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Samart Payakaroon

""The Jade-Faced Tiger/Executioner""

Samart Payakaroon is the Golden Era’s supreme Muay Femur—calm, clinical, and terrifyingly efficient. A four-division Lumpinee champion and WBC boxing world champion, he turned timing and the teep into art. His fights are masterclasses in control: draw, off-balance, and punish with a razor left. The blueprint many technicians still study.

Fighting Style: Muay Femur

Samart Payakaroon
Samart Payakaroon

Fighter Stats

Birth Year

1962

Nationality

Thai

Weight Classes

  • Flyweight – 112 lbs (≈50.8 kg)
  • Junior Bantamweight – 115 lbs (≈52.2 kg)
  • Bantamweight – 118 lbs (≈53.5 kg)
  • Junior Featherweight – 122 lbs (≈55.3 kg)
  • Featherweight – 126 lbs (≈57.1 kg)
  • Junior Lightweight – 130 lbs (≈59 kg)
  • Lightweight – 135 lbs (≈61.2 kg)

Record

Muay Thai: 200-48-2, Boxing 21-2

Active Years

1970-1994

Achievements

Titles Won

  • Lumpinee Stadium Pinweight (102 lb) Champion (1980)
  • Lumpinee Stadium Mini-Flyweight (105 lb) Champion (1980)
  • Lumpinee Stadium Super Flyweight (115 lb) Champion (1981)
  • Lumpinee Stadium Featherweight (126 lb) Champion (1981)
  • WBC World Super Bantamweight Champion (1986, boxing)
  • Sports Writers of Thailand Fighter of the Year (1981, 1983, 1988)
  • Fight of the Year: vs Mafuang Weerapol (1981); vs Dieselnoi (1982)

Notable Fights

  • vs Mafuang Weerapol — Lumpinee, Jun 9, 1981 — Fight of the Year (W)
  • vs Dieselnoi Chor. Thanasukarn — Rajadamnern, Dec 24, 1982 — Fight of the Year (L)
  • vs Samransak Muangsurin — Lumpinee, Apr 5, 1983 — title defense (W)
  • vs Wangchannoi Sor. Palangchai — meetings in 1989 & 1993 — iconic rivalry

Signature Techniques

  • Master timing + teep control (freeze → counter left / sweep)
  • Southpaw feints into left body kick; draw-and-counter game
  • Balance, sweeps, and “float” rhythm to off-balance opponents

Biography

Samart Payakaroon (real name: Samart Tiptarmai; born December 5, 1962, Chachoengsao, Thailand) is widely regarded as the quintessential Muay Fimeu of the Golden Era—an all-round technician whose timing, balance, and ring IQ set the standard for generations. Nicknamed the “Jade-Faced Tiger/Executioner,” Samart rose through Bangkok’s stadium circuit as a southpaw prodigy, capturing four Lumpinee Stadium titles across Pinweight (102 lbs), Mini-Flyweight (105 lbs), Super Flyweight (115 lbs), and Featherweight (126 lbs). He later crossed over to western boxing and claimed the WBC Super Bantamweight World Title (1986), showcasing the same economy, defense, and counterpunching that defined his Muay Thai.

In the ring, Samart weaponized the teep to control distance, drew attacks into slick counters, off-balanced opponents with sweeps, and punctuated exchanges with a sharp left body kick and surgical punching. His résumé includes era-defining bouts with Mafuang Weerapol (Fight of the Year, 1981), Dieselnoi Chor. Thanasukarn (Fight of the Year, 1982), Samransak Muangsurin, and Wangchannoi Sor. Palangchai. A three-time Sports Writers of Thailand “Fighter of the Year” (1981, 1983, 1988), Samart remains a touchstone for technical excellence, continuing to coach and mentor fighters from his Bangkok gym.

Defining traits: master timing • deceptive feints • elite teep control • sweep and balance game • left-side precision (kick/hand)

Career highlights: 4× Lumpinee champion • WBC world champion (boxing) • Fighter of the Year (’81, ’83, ’88)

Videos

Samart vs. Samransak

1988

Samart vs. Wanghchannoi

1989

Samart vs. Namphon

1988

Training & Contact

Training Availability

Teaches at Samart Payakaroon Gym (Bangkok). Privates and small-group sessions available; contact the gym for current rates and schedule. (Embed booking form or link out to the gym’s contact channel.)

Email

info@samartpayakaroon.com

Phone

+66 65 585 0678 (Thailand)

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