Saman Sorjaturong (born Saman Sriprated on 2 August 1968 in

Amphoe Khlong Lan Khlong Lan ( th, คลองลาน, ) is the westernmost district (''amphoe'') of Kamphaeng Phet province, central Thailand. History The area was originally part of Mueang Kamphaeng Phet district, then named ''Tambon'' Pong Nam Ron. The ''ta ...

Kamphaeng Phet province Kamphaeng Phet ( th, กำแพงเพชร, ) is a province in upper central Thailand. It borders the provinces of Sukhothai to the north; Phitsanulok to the northeast; Phichit to the east; Nakhon sawan to the south; and Tak to the west a ...

) is a Thai former world

boxing Boxing (also known as "Western boxing" or "pugilism") is a combat sport in which two people, usually wearing protective gloves and other protective equipment such as hand wraps and mouthguards, throw punches at each other for a predetermine ...

champion.

Early life

He was born in a peasant family in Kamphaeng Phet province, upper

central Thailand Central Thailand (Central plain) or more specifically Siam (also known as Suvarnabhumi and Dvaravati) is one of the regions of Thailand, covering the broad alluvial plain of the Chao Phraya River. It is separated from northeast Thailand ( Isa ...

, with four siblings. In childhood, he did not live with his parents because they had moved to another village. As a child, Saman was ordained a

novice A novice is a person who has entered a religious order and is under probation, before taking vows. A ''novice'' can also refer to a person (or animal e.g. racehorse) who is entering a profession with no prior experience. Religion Buddhism ...

and went to live at the temple with his grandfather who was ordained monk. He stayed there until graduated sixth grade. Later on, he went to Bangkok to study Buddhism for five years in

Wat Pho Wat Pho ( th, วัดโพธิ์, ), also spelled Wat Po, is a Buddhist temple complex in the Phra Nakhon District, Bangkok, Thailand. It is on Rattanakosin Island, directly south of the Grand Palace. Known also as the Temple of the Recl ...

, until graduating with level three in Buddhist Theology, which can be called "Maha" (serious) prefix.

Boxing career

Saman turned pro at the age of 21, with a love for professional boxing, having written a letter to ask for help from

Mom Rajawongse The precedence of Thai royalty follows a system of ranks known as ''thanandon'' ( th, ฐานันดร), which are accompanied by royal titles. The Sovereign There are two styles which can be used for a king in ordinary speech, depending on ...

(M.R.) Naris Kridakorn, editor of ''World Boxing Magazine''. M.R. Naris had recommended him to the "Sorjaturong Boxing Gym" (ค่ายมวย ส.จาตุรงค์) by Suchart Theerawuttichuwong as owner and trainer. Saman won the WBC, IBF and lineal junior flyweight titles during his career. He is the third Thai world boxing champion not to be previously involved in

Muaythai Muay Thai ( th, มวยไทย, , ), sometimes referred to as Thai boxing, is a combat sport that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. This discipline is known as the "art of eight limbs", as it is characterised ...

(the first being Pone Kingpetch, and the second being

Chartchai Chionoi Chartchai Chionoi ( th, ชาติชาย เชี่ยวน้อย; ) a.k.a. Chartchai Laemfapha ( th, ชาติชาย แหลมฟ้าผ่า; ) or birth name Naris Chionoi ( th, นริศ เชี่ยวน้อย ...

). Saman was also the first Thai and Asian boxer who won world championships of two institutions at the same time. Before that, he was criticized for not being capable enough to be a world champion. In 1993 he challenged the WBC strawweight world champion with Ricardo López, but was defeated in the second round. He defeated reigning champion Humberto González in a thrilling fight that was named Ring Magazine's Fight of the Year in 1995 to win the IBF and WBC titles. Both fighters were knocked down twice during the fight. He defended the WBC portion of the title ten times before losing it to Yo Sam Choi in 1999 via a unanimous decision. Their rematch was postponed seven times, finally taking place in 2001, when Saman lost by a knockout in the seventh round. He retired in 2005 after being knocked out in the first round by Kōki Kameda.

Life after boxing

After retirement, he opened a '' Khao man kai'' (Thai version of

Hainanese chicken rice Hainanese chicken rice is a dish of poached chicken and seasoned rice, served with chilli sauce and usually with cucumber garnishes. It was created by immigrants from Hainan in southern China and adapted from the Hainanese dish Wenchang chi ...

) and '' Khao mu daeng'' (rice with red pork) restaurant in his home town of Ban Fah Lagoon Village,

Rangsit Rangsit ( th, รังสิต, ) is a city and neighbourhood in Pathum Thani Province, Thailand. Rangsit is a metropolitan city that supports the expansion of Bangkok in the north. Rangsit has become a departure point for travel to provinces i ...

, Pathumthani province.

Professional boxing record

References

External links