Saenchai is a Muay Thai An icon and one of the greatest Muay Thai fighters of all time. A legend who has been at the pinnacle of Muay Thai for the past 30 years.
name: | Supachai Saibong |
date of birth: | July 30, 1980 |
place of birth: | Kusum Visai District, Maha Sarakham Province, Thailand |
nickname: | Saenchai |
sports club: | yokao |
to rise: | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) |
Weight: | 66 kg (146 lb, 10 st) |
Weight classes: | Flyweight, Bantamweight, Featherweight, Lightweight, Lightweight |
The record(s): | Kickboxing 327-49-2 / Boxing 5-0 |
Years of activity: | 1994 to the present |
Tournaments: | 21 world championships combined |
Here’s a quick summary of the enduring Muay Thai icon, Saenchai. Detailing the highlights of his career and his most famous battles.
Saenchai entry in Muay Thai
Suphachai “Saenchai” Saepong originated in the Thai province of Maha Sarakham. His first introduction to Muay Thai was when he was eight years old.
Saepong saw his older brother’s friend fight and make money. This would lead to his Muay Thai debut at the famous Jocky Gym.
After only a week of training, Suphachai would win his debut. Win by decision and earn 30 baht, which equals $1.
For the next six years, Saepong would fight around his province and gain experience.
Early career at Lumpini Stadium
When Saenchai was 14, Jocky took him to Kamsing Gym in Bangkok – owned by Muay Thai legend Somluck Kamsing, who paid 300,000 baht or about $3,000 for a Saeprong contract.
Training at Kamsing Gym is where he would get the ring name by which Suphachai would become known: Saenchai Sor. camsing.
He was rising and making his debut at Lumpini Stadium at the age of 14. Winning for the first time by decision.
Saenchai would go 4-3 in his next seven fights and lose a decision for his first Lumpini title at 112 pounds. His next three matches would be a series of matches with Ekkachai Shibadan, starting a long-running rivalry between the two fighters.
During the remainder of the 1990s Senchai would have several big matches. Winning both the 115 and 118 lb Lumpini Stadium Championships.
Fighting career during the 2000s
Throughout the 2000s, Saenchai would fight in every major Muay Thai promotion numerous times. Fighting in all the big stadiums of Rajadamnern, Omnoi and of course Lumpinee Stadium.
After a decade fighting in Thailand, Saenchai won the 130-pound Lumpini Stadium before making his international debut. The overthrow of the Dutch fighter, Jawad Al-Raji, in his home country, the Netherlands.
He would stay busy throughout the decade, winning and losing the 130- and 135-pound Lumpini Stadium titles. Also, travel to fight foreign fighters everywhere from England to Japan.
Short boxing career
From 2002 to 2004, Saenchai transitioned to professional boxing. He made his boxing debut on May 18, 2002, after defeating Teofilo Tonakao.
In his second pro fight, he would win the interim PABA featherweight title with another decision victory. He would win three more fights during 2004 before returning to Muay Thai full time.
Falling with fifty
In the late 2000s, the feud began between Saenchai and Khamsingh in 2006. The gym owner had denied fighting Suphachai in Japan for the third time and wanted to book him for another fight.
Saenchai will ignore Fifting and travel to fight in Japan with another fighting team. This would lead to a breakup, with Fifty receiving 300,000 from the Kingstar Gym as a transfer fee. For the next five years, Saenchai would mainly train at Kingstar Gym.
Senchai joins Yokao
In 2011, Saenchai signed an exclusive deal to train at Yokkao Gym. The founder and owner of Yokkao Phillip Villa made him the number one sponsored fighter in the Yokkao Fight Team.
This deal with Yokkao will make the Muay Thai champion one of the faces of Muay Thai. Allowing him not only to fight all over the world but also to organize seminars and training courses. His debut was fighting at Yokkao Extreme 2012 in front of 12,000 in Milan, Italy.
For the next 12 years, Sainchai continues to be the face of Yokkao and fight in their events. Even winning the YOKKAO Diamond Welterweight Championship in 2020.
the retirement
In 2014, Saenchai retired from serious Muay Thai competition in Thailand. Choose to fight only in exhibition events around the world.
This step will extend the Muay Thai champion’s career and improve his financial situation. Over the past decade, Saepong has been one of the best kickboxers in the world.
Saenchai’s time with Thai fighting
One of the most notable parts of Sanechai’s career was his time fighting for the Muay Thai promotion. Since his Thai Fight debut in 2014, Saenchai has not lost a match in the promotion. Which made it the most successful fight in Thai Fighting History.
His Thai Fight resume includes:
- 2016 Thai Fight Card Chuck 70 kg King’s Cup champion
- 2017 THAI FIGHT 67kg King’s Cup Champion
- 2018 THAI FIGHT 67kg King’s Cup Champion
- 2019 THAI FIGHT 70kg King’s Cup Champion
- 2022 Muay Thai Championship 70kg King’s Cup Champion
- Most championships: 5
- Most wins: 51
- unbeaten
Saenchai: The most active Muay Thai boxer
Since 2010, Saenchai has been one of the most active fighters in the world. Suphachai has had 88 matches in 15 countries over the past thirteen years. Not to mention the exhibition matches he’s been in.
Ageless
In 2014 when Saenchai retired from Muay Thai, the legend had not lost a match in nearly a decade. Going 70-0 is incredible since fighting exclusively in exhibitions and Thai fighting.
When Suphachai initially retired at the age of 34, it was seen as past the traditional retirement age for Muay Thai boxers. At 42, Saenchai is still fighting and showing no signs of slowing down.
Since entering his 40s, he has fought 13 times and is set to have more bouts in the future.
Senchai to BKFC?
This year it was announced that Saenchai had signed with Boing Boing game promotion BKFC. He was scheduled to fight fellow legend Buakaw Pramuk in a Muay Thai match.
This match was scheduled to take place in March 2023, but BKFC ran into legal trouble. There has been disagreement over BKFC’s use of the term Muay Thai in Thailand on a nude boxing show. The event has not been rescheduled.
Saenchai style
Suphachai Saenchai is a master of Muay Thai but not your typical Thai boxer. He has excellent technique but has a kind of unorthodox approach which has been one of the keys to his success.
Saepong is known for his deadly accuracy, slick movement, and high level combos. Saenchai prefers using accurate striking rather than power striking, as in Muay Thai.
When a fight begins, Suphachai will start reading his opponent and then start setting up his unorthodox combos. Choosing to dissect his opponents before taking them out with one of his patented strikes.
Some of Saenchai’s trademark technologies include:
- Flying scissors head kick
- Front kick jump
- Turn around and circle the left header kick
- Interrogative mark kick
- Kick the cartwheel
- Cross to the back of the knee
- Hand trap to cross
- Pay off for the headbutt
- Kick back to cross
- Fake front knee dribble to back leg
- Catching Roundhouse To Footsweep
- Double cancellation to terminate
- Push and pull sweep
- Fake back kick to support the push kick (and vice versa)
- Lean back defense to counter
When you watch Saenchai fight, you’ll likely see him use nearly infinite setups using one or all of these techniques, making him one of the hardest opponents to prepare for.
Legendary Saenchai training
After decades of fighting, people want to know Saenchai’s secret to staying ahead of the sport. The secret of Supchai’s success is his great dedication.
Muay Thai is this man’s life; He’s always in the gym, perfecting his technique and learning new techniques.
He spends several hours a day practicing in rounds of bag work, pad work, light sparring, and technical drilling.
This dedication to training has made Saenchai a force to handle in the ring. Being a master tech with a seemingly endless tank of gas
the teacher
Saenchai is one of the greatest fighters of all time, but his best work may be as a teacher. Since joining Yokkao and becoming their spokesperson, Saepong has become one of Muay Thai’s biggest ambassadors.
He has become one of the most sought after kickboxing teachers. Every year, Saenchai conducts many seminars and workshops involving thousands of kickboxing practitioners.
When Saenchai is not training, he is teaching. Show that he is a true student of his martial art.
legacy
Saenchai Saepong is one of the most prolific fighters in Muay Thai history – a career spanning over 40 years with numerous tournaments that shows no sign of stopping.
But Saepong’s biggest contribution to Muay Thai is his work as an ambassador for the sport. He is one of the faces of Muay Thai who helped popularize the martial arts through his work teaching Muay Thai. This action makes Saenchai a true icon in Muay Thai.