Oley Kiatoneway

Prasit Thaikaew (; born April 13, 1973), known professionally as Oley Kiatoneway , is a Thai former professional Muay Thai fighter and boxer. He is a former Lumpinee Stadium Super Flyweight Champion who was famous during the 1980s and 1990s. Nicknamed the "Black Pearl of the Andaman", he was especially known for his evasive movement and is considered amongst the greatest fighters in Muay Thai history.

Nowadays he works as a Muay Thai trainer at the Parunchai camp in his hometown of Thung Song. His students include elite fighters such as Chalam Parunchai, Dam Parunchai, and Saen Parunchai.

Biography and career

Early life

Thaikaew was born on April 13, 1973 into a poor family living in tambon Pak Phraek in Thung Song district, Nakhon Si Thammarat province. He was inspired to become a fighter by Wuttichai Chuchokchai, a Muay Thai champion from the Thung Song branch of the Kiatbanchong gyms. Initially, Thaikaew's family was disinterested in Muay Thai, so he secretly began training under Kru Wichai Plaikwuang in the small, ill-equipped Saksri Wichai camp near his home. Plaikwuang then gave him the ring name of Oley (โอเล่ห์). He would have his first fight at the age of 12 and won 100 baht.

Oley later joined the Kiatbanchong branch in his hometown where he would become teammates with future yodmuay (top fighters) such as Jaroensap, Jaroenthong, and Samranthong. The Kiatbanchong gyms were a brand of respected Muay Thai gyms owned by Chuchok Chukaewruang AKA Mai Muangkhon. Another Kiatbanchong branch named "International Muay Thai School" opened in Bangkok where Oley and his teammates would move to.

Oley began fighting in the general Bangkok area at the age 15 in the Omnoi and Rangsit stadiums. After knocking out Chanoi Petchnaka and beating Rao Rajanarit on points, he was scouted and hired by Songchai Rattanasuban, the owner of Onesongchai, and began fighting primarily in the Lumpinee Stadium. In the late 1980s, he began to be matched up against elite competition such as "The Ring Genius" Namkabuan Nongkeepahuyuth and "The Powerful Rhino" Nuathoranee Thongraja. After winning by a large margin against Namkabuan, the Thai media nicknamed him "Payaknoi" (Little Tiger).

His skill with evasion incited praise from the Thai audiences. He would employ the use of head movement to dodge punches, redirection of his opponents as they attacked, and, to avoid kicks, he would lean back to the point that his torso would be parallel to the floor as can be seen in his fights against Boonlai Sor.Thanikul or Namkabuan Nongkeepahuyuth.

Peak of popularity

Due to his dynamic and evasive style, he became a popular and successful fighter during the golden era of Muay Thai. He was able to win against other yodmuay (elite fighters) such as Langsuan Panyuthaphum, Superlek Sorn E-Sarn, and Dokmaipah Por.Pongsawang. Oley has stated that the fight where he was hurt the most was his first fight against Boonlai Sor.Thanikul, where Oley was ahead on points until Boonlai knocked him down in the 4th round.

Oley retired due to his growing disinterest with Muay Thai. He did not involve himself with combat sports for a long period of time as he was running small family restaurants in his hometown of Thung Song. His goal as a Muay Thai trainer is to give children a way to earn money so that they may go to school.