SAIMAI CHOR SUANANANT (Career 1990-2000)
SAIMAI CHOR SUANANANT
« THE LIGHTNING LEG »
Saimai was born in 1971 in Samrong village. A village which is located 20 km from the city of Ubon Ratchathani in the northeast region of Thailand.
Saimai has represented Camp Chor Suananant throughout his career. Lieutenant-Colonel Sommai Phuangmanee, former Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Police, was the owner of Chor Suananant Gym. The camp was located in a military camp in Bangkok at Soi Ban Chang Lo near Wat Wisetkan temple in Bangkok Noi district. The best known of the Chor Suananant Gym champions was Komtae Chor Suananant (Radja Champion), a great champion of the 80s.
Saimai Chor Suananant carried out, in the big stadiums of Thailand and in Europe, 86 fights for 65 victories including 20 by KO, 20 defeats and a draw.
His specialty was the Middles Kicks front leg and back leg. He also had lightning High Kicks.
In 1992, in the stadium of Radja, Saimai beat two great champions. He defeated Bowie Chor Waikul (ISKA World Champion) and Sombat Sor Thanikul (WMC World Champion) on points.
In 1993, in the stadium of Radja, he notably defeated Decha Eusamphan and the formidable Kongpatapi Sor Sumalee.
On November 12, 1994, Saimai came for the first time to fight in France. In Marseille, he met the French star of the moment, Dida Diafat. Dida Diafat was the reigning ISKA World Champion and favourite in this fight. The year before, the French champion had beaten twice the terrible Dutchman Ramon Dekkers. But Dida Diafat underestimated the Thai fighter. He did not make a big preparation because he was shooting a film in the United States with action film star Jean-Claude Vandamme.
The match counted for the title of ISKA World Champion in – 66 Kg. Saimai had a good fight, he beat the French champion in points and took his trophy from him. The Thai became ISKA World Champion. He won his first important belt!
The two champions met a few months later for the revenge at the Palais des Sports in Levallois. Saimai brilliantly retained his world title by beating Dida Diafat for the second time.
1996 was one of the best years for the Thai champion as he beat Dutch star Ramon Dekkers, great champions Morad Sari and Jo Prestia, and he conquered the supreme Lumpinee title.
On July 20, 1996, in the northeast region, in Buriram, in a show held in front of the historic Prasat Hin Phanom Rung temple, Saimai faced Dutch terror “The Diamond” Ramon Dekkers. After a hard fight, Saimai won the match on points!
On Saturday September 14, 1996, Saimai met Lumpinee N ° 1, Samart Kayadisorn, for the Lumpinee belt in 140 lbs. Samai defeated Samart and won the Lumpinee title!
One month after his defeat against Saimai, Samart Kayadisorn beat the legendary champion Dany Bill in the stadium of Lumpinee, November 16, 1996. Samart also beat champions like Chodchaoi Chuchokchai and Raweenoy Petchudomchai.
On December 15, Saimai defended his ISKA world title against talented champion Mourad Sari. The match took place in the famous Parisian auditorium Le Bataclan. The Thai retained his title by beating Mourad Sari on points.
Saimai and Mourad Sari made the rematch a few months later at the Arena in Gagny. The world title of Saimai was at stake. Mourad Sari had a fabulous fight and beat Saïmaï by points. The French won his first world belt.
In 1996, in France, Saimai also defeated the great champion Jo Prestia. Also, in Bercy, in an organization of the promoter Sami Kebchi, he beat by KO in the second round the German champion Muslim Cevir.
At the beginning of the year 1997, in the stadium of Lumpinee, Saimai knocked out the champion of Radja Dendanai Ekawit.
On 11 April 1997, in Italy, for a WMTC World Championship in – 63 Kg 500, Saimai defeated the great Swedish champion Patrick Eriksson. Patrick Eriksson was a formidable fighter who trained and fought for the famous Chakuriki Gym in Amsterdam. He was called “The Viking”.
On November 22, 1997, an exceptional tournament was organized by the N ° 1 promoter of the time, Mr. Sami Kebchi. The show was called “the $ 50,000 tournament.” The event took place in the town of Le Cannet, in the south of France.
For the first round of the tournament, Saimai did very well by knocking out one of the best French champions, world champion Joël Cesar. He then beat the tournament favourites, fellow countryman Jomhod Kiatadisak (Lumpinee Champion, Radja Champion, World Champion) to the points. In the final, Saimai found Morad Sari. The two champions had a third match. Mourad Sari was extremely distressed by his two previous matches which had been terrible battles against François Pennachio and Christian Garros. The brave Mourad Sari, too tired, could not stop the powerful attacks of Saimai who knocked him out with his fists in the first round!
On 5 December 1998, in Bangkok, during the famous King’s birthday show, Saimai was challenged by European champion Christian Garros. This famous show was organized by the great promoter Songchai Ratanasuban who was the official promoter of Saimai. Christian Garros was a very powerful fighter who was the first French to beat a Thai champion by KO at the Lumpinee stadium.
Saimai had a great fight, he beat rough Christian Garros to the points. The revenge between the Thai and the French champion took place in France, in Marseille. The match was engaged and fairly balanced until the fifth round. But in the last round, Saimai sent a lightning direct right that knocked out Christian Garros. It was the first defeat by KO of the Frenchman!
On June 19, 1999, Saimai fought for the Lumpinee belt in 147 lbs against the bull Dejpitak Sityodtong who beat him on points.
Saimai had a few more fights before finally ending his career in 2002.
In April 2001, in Paris, he met the European champion Wilfried Montagne. The fight ended in a draw.
On 8 June 2002, in Lyon, Saimai challenged the rising star, the young Farid Villaume. Farid Villaume was a formidable puncher who became a world star of Muay Thai a few years later. Farid Villaume was at the top of his form, he had just beaten by KO the Thai Taweesab, Mangonjuk, Sakhetdao, Sittichok and Vihoknoi.
Saimai and Farid Villaume had a great match, very intense. In the third round, Saimai hammered the Frenchman’s flanks with his powerful middles. After the match, Farid Villaume had cracked ribs. But in the same round, the French champion found the flaw by getting out a vicious uppercut that hit the Thai’s chin. Saimai collapsed KO for more account…
This great champion has now become a trainer in a small camp in the province of Ubon Ratchathani. Saimai was one of the Thai champions who most marked the French public during the golden age of Thai boxing in France!
BY SERGE TRÉFEU