INTERVIEW WITH LEGENDARY SAMRANSAK “THE IRON FIST” MUANGSURIN, ONE OF THE BIGGEST PUNCHERS OF THE 80’S
INTERVIEW WITH LEGENDARY SAMRANSAK “THE IRON FIST” MUANGSURIN, ONE OF THE BIGGEST PUNCHERS OF THE 80’S by Serge TREFEU (2024)
Serge TREFEU: Hello Samransak, how are you?
SAMRANSAK: Well thank you
How old are you ?
I am 66 years old
What region of Thailand were you born in?
I was born in Buriram in the Issan region (North-East)
What did your parents do for work?
They were farmers in the rice fields, we lived in a small house surrounded by rice fields, at the time my family was really very poor…
You are married, do you have children?
Yes, I have two children, two boys
Do your children do Muay Thai?
They did a little, they didn’t really like training in Muay Thai (Laughing)
You have brothers and sisters ?
I have four brothers and two sisters
Were your brothers also boxers?
My little brother was a very good boxer, his fighting name was Chalao Muangsurin!
Your brother was a Muay Thai champion like you?
No, he fought mainly in Boxing (19 Pro fights for 14 wins including 6 by KO), he was twice champion of the stadium of Lumpinee in Boxing
When did you start boxing?
I started boxing at the age of 14 years
What was your first fight?
At 14 years and I made a draw, I won 15 bahts, my first purse (Laughter)
How did you discover Muay Thai?
My father trained us, me and my brother, they made us run near our house and gave us the boxing lesson himself. We fought in village festivals in the Buriram area, I fought under the name Samransak Sortraymit
At what age were you in Bangkok?
At 19 years, I joined the Muangsurin camp in Bangkok of Amornrat Rakwanich and took the name Samransak Muangsurin
Were there champions at Muangsurin Gym when you started training in this camp?
Great champions, there were Saensak Muangsurin, Raktae Muangsurin, Prayonsak Muangsurin, Samsak Muangsurin, then, later, other champions like Chaynoi, Den, Khaosot, Saensucknoi…
How many years did you fight for Muangsurin Gym?
More than ten years, until the end of my career
What weight did you fight in Bangkok?
I first fought at 108 lbs, then in 115 lbs, 118 lbs, 122 lbs and 126 lbs
What titles have you won?
I won the Lumpinee belt in 122 lbs against Saengsakda Kitikasem in 1986, I beat him by KO. In 1988, I beat Chanchai Sor Tamrangsi for the Lumpinee belt in 126 lbs. I also won a world champion belt in 122 lbs in 1982 against a Japanese that I knocked out…
How many fights have you fought?
About 200 fights for 170 wins and 5 draws
Did you win a lot of knockout fights?
Yes many, I won more than 60 fights by KO
What was your fighting style?
I was a Muay Mat (Strong with fists)
What was your hardest fight?
My two fights against Samart Payakaroon, Samart hit very hard and he was a great technician, I lost my two matches against him…
What’s your best boxing memory?
It is to have won the belt of Lumpinee against the two great champions Saengsakda and Chanchaï. It is a great pride to have beaten them too many times. I met Saengsakda three times, I beat him twice by KO and he beat me once by KO, I beat Chanchaï three times including once by KO!
What are the known fighters you faced?
There have been many, Kongtoranee, Samart, Saencheung, Yoknoi, Mafeuang, Chanchai, Chamophet, Saengsakda, Panomtuanlek, Jaroenthong, Coban, Cherry, Wangchannoi, Sakmongkol…
The great champion Kongtoranee Payakaroon (Lumpinee champion in 102 lbs, 108 lbs, 112 lbs, 115 lbs, 118 lbs, Best boxer of the year 1984) is one of the hardest fighters you faced?
Yes, Kongtoranee was a very tough boxer, we fought six times together, I beat him twice, he beat me three times and we had a draw. Now he has become my friend like his brother Samart
Against Chamophet Ha Phalang (Lumpinee champion in 102 lbs, 108 lbs, 112 lbs, 118 lbs, Radja champion in 105 lbs, 122 lbs, 126 lbs, 122 lbs, Best boxer of the year 1985) it was also difficult, he was a very strong fighter, we fought four times, he beat me three times and I beat him once by knockout
What other champions have you fought the most against?
I fought four times with Sanit Wichitkriangkrai (Lumpinee champion in 118 lbs), I won once, lost twice and we had a draw, I met four times Sonsin Sitneunpayom (Lumpinee champion in 115 lbs, 118 lbs and 126 lbs), I won three times and lost once to him, also, I fought three times against Jomwo Sakniran (Radja Champion in 118 lbs) and Bangkhlanoï Sor Thanikul (Lumpinee Champion in 102 lbs, 108 lbs and 118 lbs), I beat Jomwo twice including once by KO, I knocked out Bangkhlanoi and he beat me once to the points and once to the KO
Have you ever fought abroad?
Once in the United States, I won by knockout and twice in Japan with a defeat against Phetdam and a draw against a Japanese…
Do you know any French fighters?
I just know Skarbowsky because I saw him fight at Lumpinee several times
Did you make a good living from boxing?
At one point, I hit good prices…
What was your purse at the time?
200,000 baht
Who was your promoter?
My promoter was Songchai Ratanasuban
After your boxing career, what did you do?
I became a trainer in several boxing gyms
Today, which camp are you coaching in?
I am a trainer at the Samart Payakaroon Gym in Bangkok, I have been working in this camp for two years
Thank you very much for the interview
Samransak is considered by many specialists as one of the biggest punchers in the history of Muay Thai. His nickname as a fighter was «Ay Matsaklek» (The Iron Fist) because he had phenomenal power in his fists.
He was also a great «Muay Tone» (Durable boxer), Samransak always made terrible fights against the many opponents he faced.
Samransak has gracefully represented his gym for years, the famous Muangsurin Gym. A camp that was located in the Laksi district of Bangkok. Muangsurin camp was founded by Khru Amornrat Rakwanich who died in 1981, it was his son Mr. Apirak Rakvanich who then took over the camp.
This famous camp was famous for the work of fists because it produced great champions in Boxing such as the legendary Saensak Muangsurin who was WBC World Champion at 25 years after only three professional fights, as well as Prayonsak Muangsurin (OPBF World Champion), Tongta Kietwayupha and Jong Satiyengym!
The Muangsurin Gym has also trained excellent Muay Thai champions like Srinarong Muangsurin, Raktae Muangsurin (Radja Champion), Samsak Muangsurin, Den Muangsurin (Lumpinee Champion, World Champion), Jonrob Muangsurin, Khaosot Muangsurin, Saensucknoi and his brother the puncher Chainoi Muangsurin.
Samransak Muangsurin had a remarkable career, until the age of 33, he faced all the best fighters in his category, great champions such as Kongtoranee Payakaroon, Samart Payakaroon, Sonsin Sitneunpayom, Saencheung Pinsinchai, Yoknoi Fairtex, Jomwo Chienggym, Mafeuang Weerapon, Panrit Luksirat, Chanchai Sor Tamrangsi, Chamophet Ha Phalang, Sanit Wichitkrengkrai, Saengsakda Kitikasem, Panomtuanlek Ha Phalang, Jaroenthong Kietbanchong, Coban Lookchaomaesaitong, Cherry Sor Waniche, Wangchannoi Sor Palangchai, Sakmongkol Sitchuchok, Samrantong Kietbanchong.
Samransak beat the biggest stars of the 80s and 90s such as Kongtoranee Payakaroon, Mafuang Veerapol, Bangklanoi Sor Thanikul, Chamophet Ha Phalang, Manasak Sor Ploenchit, Saincheung Pinsinchaï, Chanchai Sor Tamarangsi, Saengsakda Kittikasem, Jaroentong Kietbanchong, Dokmaipa Por Pongsawan, Terdkiat Sitepitak, Orono Por Muang Ubon, Sakmongkol Sitchuchok, Wisanupon Saksamut!
On April 28, 1982, an exceptional evening of Muay Thai was organized on the anniversary of the bicentenary of Rattanakosin, the dynasty of the Chakri Kings (Rama) which is the dynasty currently reigning in Thailand. The Chakri dynasty took over the Ayutthaya Kings.
A delegation of Japanese champions was invited to fight against a Thai team. Eight WFMA World Champion belts were at stake during this prestigious event that took place at the Ratchadamoen stadium, a stadium packed with 10,000 spectators!
Of the eight titles, seven were won by the Thai champions, the eighth belt was won by a Japanese who had faced a South Korean champion.
Nongkhai Sor Prapasorn won the title in 130 lbs, Dieselnoi Chor Thanasurakarn in 135 lbs, Khaopong Sittuchai the title in 147 lbs, David O Sot in 153 lbs, two other Thai champions took the title in 140 lbs and 160 lbs. And finally, Samransak Muangsurin won the title in 122 lbs against Japanese Masayuki Yamamoto by beating him by knockout in the second round.
On May 6, 1986, Samransak met the powerful Saengsakda Kitikasem who knocked him out in the 2nd round, this is one of the few defeats of Samransak by KO…
On June 13, in Lumpinee, Samransak and Saengsakda made the revenge fight with the belt of Lumpinee in 122 lbs at stake which was held by Saengsakda. Saengsakda had been a Lumpinee champion for five years and had beaten by knockouts such as Paruhat Longern, Jitti Muangkhonkaen, Lom Issan Sor Thanikul and Wanpadet Sitkrumai.
The two champions faced off in a fight that will be remembered as the “Best Fight of the Year”. In this duel of titans, Samransak won by knockout in the fifth round, thus seizing the prestigious belt of the Lumpinee in the category of 122 pounds!
On September 9, at the stadium of Lumpinee, they met for a third confrontation. In the first round, puncher Samransak landed a dazzling right that put KO Saengsakda.
On April 29, 1988, in Lumpinee, Samransak met ring star Chanchai Sor Tamrangsi. Chanchai was the defending Lumpinee champion in 126 lbs. Samransak defeated this superb technician and won his Lumpinee belt!
On August 24, 1991, at the stadium of Lumpinee, Samransak (32 years) showed that he was still present by knocking out in the second round the young rising star, Sakmongkol Sitchuchok (Lumpinee champion in 135 lbs, WMC world champion in 135 lbs) who was just 18 years old!
SAMRANSAK MUANGSURIN
Real name: Ran Kijram
Nickname: Ay Matsaklek (The Iron Fist)
Date of birth: June 18, 1959
City of birth: Buriram
Weight: 55 Kg – 57 Kg
Height: 1m68
Number of fights: 200. 170 wins (60 KO), 25 losses, 5 draws
Title: Lumpinee champion in 126 lbs (1988), Lumpinee champion in 122 lbs (1986), world champion in 122 lbs (1982)
Team: Muangsurin Gym