SAMART PAYAKAROON
Interview of SAMART PAYAKAROON by Serge TREFEU (2010)
Serge TREFEU: Hello Samart, thank you for grant me this interview. How are you?
SAMART PAYAKAROON: Very well, thank you
How old are you?
I am 48 years old
You come of what region of the Thailand?
I was born to Chachoengsao then when at about 12 years I left to Pattaya
You are married, have you children?
Yes and I have three children. Two boys, a who is 22 years old and the other who is 19 years old. And a girl who is 17 years old.
Your sons have already made of Muay Thai?
The older only he made it a little but now he stopped he dedicates itself to his studies of medicine…
Have you brothers and sisters?
Yes I arise from a large family, we were eight children
One of your brothers also made a big career in Muay Thai?
Yes my older brother Kongtoranee (Cantaloni, 5 times champion of the Lumpinee) was a very great champion!
You began the boxing at which age?
In 10 years
Your first fight you made him for which age?
In 10 years two months only having begun the boxing…
How did you discover the boxing?
In the family we like all the boxing and my older brother who is a passionate person passed on to me his passion
You began Muay Thai in a camp?
Not at the beginning we trained at the house in family. My first trainer was Petaronsiminit who was a very good trainer. Then at about 12 years I belonged to Pattaya to the camp Sityodthong with Master’s Yodthong …
You stayed how long in the camp Sityodthong?
About 14 years until 26 years
In what category you fought?
I began in 35 kg then later in 47 kg, in 49 kg, in 52 kg to end in 57 kg
What are the titles which you gained in Muay Thai?
I gained 4 belts of Lumpinee in 4 different categories in 47 kg, in 49 kg, in 52 kg, and in 57 kg. In 1980 I gained my first belt of Lumpinee I was 17 years old!
And in Boxing?
I gained World Champion WBC’s belt – of 57 kg against the Mexican Lupe Pintor (victory by KO), it was in 1986. I defended my title against the Mexican Juan Meza (victory by KO). I lost my title in 1987 against Australian Jeff Fenech…
How much have you make of fights during your career?
In Muay Thai I have make 150 fights. 129 wins. 19 losses and 2 draws. In Boxing 23 fights. 21 wins and 2 Losses.
You gained many fights by KO?
In Muay Thai not too approximately around thirty KO. In Boxing I won 12 fights by KO
You had which style of boxing?
I was Fimeuu (technician)
What was your hardest fight?
Against Wangchainoy (5 times champion of the Lumpinee) it was the very difficult fight which I lost in points…
Your best memory of boxing?
My victory against Nongkail Sor Patason in Lumpinee he was unconquered and I am the first one to beat him!
What was your promoter in the time?
Songchai Ratanasuban
In Muay Thai what are the known opponents whom you faced?
There was a lot … Nampol, Nongkail, Diesel Noi, Panomtuanlek, Wangchainoy, Jaroenthong, Chamuekpet, Khitti, Samart Prasarmit, Samransak …
You often fought abroad?
Yes in Japan, in Germany, in Australia, in France
In France you met who?
I met the Thai Soudareth in Paris. It was the first time which I fought abroad, it was more than 25 years ago. I had to meet a Dutch normally and finally I faced a fellow countryman whom I beat. Then in 1986 I met a Mexican in Boxing in Paris. I also fought in Muay Thai against German in Paris (Murat Comert)…
You know French boxers?
I know the former as Stephan Nikiéma, Danny Bill and Dida. The new generation I do not know too much
For you who is the best nakmuay foreigner?
I think that Rob Kaman and Ramon Dekkers were the best in the time. Stephan Nikiéma and Danny Bill were also very hardly. Now I do not know, I do not know too much the foreign boxers…
Today you have just opened a camp can you speak to us about it?
Yes my camp has just opened hardly one month ago. His name is Poptheeratham Gym. It is me who shall give the lessons with another trainer which is a former champion. We have rooms which can welcome seven persons. Everybody is welcome in my camp the children, the women can come to train here no problem at all!
What are price?
Training, accommodation and food 1800 bahts a day in room with air-conditioning and 1300 bahts a day in room without air-conditioning with ventilator. But for everything the information concerning the camp it is necessary to see with my wife it is her who takes care of everything me I train it is any (laughter)
you make seminars also?
Yes I gave several times seminars in the United States, I stayed two months in Texas
You would like to make a seminar in France?
Yes why not, I have friends in France. It has been 4 years since I come back over there
You shoot in a French movie “Fury”, it is a good memory?
Yes very good memory. I stayed four months in Paris for the shooting. I was in the Chinese district of the city and I liked very much the small Asian restaurants of this district…
You have make songs which are enough known in Thailand, can you say me the most known?
I have made 7 albums in all. My songs the most known are Nam Prik Pla Too, One Som, Arom Dee, Kun Mai Kun Mike, Kao Ao Eng…
You also shot in several movies?
Yes I shot in about twenty movies as Suriyothai (2001), Fury (2003), Duk Dum Dui (2003), The Bodyguard 2004, 7 Pra-jan Barn Phaak 2 (2005), Zapp (2006), Khon Fai Bin “Dynamite Warrior” (2006), Boxers (2007). For the movie “Kayee” I received a prize and I shot so a long time in a very famous television series in Thailand…
What you like most Muay Thai, song, cinema?
I like all what I make whether it is the boxing, the song, the cinema it is with pleasure that I make him!
Thank you very much for this interview
Of nothing thank you
Samart Payakaroon of its real name Samart Tiptamai is a real star of the Muay Thai. For many specialists it is considered as the nakmuay biggest that the Thailand is known. He is a member in Thailand of three a live legends of the boxing with Somrack Khamsing and Khaosai Galaxy. He was elected best fighter of the year in 1986 by the famous magazine The Ring!
Its blow of eye, its capacity of adaptation to all the fighters and its science of the boxing ring were phenomenal. His techniques of poke were so perfected that some now are called “Technique of Samart”!
It is a big star in Thailand because all what he began he always made a success of his successfully whether it is Muay Thai, Boxing, song or cinema. His name was predestined for him because “Samart” wants to say “The capacity» in clear the one who is capable of beginning and of making a success…
His fighter Payakaroon’s name wants to say “The Tiger of the Aube” and its nickname was “Payakmat” who literally means “The Tiger”. On the boxing ring its ferocity was legendary especially at the beginning of its career. This immense champion was also called “Baby Face Tiger”. Because in spite of its fights of anthology’s in front of better of his time, Samart always remained “Handsome boy”!
After his magnificent career he travelled a lot in the United States, in Europe for the business and also to give seminar of boxing. He opened a restaurant to Bangkok “Saphaadin”. And today near his magnificent villa he has just opened his own camp “Poptheeratham Gym”. Poptheeratham is his professor’s new name which is a tribute in sound former to trainer Yodthong. Now it is Samart Poptheeratham the “Master” which is going to teach its exceptional knowledge!
SAMART PAYAKAROON
Weight: 60 Kg
Number of fight: Thai Boxing: 150 Fights. 129 wins. 19 losses and 2 draws.
Boxing: 23 Fights. 21 wins (12 KO). 2 losses.
Titre : Lumpinee Champion in – 47 Kg, in – 49 Kg, in – 52 Kg and in – 57 Kg.
WBC World Champion Boxing
Team : Sityodthong
POPTHEERATHAM GYM
44/9 Moo.4 Soi Saimai 31 Saimai Road
Bangkok Thailand 10220
Tel : 084 707 7094