots and refusing to lie down, taking some ferocious shots from Hearns including a precise uppercut. The brave (or should that be mental?) Thai is saved from further punishment by the Ref' after taking an incredible shellacking.

Suffering from dementia in later life before passing away, Sansaek Muangsurin has kept his incredible achievement of winning a World title in only three professional fights for over 30 years, even with the influx of title straps that make it easier to win one than ever before. He was a teak tough, awkward slugger who defended his title nine times, despite having very little boxing seasoning and relying on his Muay Thai schooling to make the most of his vicious power.

 

Nice piece, never new about Muang before.

Can't wait for Starling/Lennox/Reid :good

 

Starling is next....hopefully finish it tomorrow :good

Give Muangsurin a watch if you get the chance....his style is, ahem, interesting* to say the least

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Muangsurin vs Fuji who you got?

 

Good question :deal

I was mulling this over myself (dunno if you've seen my Fuji piece...you've seen all the footage on it ;-)) and I think Muangsurin would win over 15 in an absolute war.

He has the chin to take Fuji's bombs, and I think he'll punch out a decision or late stoppage win. Both awkward bombers, and I'm not sold either way. Fuji's ability to draw power shots from his constant upper body movement will mean little here, the Thai is likely to let him throw anything he wants at him. He didn't face a puncher as hard as Fuji in his Light Welterweight reign, but based on how he fared against Hearns' shots and in the battle with Furuyama, I imagine Saensak could weather the inevitable Fuji storm and come back into it late. Ultimately, I'd just favour Muangsurins will over the championship distance. Just.

Who you got, Greg? :good

 

I'd have fainted in the first two rounds due to the lack of technical ability. I'd say the referee is getting sparked at some point by a stray punch though.

I havent seen enough of Muangsurin to really guage and his style just turn me off so I ownt be wtahcing him any time soon.

 

Moe Flizze, I like your italic style.

I'm gonna do a jpab and steal that right there :yep

 

I like how both of them implement their style. Fuji set traps with his upper body feints and exploded with his bludgeoning assault. Muangsurin couldn't even do that, and wasn't really fast enough to utilise his Muay Thai parry, so just took it on the chin (literally) until his opponent had slowed down enough for him to throw his slow shots and them not get out of the way The fact he had so much success is what impresses me. He got by on being hard as ****.

I actually went back to the beginning of the thread to see who I nicked it off, but apparently it was all me :hat

Dunno' why I thought it'd work at the time, but I've kept it throughout for continuity ;-)

 

**** off. Fuji is just a caveman, there aint no feints. Next you will be preaching of Sun Kill Moons subtle offence, and finer points of Rafeal Limons punching technique

you get me text you gay?

 

My phones off. Hold on.....

And Fuji did use upper body movement to draw his shots. Watch the fight with that Willy Quator guy Turned southpaw as well :hey :deal Briefly.

 

Fuji is the anthithesis of all that is pure

 

You know me, I like awkward beasts.

 

Th

The opposite of Fuji is a 18 year old Thai virgin. Feamle obviosuly.

 

does such a thing exist:yep