Anyone here a fan of Samart Payakroon? What do you think of his ability? Resume? Although not foremostly a boxer, he was a brilliant champion when competing in the sport IMO. Incredible instincts and creativity. Has a win over Pintor, but he was shot by that time in my opinion. How do you feel he would do against great fighters at and around 122 lbs? Edit: cool highlight for reference This content is protected
I have been trying to watch some of the lighter weights last year till now, and Payakaroon is fun to watch. Not sure how he would do against the most elite Super Bantams but believe he would hold his own up to that upper echelon level. He had incredible balance that he used in Muay Thai and was one of the key fundamentals he taught. He had great poise and calmness never seeming to get flustered. Good reflex based defense, but didn’t rely on it to the exclusion of his fundamentals but rather used them to enhance it. I think his fight vs Meza showcases his skills at their finest and his ability to control a top level fighter, pretty much pitching a shutout. This content is protected I would say his resume is thin as far as boxing goes, and his prime was basically one year during 86 where his skillls were solid. I think his heart was really in Muay Thai and he turned to boxing because more money was there. In spite of that a very skilled fun fighter to watch. Then he had the misfortune of running into the peak buzzsaw Jeff Fenech. His footwork is on display in full for round 1, where while Fenech controls the fight and is dictating Samart plays a great matador peddling, keeping balance and timing Fenech perfectly countering aggression giving Fenech the first Knock down of his career. He was never really in the fight before Fenech stops him in 4, but just watching round 1 makes me think of how quick, skilled, balanced and poised Payakaroon even when overmatched.
Not only that but Samart was absolutely finished at the weight. As a Muay Thai fighter he’s either no.1 or no.2 all-time defending on who you ask. Great post mate. In short: a puncher blessed with top tier reflexes, a defensive savant of Pernell Whitaker’s calibre. And he’d already had over 100 pro bouts before he even came into boxing! Hated roadwork by the way. His trainer told me he’d run far out in front of everyone until he was out of sight, then hide in an alleyway and smoke cigarettes for the rest of the session. Gifted.
What kind of weight would Samart be packing back on in 24 hours, in and around his prime? Is there any modern equivalent to his weight draining? Is that just a Thai thing to begin with in combat sports?
It might be a thai thing. I know Sot Chitilada had some ridiculous weight cuts. This also have different regulations in regards to hand wraps. It's ridiculous, easily illegal over here.
Don't forget both Galaxy brothers boiled off a lot of weight, including one of them getting knocked out by a seemingly innocuous punch because of a botched weight cut. Also, we currently have a Thai terror at 115 who cuts a lot of weight.
Modern guys are all doing it pretty much (look at Hurd) But the Thais are STILL doing it with same day weigh ins
