CHANGPUEK KIATSONGRIT
Interview of CHANGPUEK KIATSONGRIT by Serge TREFEU (2010)
Serge TREFEU: Hello how are you, in shape?
CHANGPUEK KIATSONGRIT: yes very well
How old are you?
I am 44 years old
You come of what region of the Thailand?
I come from a village which is 30 km of Buriram in Isaan (northeast)
You are married, have you children?
Yes I have a girl and a boy
Your son is how old, is what he makes of Muay Thai?
He is 19 years old. No he does not make boxing his sport it is the football, he already practises him for a long time…
Have you brothers and sisters?
Yes we were seven children in the family
One of your brothers also made of the boxing?
Yes I had a brother who fought before…
You were a fighter when you were a child?
Yes a lot, I was a small Mafiosi. At the school I terrorized everybody. I had my gang, I was the leader!
You began the boxing at which age?
At about 14 years
Your first fight you made him for which age?
In 14 years
How did you discover the boxing?
To Buriram there are many boxers in this region. I always saw boxers over there, camps, boxers who train. The boxing always attracted me…
You began Muay Thai in a camp?
Not I’m trained at the house with my brother. It is my father who we trained
In what category you fought?
My first one fight in the stadium of Radja I have him make in 108 lbs (49 kg) later I fought in – 60 kg then – 75 kg
To what age you came to Bangkok?
I came at about 18 years and I was in the camp Kiatsongrit
You stayed for a long time in this camp?
Yes I stayed more than 16 years in this camp!
You lived in the camp?
Yes we were several boxers in a room in the time…
What are the titles which you gained?
I was World Champion heavyweight WMK, World Champion light heavyweight IMF, UKF, WMTC. Champion of America and Isaan Champion!
It was in which year and against whom?
I gained in 1991 it was in Japan against a Dutch I do not remember his name. I weighed only 75 kg and it was for a title in heavyweight. I won so against the Dutch Wiet then in 1993 against Japanese and in 1996 against Japanese Musashi…
You fought several times in the circuit of K1?
Yes I fought in the first K1 GP in 1993 against the Dutch Branco Cikatic (Winner K1 GP 1993) then against the other fighters. I was also in final of the tournament K2 against Hoost (Winner of the Tournament K2 1993)…
It was difficult to meet opponents much heavier than you?
Yes especially in K1 or most of the boxers whom I met weighed 100 kg!
You have not ever disputed for a belt of Lumpinee or Radja?
Not I have make more than around thirty fight for Lumpinee but in the time I had become too heavy, it is for it that I was to fight abroad…
How much have you make of fights during your career?
I have make, many, many fights about 500 fights!
How much victory and defeat?
390 Wins. 100 Losses and 10 Draws
You gained many fights by KO?
Yes approximately 200 victories by KO!
You had which style of boxing?
I was rather “Toymat” (with fists) and I never moved back!
What was your hardest fight?
Against the American Rick Roufus. He had High Kicks very, very powerful. It was one of my hardest fights but I won against him, he did not block my low kicks…
Your best memory of boxing?
My victory against Rob Kaman in the stadium of Lumpinee!
How many times you fought against the great champion Kaman?
One it is four times met. I won against him in Japan, in Thailand and in France. He beat me in Holland…
Against Kaman it was hard also?
Yes very hard because he was strong with his fists and especially he had powerful low kicks!
What are the known Thai boxers whom you faced?
There was a lot, Kongpattaya, Den muangsurin, Krongsak, Payab Premchai, many of the others…
And the foreign boxers?
I met so a lot, a lot, Musashi, Roufus, Kaman, Hoost, Smit, Nikiéma, Hyppolite, Cikatic, Hug, Pedritis, Wiet…
You fought several times in France?
Yes I fought in Paris several times. I won against Kaman, Wiet, French which was called Kenniche I believe, and of the others which I not me reminder more the name. I lost against Nikiéma but I had beaten him in Bangkok…
You fought a lot abroad?
Yes I fought in Japan, in America, in Holland, in Italy, in France, in Australia. I liked travelling abroad especially in Japan, over there I was as a great star!
How much you made of fight in Japan?
In Japan I have make 48 fights. 30 victories and 18 defeats
In Japan you often fought in rule K1, you preferred to fight in K1 or in Muay Thai?
In Muay Thai of course!
What was your promoter in the time?
Songchai Ratanasuban in Thailand and abroad Ishii (Promoter K1)
You know French boxers?
I know the former as Stephan Nikiéma, Danny Bill and Jérôme Le Banner who I find is one of most hardly in K1!
For you who is the best nakmuay foreigner?
In the time I would say Ernesto Hoost, it was a great fighter. Today I do not know, I do not know too much the foreign boxers…
The best nakmuay Thai at present it is who for you?
It is Seanchai!
What technique you most liked making in fight?
Elbows and especially low kicks it was my favourite technique
When you fought you made a good living?
Yes I won of good purse. In the time I fought abroad at least for 10 000 dollars. But I everything spent my money, I have nothing more, just a small house to Buriram…
Towards what age you stopped your career?
I stopped the boxing at about 40 years but I continued all the same later to make some small fights in small stadium of the country…
Today you make what?
I am to trainer now to Pattaya to the camp Scorpio gym for 5 months. Before I trained in one the others camp which was called Sitpolek always to Pattaya. And if foreigners are interested so that I come to train in their gym, I am ready!
Thank you very much and Chookdee
Thank you
Changpuek is a real legend of boxing rings. His fighter’s career is exceptional because he met the best boxers of the planet and often by being much less heavy than them. It was the first Thai to participate in prestigious tournament of K1 in the category of the heavy, by weighing only 75 kg!
Called “The Big Elephant” it was an incredible durable boxer. He met the biggest fighters as Branko Cikatic, Andy Hug, Ernesto Hoost, Ivan Hyppolyte, Kongpattaya, Den muangsurin, Krongsak. And these victories against stars of time as Rob Kaman, Rick Roufus, Stéphane Nikiéma, Orlando Wiet, Tasis Pedritis, Luc Verheyen, Dale Cook, Peter Smit, definitively registered him on the pantheon of the biggest champions!
CHANGPUEK KIATSONGRIT
Weight: 75 Kg
Height: 1m75
Number of fight: 500. 390 Wins (200 KO). 100 Losses. 10 Draws
Title: World Champion heavyweight WMK. World Champion light heavyweight IMF. World Champion light heavyweight UKF. World Champion light heavyweight WMTC. Champion of America. Isaan Champion
Team : KIATSONGRIT GYM