Status: Former WBA Junior Bantamweight champion. Boxed professionally from 1980-1991. His ring record was 49-1 (43 KO’s). Inducted to International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1999.
Ht: 5-5 Wt: 115
DOB: May 15, 1959 In: Petchaboon, Thailand
Nickname: The Thai Tyson.
Boxing Inspirations: ”Muhammad Ali. Joe Louis. Rocky Marciano. Pone Kingpetch – the first world champion from Thailand. He won the title the year after I was born in 1960. I studied his lifestyle. He spent much, much time for his profession. I tried to perfect his style. But in the ring we had different styles, as he was a boxer.”
Hobbies/Interests: ”Play snooker – I own a snooker club in Bangkok. Play a little golf. Operating the Khaosai Galaxy Sports Club in Bangkok.”
Pre-Fight Meal: ”Thai food, rice – to maintain weight of junior bantamweight. After the weigh-in, 24 hours before the fight, then a big steak [[laughs].”
Pre-Fight Feeling: ”All the time I was very well prepared. Technical, endurance – always ready. I knew my left hand was special. My power hand. In the ring I became a completely different person, full of confidence. Felt no pressure under me. Always smiling. Relaxed and confident my left hand would win the fight for me.”
Greatest Sports Moment: ”First championship fight. I tried, I tried many times, always dreaming. I waited five years – 25 fights – for the championship opportunity. Finally, I boxed for the championship in 1984 against Eusebio Espinal (in Bangkok). Espinal had a very good style, he knew a lot. But his punch was just not heavy enough. I won by sixth round knockout by left hand. At that time I was underdog, rated #8, not considered to threaten him. I was so excited, I ran five kilometers to my temple to celebrate that night.”
Most Painful Moment: ”None in the ring. But I had problems in my love life. I married a Japanese girl. Had a lot of trouble. And finally a divorce.”
Toughest Opponent Encountered: ”Kenji Matsumura (1989). Eleventh defense. Bad, bad cut from elbow in second round. Worried me about losing by TKO. It was the first cut of my career. I didn’t go for knockout. I jabbed to outpoint him on decision.”
Hardest Puncher Encountered: ”The last fight (Armando Castro in 1991). Took a standing-eight count in round three from a right hand. Very, very important fight. 19th title defense. Actually, I decided to retire after 18. But the WBA president Gilberto Mendoza wanted to see another fight. The Prime Minister of Thailand didn’t want to see it. Finally, all agreed to another fight in Bangkok.”
Musical Tastes: ”Whitney Houston. I love her. A very deep, from-the-heart voice.”
Funny Boxing Memory: ”My twin brother (Kaokor) also became WBA Bantamweight champion. The funny memory is when I was 13, my brother was knocked down in the third round of a kickboxing match. The bell came. Between the rounds I secretly put on his gloves and substituted for my brother. Nobody knew – we look the same. And I knocked the opponent out in the next round with a left hand [smiles].”
Early Boxing Memory: ”My mother started training me in boxing at five years old. My mother loved boxing and I was very close to her. Out of deep respect for my mother, I keep fighting. It is a very sad point of my life that she passed away before I won the world championship in 1984.”
Most Treasured Possession: ”The greatest honor of my career was going to the International Boxing Hall of
Topics: Boxing Hall Of Fame, Championship Fight, Espinal, Galaxy Sports, Greatest Sports, Hobbies Interests, International Boxing Hall, International Boxing Hall Of Fame, Japanese Girl, Joe Louis, Junior Bantamweight, Khaosai Galaxy, Matsumura, Muhammad Ali, Painful Moment, Petchaboon Thailand, Rocky Marciano, Snooker Club, Sports Club, Sports Moment
Biofile with Khaosai Galaxy | 