Samart Popteeratham (, ; born Samart Thipthamai; December 5, 1962), known professionally as Samart Payakaroon (, ), is a Thai former professional Muay Thai fighter, professional boxer, and entertainer. He is a former four-division Lumpinee Stadium champion and WBC World Super Bantamweight Champion, as well as the 1981 and 1988 Sports Writers Association of Thailand Fighter of the Year, who was famous in the 1980s and 1990s. He is widely considered one of the greatest Muay Thai fighters of all time.

He has also released several successful albums in Thailand and appeared in multiple films and TV shows. Nowadays he works as a Muay Thai trainer at his own gym in Bangkok. His students include elite fighters such as Chalamchon SamartPrayakaroonGym.

Biography and fighting career

Muay Thai

Samart Thipthamai was born December 5, 1962 in Chacherngsao, Thailand.

He began Muay Thai training at 10 years old after being introduced by his older brother, Manus Thipthamai. The First Muay Thai teacher of Payakaroon was Yodtong Senanan (Kru Tui) who taught both brothers. His first fight name was Lotus. After he fought about a dozen fights, he came to Bangkok to fight at Lumpinee Stadium in 1978.

He possessed an extremely high ring IQ, with lightning quick reflexes, and excellent ring vision. He also fought using creative techniques that were effective and unpredictable, even against elite competition in the 80s and 90s (dubbed the Golden Age of Muay Thai). There were contests where Payakaroon was pushed past the brink of exhaustion, and still gave his opponents the fight of their lives. Even in the period where he was more concerned about his music and acting career, he defeated some of the greatest fighters of his generation.

Boxing

In 1982, he turned to boxing where he fought from a southpaw stance. In 1986, he won a WBC junior featherweight title with a surprise KO over rock-chinned Lupe Pintor in the fifth round and defended against the respected Juan Meza before being stopped by undefeated Australian Jeff Fenech. He made a comeback in the 1990s and challenged unsuccessfully for another world title.

Payakaroon was named The Rings Progress of the Year fighter for 1986. He now teaches Muay Thai and Boxing in Thailand.

Titles and accomplishments

Muay Thai

  • Lumpinee Stadium
  • 1980 Lumpinee Stadium Pinweight (102 lbs) Champion
  • 1980 Lumpinee Stadium Mini Flyweight (105 lbs) Champion
  • 1981 Lumpinee Stadium Super Flyweight (115 lbs) Champion
  • 1981 Lumpinee Stadium Featherweight (126 lbs) Champion
  • Awards
  • 1981 Sports Writers Association of Thailand Fighter of the Year
  • 1981 Sports Writers Association of Thailand Fight of the Year <small>(vs Mafuang Weerapol)</small>
  • 1982 Sports Writers Association of Thailand Fight of the Year <small>(vs Dieselnoi Chor Thanasukarn)</small>
  • 1983 Sports Writers Association of Thailand Fighter of the Year
  • 1988 Sports Writers Association of Thailand Fight of the Year <small>(vs Panomtuanlek Hapalang)</small>
  • 1988 Sports Writers Association of Thailand Fighter of the Year

Boxing

  • World Boxing Council
  • 1986 WBC World Super Bantamweight (122 lbs) Champion

Entertainment career

Music

Between his two stints as boxing champion, Samart signed with Grammy Entertainment, which he released three albums. They are pop music but with his upcountry accent (ner, Thai: เหน่อ) as opposed to central Thailand accent. His first album, Rock Ner Ner. (ร็อคเหน่อๆ) in 1989, contains a famous song On Som (อ่อนซ้อม - not enough practice) talking about him being very proficient in boxing but lacking the same aptitude at getting love from women. His second and third album, Arom Dee (อารมณ์ดี) and Kun Mai Kun Mike (คันไม้คันไมค์) followed in 1990 and 1992 with famous songs Nam Plik Pla Too (น้ำพริกปลาทู) and Kao Ao Eng (เกาเอาเอง) respectively.

After the release of three albums, he went back to boxing.

Acting

In 2000, Samart starred as a minor antagonist named Chartchai Payakaroon in A Fighter's Blues. He had a role in the 2001 Thai film, The Legend of Suriyothai. He had a major role in the French drama film, Fureur, and was in the 2004 film, The Bodyguard. In 2006, he co-starred in the Thai martial arts film, Dynamite Warrior. He appeared in Muay Thai Chaiya in 2007.

In 2015, his biography has created a documentary film released in Mard Payak (มาดพยัคฆ์; "Tiger Style") by NOW26 in a network of Nation Multimedia Group.

Legacy

Samart is considered to be the "Muhammad Ali" and "Sugar Ray Robinson" of Muay Thai.