Muay Thai Greats who became World Class Boxers

1. Saensak Muangsurin: He won the world title during his third professional fight, a record he still holds today (tied with Lomachenko) and he defended his 140lbs title 7 times. In Muay Thai, he fought all the big names of his era and won the prestigious Lumpinee Stadium title. He was selected the best Muay Thai fighter of 1973.

2. Yokthai Sithoar: He won the Lumpinee, Radja, TV7 and WMC belts in Muay Thai. Cuban, Ismael Salas trained Tokthai to win the WBA Super-Flyweight title.

3. Samart Payakaroon: Considered by many to be the greatest striker of all time. Winner of the Lumpinee belt at 4 different weights, 3 time Muay Thai fighter of the year, 3 time winner of the fight of the year award. In boxing Samart won the WBC title against Lupe Pintor and the Ring Magazine Progress of the Year award in 1986.

4. Veeraphol Sahaprom: Nicknamed the "Death Mask" since he never changed his facial expression under fire. He won 3 Rajadamnem Stadium belts and was considered one of the most brutal punchers of the sport. He won the WBA bantamweight belt in his second fight and held the WBC belt from 1998 until 2005.

5. Amnant Ruenroeng: Winner of the Lumpinee belt, a life of drugs and poverty landed Amnat in prison for robbery. He was pardoned after he won the national amateur boxing title and beat amateurs like Kazuto Ioka before turning pro and winning the IBF flyweight title. He's also a 2016 Olympian.

6. Wangheng Meenayothin: National Champion in Muay Thai and Lumpinee Champion. At one point Wangheng held a 54-0 pro boxing record, he held the WBC mini-flyweight belt from 2014 until 2020.

7. Knockout CP Freshmart. A two-time Lumpinee Champion. Thammanoon Niyomtrong has defended his WBC mini-flyweight belt 11 times since he beat Carlos Buitrago, his last defense was against Wangheng Meenayothin.

8. Boonsom Iamsiri: Also known as Panomroonglek Kratingdaenggym, he was a three division Lumpinee Stadium Champion and Lumpinee Fighter of the Year. He lost a controversial split decision against Koki Kameda for the WBA bantamweight title.

9. Somrak Kamsing: An uncrowned champion in Muay Thai, he was the number one ranked for a long time in the stadiums of Lumpinee, Radja and TV7. He beat many champions and moved up to find a challenge. As a boxer, he became the first Olympic Gold medalist from Thailand in any sport (Mayweather Jr. won bronze), he also shares the record for most Olympic games attended as a boxer (4).

10. Wijan Ponlid: Ponlid and his brother were Rajadamnern Stadium Champions. He won Olympic Gold as a boxer in 2000, beating World Champions from Cuba and Kazakhstan, when he arrived he was welcomed with a procession of 49 elephants through the city of Bangkok.

11. Somjit Jongjohor: A number one ranked at the stadiums of Rajadamnern and Lumpinee, he appears in the book "123 Greatest Muay Thai fighters of All-time". He won Olympic Gold in 2008 and defeated Yuriorkis Gamboa at the world Amateur Championships.

12. Dhawee Umponmaha: A Lumpinee Stadium Champion, he knocked out the legendary Dieselnoi. He won Olympic Silver in 1984, losing a controversial fight against the local boxer, USA's Jerry Page. ABC announcer Howard Cosell described the match as one of the greatest fights he had seen.

13. Phichit C. Siriwat: He competed for the Lumpini Stadium championship twice. His brother Sitbangprachan won the IBF title and retired undefeated while Siriwat won the WBA light-flyweight title.

14. Samson Isaan: Known in boxing as Samson Dutch Boy Gym. Champion at the Stadiums of Rajadamnern and Lumpinee, he knocked out the likes of Veraphool Sahaprom. In boxing he had a record of 43-0 with 36 KO's, beating 3 world champions.