The Muay Thai drought in Thailand has been going on for almost two months now. This applies to the fight scene and gyms, leaving fighters, trainers, gym owners, and promoters without their main source of income. There is a tentative start date for fights at the stadiums (mid-June), but nothing is certain and that date is certainly subject to change, especially if the curve cannot be flattened as businesses start re-opening and people start traveling back to metropolitan areas for work. Muay Thai media and news publications also don’t have much material as there haven’t been any fights.

Something most people within the Muay Thai niche are doing is posting “throwback” pictures and videos. Some of these didn’t garner much attention at the time of occurrence, but nowadays, everyone is reminiscing about what seems like a distant past. This is also true for news regarding Thai female fighters and past bouts and tournaments. Here are some throwbacks featuring notable Thai (and some foreign) fighters of the past that you’ve probably never heard of.

Photo taken in 1999 in Nakhon Si Thammarat and published in Muay Siam weekly magazine. The fighter featured is Erawan Sor. Kittichai, who was one of the top fighters in the south at that time.

August 12, 2005. All-female Muay Thai festival show in honor of the birthday of Queen Sirikit / Thai Mother’s Day at Sanam Luang, Bangkok.
Photo, left: Saoprasuk Sakchaiyodee performing wai kru before her bout. There was a side bet of 120,000 baht.
Photo, middle, bottom: Looksaikinkwan (blue shorts) fighting against a Danish opponent. No name was given for this Danish girl, who was only described as “young”. Looksaikinkwan won.
Photo, right: Nongmai Sit. Kruek (blue gloves) in her bout against Saoprasuk. Nongmai won the bout.

These two Thai fighters were just mentioned above. Interestingly enough, a different Thai media listed them by names that are completely different than published by the newspaper article. Muaysiam Club says the left is O.A. Lukkhaerai and the left is Sangchien Chor. Insuwan.

August 12, 2005. All-female Muay Thai festival show in honor of the birthday of Queen Sirikit / Thai Mother’s Day at Sanam Luang, Bangkok. This fighter’s name was only given as “Rosary Scorpiongym”.

August 12, 2005. All-female Muay Thai festival show in honor of the birthday of Queen Sirikit / Thai Mother’s Day at Sanam Luang, Bangkok. Fighter is Ploymueangjan Sit. Petchdam.

July 25, 2009. Thiraphon Phannimit (fight name “Rambo Ying”, standing)  in a boxing match promoted by Onesongchai. She won by knockout against Yokdam Kwanchaisrikot. Less than a year later, Thiraphon became at WBO champion at mini flyweight (105 lb). She won the title in April 2010 against a South Korean opponent, Un Young Ho. She became the first-ever woman to win the title at that weight category. She was the first Thai female boxer to have had the opportunities to fight for four major boxing institutions – WBC, WBO, WBA, and IBF.

March 31, 2006. A fight card promoting an event by Onesongchai. The event was part of a Thai sports expo.

August 12, 2006. Fighter is Yingthip RTR. Ubon. For her first fight, she was paid 200 baht. The most she had ever gotten paid was 5,000 baht. She had about 85 fights in her career, with an approximate fight record of 74 wins, 9 losses, and 2 draws.
DOB: December 22, 1986
Weight: 52-53 kg
Height: 157 cm
Titles: S1 champion @ 118 lb (won via decision vs Nueasien Chor. Insuwan on a Mother’s Day show on August 12, 2006)

Undated picture of Pepsi Chor. Suwan. She had her first fight at age 12 and she got paid 300 baht. She had over 30 fights in her career. Here are some other facts about her:
DOB: April 7, 1989
Weight: 56 kg
Height: 160 cm

Undated picture of Petchprawpraw Kezagym. She fought over 80 times in her career. She has a bachelor’s in sports.

Praewa Sit. Phenprapha. Born on December 11, 1991, she started fighting at 12 years old. She got paid 150 baht for her first fight. After this win in her hometown province of Mahasarakham, her parents took her all over the Isaan region to fight – Khon Kaen, kalasin, Chaiyaphun, Korat. She fought in Isaan over 20 times before moving on to fighting on more established shows in other regions. Over the course of her career, she was ranked #6 by WPMF @ 126 lb (this same year, Sawsing Sor. Sopit became the WPMF world champion after beating Azuma in Japan). She had about 50 fights in her career, with about 40 wins and 10 losses. She held some wins over these noteable fighters during her time: Chankrachang Prasarakham, Namkulab Sor. Siritaam (at channel 11), Yingthip Por. Tor. Ubon (2006 S1 champion), Bonus Sor. Sompongfarm, Jomyuthying Kiatnua, Nongtaeo Ror. Khon Kaen Sports School. According to her, her best fight was when she won via TKO in round three vs Saengjan Sakpaitoon. She was also on the National Amateur Boxing team.
DOB: Dec 11, 1991

Yuriko Kaewsamrit on June 24, 2006. She was ranked #3 pinweight (weight limit 100 lb) in 2011.

Panda Au. Yuthachai on June 17, 2006. She had her first fight at 10 years old. She was also a S1 champion but year and weight class is unknown.

Nong Aor. June 17, 2006. From Nonthaburi province.
Accomplishments: Won the 27th annual National amateur boxing tournament, trophies for a shows honoring Mother’s Day and Father’s day
DOB: April 24, 1993
Height: 159 cm
Weight: 55 kg

Yokkao Sit. Lertchai. First fight December 5, 2003 (12 years old). Paid 200 baht. She won bronze in a national amateur boxing tournament. She fought at 112 lb.

Yokkao fought Cherry Gor. Twingym in Thepae stadium, Chiang Mai on Oct 26, 2011. Cherry won via points.

Cherry Gor TwinGym was ranked #1 in 2015 @ 108 lb by WPMF.

Photo taken 8 July 2006

Nongpat Gor. Saklamphun. Got paid 500 baht for her first fight.
DOB: Feb 3, 1992
Accomplishments include: S1 Champion @ 105, 108, and 112 lb
Gold at international amateur tournament in Kampaengphet in 2006 @ 50 kg
Silver at international amateur tournament in Surat Thani in 2007 @ 50 kg
Gold at international amateur tournament in Uttaradit in 2007 @ 50 kg
Gold at Nakhon Si Thammarat Games in 2007 @ 50 kg
Silver at the 24th National Youth Sports tournament in Ubon Ratchathani in 2008 @ 50 kg
Silver at the 37th National Amateur Boxing “Thi Lo Su Games” in 2008 @ 52 kg

S1 Tournament for Muay Thai World Expo – August 12, 2006
eight-woman tournament

It comes at no surprise that news about woman fighters is grossly underreported, so it’s nice to see these pictures and learn information about the women in the sport who competed when there was an even bigger disparity in terms of fight purses, opportunity and spotlight.