WANPADET SAKHROUMAY
INTERVIEW OF WANPADET SAKHROUMAY
by Serge TREFEU (2015)
Serge TREFEU: Hello Ajahn Wanpadet, how are you?
WANPADET SAKHROUMAY: I’m well, thank you!
How old are you?
I’m 53 years old
You come of what region of the Thailand?
I was born in the city of Pak Phanang in Nakhon Si Tamarat’s province in the South of the Thailand
What is that you are married, do you have children?
Yes I’m married and I have children
Your children practise Muay Thai?
No
You have brothers and sisters?
Yes I arise from a big family, we were seven brothers, I was the fifth boy of the family…
Your brothers also practiced boxing?
Some, yes…
You began the boxing at which age?
I began the boxing enough late towards the age of 16 years…
You fought at once?
I have make my first fight in 17 years…
In what camp you began your formation?
I began to the camp Singprabat, I fought three times for this camp, then I went to the camp Sakhroumay of Master Sommay Reungrat situated to Pak Phanang in Nakhon Si Tamarat’s province, I fought under the name of Wanpadet Sakhroumay!
YOUNG WANPADET IN CAMP SAKHROUMAY!
Towards what age you have make your first fight in Bangkok?
In 19 years, I fought in the stadium of Radja and I beat Dieselek Lukbangbakok by KO in the third round!
You trained in a camp in Bangkok?
Yes to the camp Saksoukhon, I fought under the name of Wanpadet Saksoukhon. But in Bangkok I also studied in a High school, I stayed several months in Bangkok then I returned at my home to the South, it was not easy to train in the South and to fight in Bangkok, that’s why I also fought for Saksoukhon at the same time as for Sakhroumay…
You trained as professional of the Muay Thai and at the same time you studied?
Yes I obtained my university degree of physical educator in 1985, then I have make my career in the army…
You trained with which champions when you were in Bangkok?
The most known were Fanta Petchmuangtrat (Attapong Buaban)!
THREE GREAT CHAMPIONS, ATTAPONG BUABAN, KRONGSAK BORANRAT AND WANPADET SAKHROUMAY!
In what category you fought?
In 130 lbs and 135 lbs!
What are the titles which you gained inThailand?
I gained four times champion’s belt of the South, five times champion of Ratchadamnern’s belt and once champion of Lumpinee’s belt!
RADJA CHAMPION!
LUMPINEE CHAMPION!
Against which opponents you won your belts of Radja and Lumpinee?
The Radja belt 135 lbs I gained against Rachabout Sor Thanikul in 1983, against Komtae Chor Swanonat and three times against Nokweed Dawee in 1986, the belt of Lumpinee in 135 lbs against Dawden Sakhonpitak in 1985!
LEGENDS OF RADJA YEARS 80 AND 90, NOKWEED DAWE, WANPADET SAKHROUMAY, SANGTIENNOI SOR RUNGROJ, WANPICHIT KAENNORASING, BOUNAM SOR JARUNEE!
In what stadium you the most fought?
In the stadium of Ratchadamnern, I have many, many fought!
WANPADET AFTER ONE OF HIS MANY VICTORIES IN RADJA!
How much have you make of fights in your career?
I don’t a lot of fight because my career began in 17 years and it’s ended in 26 years. I have make 91 fights for 78 victories and 13 defeats!
You had which style of boxing?
I was a fighter very strong in knees!
What was your technique preferred in fight?
Blow of knees of course!
What was your hardest fight?
I think against Nokweed Dawee it was hard fights, we were six times in confrontation, I won three times!
Your best memory of boxing?
It’s to have to gain my match against the great champion Sangtiennoi Sor Rungroj, furthermore it was my last fight!
What are the known Thai fighters that you faced?
Djakrawan, Kanongsuk, Saengsakda, Ronachaï, Khulapkhao, Sanachaï, Prapsing, Jomho, Lom Isaan, Thong, Jack, Kitty, Tawanook, Kengkla, Jomtrai, Petdam, Sangtiennoï, Nokweed, Dawden, Komtae, Rachabout and many more…
WANPADET AGAINST RONACHAÏ!
You have already fought abroad?
Yes in Muay Thai, I have make a world championship in France, in 1988, against French Kerner, I won at points!
And in Boxing in Korea…
WANPADET SAKHROUMAY AGAINST GUILLAUME KERNER! (PHOTO JEAN PAOLI)
What is according to you the best foreign fighter today and in your time?
I cannot tell you, I don’t know enough the foreign fighters…
And the best Thai fighter now, it’s who according to you?
I don’t know but for me the best boxer so far it’s Dieselnoi!
What was your promoter when you fought?
Songchai
What was your purse in Thailand in the time?
I gained purses of over one hundred thousand baht!
Today you became a trainer, you have your own camp?
Yes I have to create my camp which is called Lukthapakart and which is in Bangkok
You also became a promoter, in what year you began the promotion of fight?
I was a promoter in the stadium of Radja during more than twenty years. I began my first organizations around 1990-1991…
WANPADET ALSO ORGANIZE SMALL EVENTS NEAR BANGKOK, LIKE THIS ONE IN 1994 TO NONTABURI!
Thank you for the interview!
Thank you happy
Wanpadet was a gifted of the Muay Thai which was a part of the best fighters of the 80s, in this period, he was one of the rare champions took away at the same time the belt of the stadium of Lumpinee and the belt of the stadium of Radja!
So, in 1988, in Paris, in the show of Bercy, Wanpadet who was 26 years old gained world champion’s belt in front of legendary French Guillaume Kerner who was only 19 years old, a match which stayed in the annals of French Muay Thai!
WANPADET SAKHROUMAY AGAINST GUILLAUME KERNER!
His champion’s nickname was “Khun Khao Pakphanang” (The blow of knees of Pak Phanang) because it was a formidable “Muay Khao” (Strong in knees)!
The biggest champions of the time such as Rachabout Sor Thanikul, Dawden Sakhonpitak, Sangtiennoi Sor Rungroj, Komtae Chor Swanonat, Kitty Sor Thanikul, Jomtray Petchyindee lost in front of King of the knocks of knees, Master Wanpadet beat three times legendary Nokweed Dawee and Phetdam Lukprabat!
Wanpadet was also very strong with his fists because he made a remarkable career in amateur boxing, it was golden medal in the Asiatic Games, and selected with the team of Thailand amateur for the Olympics of Seoul in 1988. But Wanpadet did not win a medal during these Games…
Wanpadet, of his real name Praweet Suwanvichit, ended his boxing career early, at the age of 26, because he’s enlisted in the Air Force to become an officer, Wanpadet has today the rank of commander in Royal Air Forces Thai!
COMMANDER SUWANVICHIT GIVES BOXING LESSONS TO SOLDIERS OF ROYAL AIR FORCE!
But Wanpadet always stayed in the world of the boxing by creating his own camp in Bangkok, the Lukthapakart gym (The Air Force) the champions of which the most known from this camp are Sinbi Taewoong and Duwao Kongudom, Sinbi was classified in the top 5 of Lumpinee and Radja, now he has his own camp to Phuket who is opened since 2007, and Duwao was him a champion of Omnoi in 126 lbs!
Then, Wanpadet was one of the biggest promoters of the stadium of Ratchadamnern during several years, he organized of numerous big events in the stadium of Radja, one of the most important last ones was the one of March 12th, 2012, when he was associated with Wichai Rajanon, the owner of the famous camp Rajanon Gym!
The main fights for this event was F16 Rajanon against Nong-O Kaiyanghadaogym, Jomtong Chuwatana against Phetboonchu F.A.Group, Inzeekao Rajanon against Lamnampong Por Todsapon, Kusakornnoi Sor Joonsen against Kong-Esarn Thor Pran49, Phetkangwan Rajanon against Sakpaitoon Sitcheat, Inzeelek Ja-Akartkrikkrai against Kamphonlek Or.Bor.Tor.Kampee and Pokpong Tor Chucheep against Pedsenlek Sor Joonsen!
EVENT OF 12 MARCH AT THE RADJA STADIUM, PROMOTION YODWANPADET AND RAJANON!
In 2012, Wanpadet come back on the boxing ring for a fight which was very much talked about in the specialized magazines. On October 4th, in the stadium of Radja, Wanpadet 51-year-old, has to face legendary Somrak Khamsing (40 years). For this match between the former glory of boxing rings, one dumpan of 2 million 800 baht was involved!
Somrak beat Wanpadet by TKO in the third round…
WANPADET AGAINST SOMRAK!
Wanpadet had already put back gloves in 2012 but for a charity show which it’s unwound in the stadium of Omnoi, it was an exhibition match against his former opponent Sangtiennoi Sor Rungroj!
On February 3rd, 2015, Wanpadet, 53-year-old, fought again in a big event in the stadium of Lumpinee. Wanpadet faced Tanatoy Eminentair (53 years) with a dumpan of 4 million baht!
During this match of the special rules were established. Because in spite of there are more than 50 years, Wanpadet is a former great champion of Muay Thai while Tanaitoy is not a real fighter (Promoter and owner of the famous camp Eminentair), Tanaitoy just made some small fights in province when he was young. Then, Tanaitoy has to benefit at first from 5 lbs furthermore than Wanpadet, 147 lbs for Wanpadet and 152 lbs for Tanaitoy, then the fight it’s made in three round only and Wanpadet had the right to use in the fight only his fists, Tanatoy could him use all the arsenal of Muay Thai, the fists, the elbows, the knees, the legs, the clinch…
Wanpadet beat Tanatoy who preferred not take back the fight in calls him of the third round!
WANPADET AGAINST TANATOY!
WANPADET SAKHROUMAY
Real Name: Praweet Suwanvichit
Nickname: Khun Khao Pakphanang (The blow knees from Pak Phanang)
Date of birth: November 19, 1962
Weight: 63 Kg
Height: 1m80
Number of fight: 91. 78 Wins. 13 Losses
Title: World Champion in 147 lbs (1988), Lumpinee Champion in 135 lbs (1985), Radja Champion in 135 lbs (1983, 1986), South Champion (1980)