Just read an excellent book about Holyfield, am tempted to do a post on him but am more drawn towards Whitaker.
Name: Samart Payakaroon Height:: About 5'10 I reckon Birth: 12-05-1962 Boxing record Total fights 23 Wins 21 KO's 12 Losses 2 (2) This content is protected Samart Payakaroon is considered by many to be the greatest Muay Thai fighter of all time, and also holds the distinction of being a former title holder at Super Bantamweight. With over 150 wins in Thai Boxing, and having faced the beast of Muay Thai (Diesel Noi) who is perceived in Thailand as being perhaps the most courageous fighter their country has ever produced. IMO, he is the most skilled Muay Thai fighter I have seen, with defensive slips that must be that sports equivalent of Sweet Pea. Muay Thai [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VLD7hEzZEs[/ame] As has been the case a few times, after just a few pro boxing fights, the 11-0(6) Payakaroon was deemed ready for a jump up in class due to him being so experienced in Muay Thai and making a smooth transition (and literally as well, an orthodox operator in that sport and a southpaw in ours) admittedly against fairly dubious opposition. His opponent; an on the wane but still decent Lupe Pintor; an ATG at 118lbs and still the WBC title holder despite coming off a TKO loss in a non title fight. In what must still have been a minor upset at the time, the 'straight boxing' novice Payakaroon destroyed Pintor in the 5th round to grab the vacant strap, as Pintor had weighed in 3lbs over the 122lb limit. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yZX_VTLyqE[/ame] As you can see above, Payakaroon was not one of those awkward beasts with a hard-to-gauge guard that transitional MT fighters sometime become. His movement, co-ordination and timing was second to none, and he seemed a smooth operator. He defended his title against top contender Juan Meza, who had fought Wilfredo Gomez and Pintor in losing efforts, but beaten Carlos Mendoza, Mike Ayala by stoppage, and destroyed 40-0(38) Jaime Garza, who had a padded record but was apparently pretty good, in a round. Meza was a hard hitting Mexican fighter, who brought pressure. Payakaroon prevailed by 12th round stoppage. His incredible defence, power and poise can be seen in the brief excerpt below, which will make even the most hardened critique smile without fail :good [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8U4RYXoctN0[/ame] Payakaroon, struggling at the weight, was given a task which would've been arduous to pretty much any great fighter around this weight (and above, and below)....a peak Jeff Fenech!!! Fenech, yet to be 'The ATG Jeff Fenech', was a former Olympian who had claimed the IBF bantamweight title in only his seventh fight (one defence) and had beaten top notch 122lber Daniel Zaragoza at the weight going into this fight (a former title holder himself at 118 who was coming off a points loss to legendary stylist Miguel 'Happy' Lora). Fenech was a phenom, not yet plagued by the hand injuries that would cause him to adapt his style as time went on. At this time, Fenech was an absolute animal; known for his proficient ability to swarm all over his opponents and beat the **** out of them. That's what happens here: a good start from Payakaroon, his odd right hand lead and evasive moment causing Fenech problems, with the Thai scoring a flash knockdown late in the first round. In the second, Fenech starts to up the pressure, with an increasingly more static Samart starting to take some punishment. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC6HutFDhi0[/ame] The third round is one of two halves; Payakaroons majestic movement (both feet and upper body, his slips in close are something to behold) and counter punching, and then Fenechs raw brutality. Fenech finds Payakaroon a brave target, smashing him around against the ropes in the final minute of the round to take it easily. In the fourth and final round, Fenech finds out that the champion, struggling with the weight, will not be in it for the long run. The battle-worn Thai instead opts to absorb a beating whilst attempting to pull single shots off. The stoppage is gruesome. [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrLxMHLnCqw&feature=related[/ame] With a long Muay Thai career and some wars in boxing, Payakaroon was done at the top level. He won a few fights against ill-matched opposition, (it look like he fought in boxing sporadically after Fenech, as Muay Thai was obviously his thing) before becoming one of Eloy Rojas' victims in his eight-defence run of defences of his WBA Featherweight title, seven years after his effort against a red hot Fenech. The 80s was certainly a good time for Muay Thai fighters in the lower weights of Boxing. Along with the Khaosai Bros. Payakaroon remains one of the most successful converts of all time, along with being a former strap holder and the consensus ATG of Muay Thai. A truly formidable fighter indeed, and a national hero in Thailand.
I might be able to do 'Mantequilla' justice....but a fighter I hold very dear to my heart, would NOT want to **** it up