When Vasiliy Lomachenko turned professional in 2013, after a long and glorious amateur career, he immediately set an ambitious goal: to win a world title within his first two fights and enter the Guinness World Records. The Ukrainian failed in his attempt as Orlando Salido narrowly defeated him on points, so Loma managed only to tie the existing historic record by winning a world title in his third professional fight. The holder of the unbeatable record remains the Thai fighter Saensak Muangsurin, and today, on the exact 73rd anniversary of his birth, dated August 13, 1951, we recount his story.
From Muay Thai to Boxing with an Original Style
Like many of his compatriots, Muangsurin was captivated by Muay Thai in his youth, the most practiced combat sport in his country, and achieved excellent results in that discipline, even winning a world title. However, his specialty was throwing punches: the vast majority of his knockouts were the result of strikes that would have been admired in a boxing ring, leading the athlete, at the age of 24, to make the leap to gain glory in a second sport. His technique inevitably reflected his past as a fighter; his stance was particularly peculiar, very wide, perfect for defending against hooks but vulnerable to straight punches and inside blows. However, the Thai possessed an explosive and violent left straight punch, a potentially lethal right hook, an imposing physique for the super lightweight category, and a chin like iron, already toughened by the brutal battles in Muay Thai.
A Spectacular Start: From Lightning Debut to a Great Record
The expectations of Thai boxing fans were well-founded from the very first bout. The opponent chosen for his boxing debut was the modest Filipino Rudy Barro, and the way the Thai fighter floored him after just over two minutes with a sudden right hook left everyone in awe. The victory was so overwhelming that it convinced the new boxer’s team to immediately put him against a tough opponent: Japanese fighter Lion Furuyama, who had already been a world title challenger twice and had 41 fights under his belt. Despite the difference in experience, the Japanese fighter collapsed in seven rounds, and at that point, hopes turned into certainties: Muangsurin could really break records and achieve something unprecedented. Between saying and doing, however, stood Spanish fighter Perico Fernandez, the WBC super lightweight world champion who traveled to Thailand confident that he would easily dispatch the Thai fighter. Fernandez repeatedly mocked his opponent’s peculiar style before the big day, but once in the ring, he realized he had laughed too soon. Muangsurin knocked him out in eight rounds, etching his name in history: he had become a world champion in just three professional fights!
A Champion Unafraid of Fighting Abroad: Triumphs in Japan and Spain
Unlike many champions famous for defending their title only at home, Muangsurin was more than willing to fight in hostile territory, with five of his first six title defenses taking place abroad—two in Japan and three in Spain. This courage exposed him to the risk of an upset: while dominating local idol Miguel Velazquez in Madrid, he made the mistake of hitting him after the bell at the end of the fourth round, losing his title by disqualification. However, his revenge was swift: just four months later, the Spaniard was knocked down four times and stopped in only two rounds. Not even Perico Fernandez could end the Thai’s reign: the infernal atmosphere of the Palacio de los Deportes in Madrid was not enough to intimidate Muangsurin, who ironically faced greater danger after the verdict was read, when the furious crowd began throwing objects into the ring in an attempt to hit him.
A Brilliant but Brief Reign: A Swift Beginning, a Swift End
Saensak Muangsurin’s reign as champion was undoubtedly admirable: of the nine challengers he defeated with the title on the line, four had been or would become world champions. However, the many battles fought in Muay Thai and his reckless style, which led him to take many punches even as a boxer, resulted in a premature decline for the record-holder. The first signs of disaster appeared when the modest Venezuelan challenger Francisco Moreno, despite his poor record (three wins, two losses, and one draw), managed to knock down the champion and withstand him for thirteen rounds. Muangsurin had lost speed and reflexes, and his subsequent defense in South Korea against local fighter Sang Hyun Kim, a fellow southpaw, marked his definitive downfall: slow and clumsy compared to his prime, the champion was thoroughly outclassed and hit hard in every round. As he desperately and courageously tried to turn the tide, yet another left to the chin sent him crashing lifelessly to the canvas in the thirteenth round: at just 28 years old, Muangsurin was a finished boxer.
The Collapse of a Man, Both Inside and Outside the Ring
In a short time, the Thai fighter’s fortunes completely reversed. During his reign, he had become a national idol, married a famous Thai actress, and earned around $300,000 in total. However, after losing the title, everything fell apart. Muangsurin moved up to the welterweight division but only suffered more defeats, including a brutal loss in the USA against the rising star Thomas Hearns. The many punches he took, especially in this latter phase of his career, severely damaged his health, so much so that when he finally decided to retire after losing five of his last six fights, he was blind in one eye. The following years were marked by numerous troubles, from his divorce to the squandering of his accumulated wealth and the emergence of various health problems. Despite support from the WBC and the Thai government, Muangsurin lived in poverty during the last phase of his life and passed away at just 58 years old at the Rajavithi Hospital in Bangkok, suffering from severe liver and intestinal problems. Today, a statue in his likeness commemorates his achievements in his hometown of Phetchabun.