Sagat was both muay Thai and kickboxing world champion and won the Lumpini championship three times. His overall fight record in all forms of boxing is 317 bouts, 266 wins, 40 losses and 11 draws with morethan 150 wins by knockout.

He earned a reputation as the knockout king and, after winning seven more titles, retired from fighting in Thailand when he was 28. 'Don't be infatuated with fame when you are rising, and don't give up when you fall,' Luang Poh Khun told Sagat.Īfter he regained his confidence, Sagat returned to fighting and found his new weapon: an uppercut. He visited Luang Poh Khun, a famous monk back home in Nakhon Ratchasima, who gave him words of wisdom he still remembers today: He sought the advice of many monks as he believed he was 'cursed' by black magic.

PHOTOS: Chumporn SangvilertĪfter turning 25, Sagat says he lost nine fights in a row and believed his career was coming to an end. Sagat also tried his hand at Western-style boxing with success.īOXED IN: Sagat was introduced to muay Thai boxing at the age of 11 by one of his brothers. Within two years, he improved to the point where he won five fights in a row. He lost, but returned to the gym to train harder. Sagat's first fight in Bangkok was at Ratchadamnoen stadium. Sagat hopped on the van heading to Bangkok hoping he would keep his promise. 'I will make you a star,' Sagat recalls Boonyeam promising him. When he was 16, Boonyeam Sophon, the owner of Porntawee boxing camp in Nonthaburi, went to watch him fight. He won and his reputation as being unbeatable grew as he fought 20 times in his home town without loss. Sagat says he was introduced to muay Thai when he was 11 by one of his brothers.Īfter training for six months, Sagat had his first fight at a temple fair. Sagat was the seventh of 10 children in a family with many famous muay Thai fighters, starting with his grandfather Suk Prasathin Phimai, who has a statue honouring his fighting exploits. Sagat was born Wirun Phonphimai in 1958 in the town of Phimai, Nakhon Ratchasima. Many of the moves that appeared in the video game, with his name, were ones he used in his real and illustrious kickboxing career. Sagat Petchyindee is a legendary muay Thai fighter and trainer who also tried his hand at Western - style boxing. Not many people know the character Sagat was based on a real person named Sagat.

Covers of boxing magazines with Sagat during his rise to fame.

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