Buakaw Banchamek, born Sombat Banchamek on May 8, 1982 in Surin,Thailand, nicknamed Buakaw Por Pramuk or The White Lotus, is a Muay Thai kickboxing champion who won the K-1 World MAX, Omnoi Stadium, and Thailand Featherweight events. Banchamek is currently the most famous Thai fighter in the world. As of 1 August 2020, he is ranked the #10 lightweight kickboxer in the world by Combat Press. Buakaw Banchamek was the second child of Leng and Pan Banchamek.
He has a sister named Kanyarat Banchamek. Buakaw Banchamek started his fighting career at the age of eight in his home province of Surin in the northeastern Thailand. He moved to Chachoengsao when he was 15 and trained with the Por. Pramuk Gym with his first fight name was Damtamin Kiat-anan. Buakaw has collected several belts to his name fighting in Thailand, including Omnoi Stadium featherweight. featherweight champion of Thailand, Omnoi Stadium lightweight and Toyota Marathon 140 lb. tournament. In July 2004, Buakaw became the K-1 MAX World champion beating Masato, Takayuki Kohiruimaki, and John Wayne Parr, in the finals. Then in 2006, he won the K-1 MAX World Grand Prix, by defeating Andy Souwer by TKO and became the first fighter to win this title twice.
Buakaw was also Thai Fight tournament champion for two consecutive years. The first time he won the Thai Fight 70 kg Tournament Title by beating Frank Giorg in 2011 and in the second time he beat Mauro Serra via TKO in the quarter-finals in 2012. As of 1 August 2020, he is ranked the #10 lightweight kickboxer in the world by Combat Press. Buakaw also briefly played professional football as a forward in the Regional League Division 2 for RBAC F.C.. Additionally, he has also embarked on an acting career, starring in 2010's “Yamada: The Samurai of Ayothaya” and 2017's “Thong Dee Fun Khao”. As of 2020, Buakaw has an estimated net worth of $1.7 million. It’s not easy to attain the kind of physique that has made Buakaw a famous Muay Thai champion. Each morning, he wakes up at 5:30 to undergo a 5 to 10 mile run.
Afterwards, he undergoes his usual training, which is made up of 15 rounds of fighting work, sparring or other strength training. In the mid-afternoon, Buakaw goes for another long run, before entering the second round of his training program with more fighting, sparring and strength training. Buakaw’s finishes his training at around 7:00PM or 8:00PM; just in time for dinner. And this is just his usual routine! Buakaw kicks it up a few notches when he has a fight coming up. Currently fighting as Buakaw Banchamek, Buakaw is still more famously known for his previous ring name, Buakaw Por. Pramuk, when he was still fighting out of the famous Por. Pramuk Gym in Bangkok, Thailand. And though Por. Pramuk was the gym that helped bring Buakaw most of his fame, it was also the gym that caused him a lot of his problems.
His manager reportedly stole 95% of Buakaw’s earnings and refused to return it to him. In 2012, it was reported that Buakaw had been missing from his training camp for unknown reasons. He then appeared on a Thai TV talk show shortly after the reports, apologizing to his fans and stating that the gym had mistreated him for years. Weeks later, Buakaw decided to retire from fighting in order to end the dispute with Por. Pramuk Gym. After his exit from Por. Pramuk Gym and with the help of one of his sponsors, Yokkao, Buakaw built a Muay Thai gym in his hometown. The gym was built in just 10 days and was named Banchamek Gym. Buakaw built the camp not only because he wanted to continue training but so that he could help the children in his village discover Muay Thai as well.
Kasetsart University in Thailand awarded Buakaw an honorary Master of Science degree in 2013, for sports science; he was given this for ‘outstanding contributions’ as one of the best-known and most successful athletes to come from the country. Additionally, he was honored with a PhD. in regional development strategies by Surindra Rajabhat University in 2014. This qualification was awarded for being a representative for the ancient art of Muay Thai and ambassador for Thailand in sporting achievements.
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