Kongtoranee Payakaroon

Subin Dejtiptamai (; born Chartchai Tiptamai ; July 12, 1960), known professionally as Kongtoranee Payakaroon , is a retired Thai Muay Thai fighter and professional boxer. He is a former five-division Lumpinee Stadium champion, the 1984 Sports Writers Association of Thailand Fighter of the Year, and also challenged for a WBC and a WBA Super Flyweight title in boxing. He is the older brother of Samart Payakaroon, another famous Muay Thai and boxing champion.

Muay Thai career

Payakaroon (personal nickname: Chart; ชาติ) started his career from Muay Thai at the age of 11 before the brother, Samart. The brothers have the same trainer was Yodtong "Kru Tui" Senanan. Later, he became famous in the Amphoe Bang Lamung, eastern Thailand. In 1977, when he was 17 he came to Bangkok for as fighter under the famous promoter, Songchai Rattanasuban along with Samart, and since then, he has become a famous and favorite Muay Thai fighter. Before that, he had experienced about 100 fights. He fought with many famous fighters, such as Bangkhlanoi Sor.Thanikul, Samransak Muangsurin, Chamuakpetch Hapalang, Wangchannoi Sor Palangchai or Petdam Lookborai. His maximum remuneration was 120,000 baht in fight against Samingnoom Sithiboonthum at Rajadamnern Stadium. He won five different weight championships of the Lumpinee Stadium during 1978–84. Payakaroon lost the fight by unanimous decision and suffered significant facial injuries.

Later, Rattanasuban received an offer for Payakaroon to challenge Ellyas Pical, the IBF Junior Bantamweight champion from Indonesia, who had previously lost to Galaxy by knockout in the 14th round in 1987. The fight was to take place in Pical's hometown, but Payakaroon declined the offer, believing the pay would be unfairly low.

Retirement After failing to win the world championship in two attempts, Payakaroon was invited by a friend, who was a war correspondent, to join him in covering conflicts in France, Lebanon, and along the Thai border in what is now Sa Kaeo province. Although he was offered the opportunity to assist, he ultimately did not take the role due to a lack of skills and fluency in English. Unexpectedly, he returned to Muay Thai and continued fighting until his retirement in 1990. After retiring, he spent two years in Japan working as a Muay Thai trainer.

Later, he served as an assistant trainer at Sityodtong Gym in Bangkok, under the direction of Yodtong Senanan; he also had the opportunity to train students in Baku, Azerbaijan.

In 2007, he took over the management of a Muay Thai gym from his brother, Samart Payakaroon, after Samart's divorce.

Titles and accomplishments

Muay Thai Lumpinee Stadium 1978 Lumpinee Stadium Pinweight (102 lbs) Champion One successful title defense 1980 Lumpinee Stadium Light Flyweight (108 lbs) Champion Two successful title defenses 1980 Lumpinee Stadium Flyweight (112 lbs) Champion Two successful title defenses 1983 Lumpinee Stadium Super Flyweight (115 lbs) Champion One successful title defense 1984 Lumpinee Stadium Bantamweight (118 lbs) Champion One successful title defense

World Muay Thai Council 1990 WMTC World Light Welterweight (140 lbs) Champion

Awards 1978 King's Fighter of the Year 1984 Sports Writers Association of Thailand Fighter of the Year

Boxing record

Professional boxing record

Muay Thai record