SAENCHAI SOR KINGSTAR (Career 1990-2010)
Saenchai Sor Kingstar whose real name is Supachai Saenpong was born on July 30, 1980 in the village of Ban Nonsung of the Kosumpisai district in the province of Mahasarakam, a province located in the heart of the Isaan region (North-East).
At 8 years old, he started boxing in the Sor Kingstar camp, a small camp which is about 20 km from Khon Kaen, a big city in the North-East region. Trained at Sor Kingstar, he stayed there 6 years and made 80 fights for this camp, he won all the provincial titles of the Isaan region. Wonder boy boxer, this star seed is quickly spotted by the big promoters of Bangkok, the biggest promoter of the time Mr. Songchaï Ratanasuban organizes his first important fights. Then, Saenchai was entered in the biggest team of champions which was held by the famous promoter Mr. Virat Vachirarattanawong (Petchyindee promotion). But it was the legendary Somrack Kamsing who took the young Saenchai under his wing and integrated him into the famous Bangkok camp, the Jocky Gym, a mythical camp located in the Bangseu district, north of Bangkok.
At 17 years old, Saenchai fought for Jocky Gym, he trained alongside stars Somrack Kamsing, Robert Kaennorasing, Silapathai Jockygym and Wangvisep Kaennorasing. He fought for 5 years under the colors of Jocky Gym and triumphed against many great Thai champions.
Then, the young Supachai joined the Somrack camp which had opened its own gym in the Bangkapi district. Saenchai stayed with Somrack for 3 years. The Olympic champion showed him formidable secret techniques which made Saenchai an exceptional technician. This Muay Thai virtuoso destabilized all his opponents with his unpredictable and daring sequences.
Saenchai left Somrack in 2006 after financial disputes, the two champions did not speak to each other for a long time.
Saenchai settled in the 13 Coins Resort camp, the camp of the millionaire Mr. Somchai Nitivangue, a luxurious camp which is located in the district of Suanluang in the suburbs of Bangkok, it remained several years under the control of Mr. Nitivangue.
In 2014, after a brief stint at Sinbi Gym in Phuket, Saenchai, in association with businessman Mr. Somchai Tedrungruang, opened PK Saenchai Gym in the Bang Kho Laem district, south of Bangkok. Saenchai is still today in this magnificent and immense camp.
Saenchai won his first important belt with Jocky Gym, at 17 he won the Lumpinee stadium belt in 115 lbs by beating Neungsiam Fairtex, the year after he won the Lumpinee title in 118 lbs against the technician Pornpitak Petudomchai. He lost his Lumpinee title in 1999 to the star of the moment Nungubon Sitlertchai. But he recovered his property against the same opponent for the rematch.
In 2005, he beat the young rider Singdam Kiatmuu9 for the belt of Lumpinee in 130 lbs, a title which he retained several times against tenors such as Nopparat Kiatkamtorn and Orono Wor Petchpun.
In 2010, he won the Lumpinee stadium belt in 135 lbs by beating the phenomenal champion Nong O Sit Or, a title that he successfully defended against the excellent Saketdao Phetpayathai.
This magician of the rings has also won the belts of WPMF World Champion in 122 lbs, WPMF World Champion in 140 lbs, WBC World Champion in 135 lbs, WBC World Champion in 140 lbs, MIAA World Champion in 140 lbs, and won the Toyota Tournament in 130 lbs and 140 lbs, as well as the Thai Fight Tournament in 147 lbs, throughout his career, Saenchai has conquered 15 belts!
Saenchai is an inimitable boxer, as we only see him once every 20 years. For more than ten years, he was considered in Thailand as the best fighter in all categories. His dominance and longevity in his category is unique.
At 34 years old, the age when many Thai champions are “retired”, Saenchai was still classified in the top 5 of the Lumpinee stadium, in Thailand he is nicknamed “Saenchai Kot Muay” that is to say he is above everyone, for 15 years he was at the top level, a record in the annals of Muay Thai!
“Saenchai” means “100,000 victories”, he has not won so many fights but his record is still admirable with 346 fights for 300 victories (40 KO). On the other hand, his purses, in his heyday, exceeded 100,000 baht, he received purses of 300,000 to 400,000 baht!
This extraordinary fighter was twice elected “Best boxer of the year” by the prestigious association The Sport Writers Association of Thailand, in 1999 and 2008. Saenchai also received in 2008 the “Best fighter of the year” award Siamkeela ”awarded by the Sports Authority of Thailand.
Saenchai has suffered only three defeats by knockout in his long career, when he was very young at 13 and 15, then at 18 against puncher Tongchai Thor Silachai whom he then defeated in points, since, in more than 300 fights he has never been defeated!
Nicknamed “Genious Fighter”, he defeated the best champions of the 2000 and 2010 generation such as Nungubon Sitlertchai, Phet Ek Sitjaopor, Thongchai Thor Silachai, Nong-B Kiatyongyuth, Attachai Por Samranchai, Samkor Kiatmontep, Puja Sor Suwanee, Wuttidet Lookprabat, Jaroenchai Kesagym (KO), Kongipop Petchyindee, Jomthong Chuwattana, Kongsak Sitboonmee (4 times), Khem Sor Ploenchit, Bovy Sor Udomsorn, Singdam Kiatmuu9 (4 times), Orono Wor Petchpun, Nong O Sit Or (6 times), Petchboonchu FA Group (4 times), Saketdao Petpayathai, Painek Sitnumnoi, Pakorn Sakyotin, as well as the great foreign champions Fabio Pinca (1 win, 1 loss), Rachid Belani, Liam Harrison, Yetkin Ozkul (KO), Imran Khan ( TKO), Kevin Ross, Mehdi Zatout, Damien Alamos, Houcine Bennoui, Rafi Bohic, Andrei Kulebin, Stephen Meleady (TKO), Victor Nagbe, Stephen Meleady, Morgan Adrar, Charles Francois (KO), Jose Neto, Eddy Nait Slimani, Azize Hlali, Chadd Collins, Anvar Boynazarov!
Of the 97 foreign fighters he faced only the French Fabio Pinca and the Chinese Konghong Xing beat him in points, an extremely close match with the French and a contentious decision against the Chinese champion…
Saenchai has been undefeated for almost 6 years, he made his last fight on January 25, 2020, at 39 years old, in Italy, he beat the Italian Shan Cangelosi.
Saenchai has definitely marked the history of Muay Thai forever. But this living legend of Muay Thai, who has shone on rings around the world, is not yet extinct. The eighth wonder of Muay Thai, as our late journalist Pascal Iglicki so aptly named, still thirsts for victory!
BY SERGE TREFEU