SAMRANSAK MUANGSURIN (Career 1980-1990)
SAMRANSAK MUANGSURIN
THE IRON FIST
Samransak whose real name is Ran Kijram was born on June 18, 1959 in Buriram, one of the northeastern regions of Thailand that produced the highest number of boxing champions.
Samransak is considered by many specialists as one of the biggest punchers in the history of Muay Thai. His fighter nickname was “Ay Matsaklek” (The Steel Fist) because he had phenomenal power in his fists.
He was also a formidable “Muay Tone” (Durable boxer), Samransak has always made terrible fights against the many opponents he has faced.
Samransak has represented with honor his camp for years, the famous Muangsurin Gym. A camp which was located in the district of Laksi in Bangkok. The 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 the fists because it produced great champions in Boxing such as the legendary Saensak Muangsurin who was WBC World Champion at 25 years old after only three professional fights, as well as Prayonsak Muangsurin (OPBF World Champion), Tongta Kietwayupha and Jong Satiyengym!
Muangsurin Gym has also formed 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 puncher Chainoi Muangsurin.
Many champions from other camps came to improve their boxing skills in this camp, the immense champions Coban “The Cruncher” Lookchaomaesaitong and Wangchannoi “Wonderman” Sor Palangchai trained for a long time at Muangsurin Gym.
Samransak Muangsurin had a remarkable career, until he was 33 he faced all the best fighters in his class, from great champions such as Kongtoranee Payakaroon, Samart Payakaroon, Sonsin Sitneunpayom, Saencheung Pinsinchai, Yoknoi Fairtex, Jomwo Chienggym, Mafeuang Weerapon, Panrit Luksirat, Chanchai Sor Tamrangsi, Chamophet Haphalang, Sanit Wichitkrengkrai, Saengsakda Kitikasem, Panomtuanlek Haphalang, Jaroenthong Kietbanchong, Coban Lookchaomaesaitong, Cherry Sor Waniche, Wangchannoi Sor Palangchai, Sakmongkol Sitchuchok, Samrantong Kietbanchong!
Samransak has fought about 120 fights for 90 victories including fifty won by KO!
In 1981, February 21, in the stadium of Radja, a shock fight opposed the two strong men of the moment who were Samransak, 22 years old, and Kongtoranee Payakaroon, 21 years old, nicknamed “Aynou Mahasadjan” (The young prodigy). Kongtoranee already held several belts from Lumpinee. But Samransak beat the Kongtoranee bull on points!
The rematch between the two hitters took place on October 13, in Lumpinee, and Samransak again beat Kongtoranee on points.
On April 28, 1982, an exceptional Muay Thai event was organized on the anniversary of the bicentenary of Rattanakosin, the dynasty of the Chakri Kings (Rama) which is the currently ruling dynasty in Thailand. The Chakri dynasty took over from the Kings of Ayutthaya.
A delegation of Japanese champions was therefore invited to do battle to face a Thai team. Eight WFMA World champion’s belts were at play during this prestigious event which took place in the stadium of Ratchadamoen, a stadium full complety 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 champion from South Korea.
Nongkhai Sor Prapasorn won the title in 130 lbs, Dieselnoi Chor Thanasurakarn the one 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 the Japanese Masayuki Yamamoto by beating him by KO in the second round!
Two years after his victories over Kongtoranee, the superstar Samart Payakaroon, the little brother of Kongtoranee, avenged his big brother, by beating the Samransak points, on April 15, 1983, in the stadium of Lumpinee.
That same year, Samransak faced Sonsin Sitneunpayom on July 12 in Lumpinee, and he beat the great champion Sonsin. They met again in Lumpinee on October 4, and Samransak beat him again in points. Sonsin took his revenge in 1984, September 28, in the stadium of Lumpinee where he won by points. But, on November 9, in Lumpinee, Samransak once again beat Sonsin by points!
In 1983, Samransak had his first fight abroad, in the United States, in Los Angeles, where he defeated the American Nelson Placentia by KO.
In 1985, Samransak had great victories by KO, he beat Nikom Phetpothong and Maewnoi Sitchang in the third round, as well as the great champions Saencheung Pinsinchai and Chanchai Sor Tamrangsri, Saencheung in the second round and Chanchai in the first round!
Samransak also won a great points match against Yoknoi Fairtex.
But he lost points fights against big names like Jomwo Chienggym, on June 18, in Lumpinee, Chamophet Haphalang, on September 3, in Lumpinee, and Sanit Wichitkrengkrai, on December 6, in Lumpinee.
On May 6, 1986, Samransak met the powerful Saengsakda Kitikasem who knocked him out in the 2nd round, this is one of Samransak’s rare defeats by KO…
On June 13, in Lumpinee, Samransak and Saengsakda did the rematch with in addition the Lumpinee belt in 122 lbs in play which was held by Saengsakda. The two champions achieved a match of madness which was voted “Best fight of the year in 1986”. In this titanic duel, Samransak won by KO in the fifth round and won the Lumpinee belt in 122 lbs!
On September 9, in Lumpinee, they met for a third confrontation. In the first round, puncher Samransak landed a dazzling right which knocked out Saengsakda!
At the end of the year, on December 19, at the Indoor Stadium Huamark in Bangkok, Samransak lost in points to Saencheung Pinsinchai for a world champion’s belt in 126 lbs…
1987 was a busy year for “Ay Matsaklek”, on February 6, in Lumpinee, he had a terrible fight against Yoknoi Fairtex. Samransak was counted in the third round, he finished the recovery with difficulty. But in the fourth round Samransak managed to KO Yoknoi!
On March 6, in Lumpinee, he lost in points against technician Panomtuanlek Haphalang. On May 19, the two men clashed again in Lumpinee, Panomtuanlek again beat Samransak on points.
On July 31, in Lumpinee, Samransak found the multiple champion Chamophet Ha Phalang, Chamophet once again won the fight in points but he finished the very difficult fight, his head bloodied…
Samransak also lost in points, on September 22, in Lumpinee, against Bandone Sit Bangpradjan.
A month later, on October 27, in Lumpinee, Samransak defeated Payboun Fairtex on points. Then, on December 8, in Lumpinee, he faced champion Sanit Wichitkrengkrai. For this big fight, a dumpan of 800,000 baht was involved. But in the end, the match ended in a draw.
The revenge took place, on December 29, in Lumpinee, and Samransak beat Sanit by points!
In 1988, on February 2, in Lumpinee, Samransak defeated Tuanthong Loukdecha by points.
In April, Samransak flew to Japan to face his compatriot Phetdam Loukborai. On April 2, he lost on points to Lumpinee champion Phetdam.
After his defeat in Japan, Samransak met Chanchai Sor Tamrangsri on April 29 in Lumpinee. Chanchai was the reigning Lumpinee champion in 126 lbs. Samransak defeated this superb technician and won his Lumpinee belt !
On May 26, he found the star Samart Payakaroon in the stadium of Lumpinee. Samransak lost the match on points. On June 24, he again faced Samart Payakaroon in Lumpinee and Samransak once again bowed to the lord of the rings. In four clashes, Samransak was never able to defeat Samart Payakaroon…
On July 18, in the stadium of Radja, he beat Punsawat Wor Singhsanae by points. And in Lumpinee, on August 30, for the return match, he defeated Punsawat by KO in the third round!
On October 11, in Lumpinee, the young Jaroenthong Kietbanchong, who was 20 years old, challenged Samransak, then 29 years old. It was Samransak who won this generation shock!
But for the rematch, in Lumpinee, on November 25, Samransak lost his Lumpinee belt in 126 lbs against the young wolf Jaroenthong…
During the year 1989, Samransak defeated the solid Dokmaipah Por Pongsawan and carried out a titanic battle against the star Wangchannoi Sor Palangchai. In this fight, Wangchannoi ended the match on the verge of KO but he will finally be declared the winner on points…
That year, Samransak also faced the great champion Cherry Sor Waniche twice, Cherry beat Samransak on points and they drew.
On October 12, in Lumpinee, he also drew with his old rival the great champion Kongtoranee Payakaroon.
The two legends of the rings met for a last fight, on November 9, 1990, in the stadium of Lumpinee. This time, it’s Kongtoranee who won in points.
On August 31, 1990, in Lumpinee, Samransak had a good fight against Yodvittaya Sithyodthong which he beat by KO in the second round!
In 1991, on May 31, in Lumpinee, Samransak (32 years old) met one of the biggest punchers in Muay Thai history, Coban Lookchaomaesaitong (24 years old). Coban was at the top of his glory. A month earlier, in France, he had just beaten by KO in the first round, the Dutch terror Ramon Dekkers. In that batting match, Coban tasted the punch of the “steel fist” in the third round. But then, in that same third round, Coban hit Samransak hard with a right hook, counted, Samransak returned to the fight. But Coban gave him a terrible high kick. Samransak was counted again, the old lion resisted, Coban threw himself on his prey and punched him a series, Samransak was KO standing, the referee wisely stopped the fight. For the revenge, “The Cruncher” again beat “Aymatsalek” but this time by KO in the second round!
But on August 24, in the stadium of Lumpinee, Samransak showed that he was still present by knocking out in the second round the young rising, Sakmongkol Sitchuchok who was just 18 years old!
On April 7, 1992, in the stadium of Lumpinee, at 33 years old, in a big event organized by the promoter N° 1 of the moment, Songchai Ratanasuban, Samransak made his farewell fight against the formidable Samranthong Kietbanchong, the little brother of Jaroenthong. Samransak defeated Samranthong in the second round!
BY SERGE TREFEU