Ramon Dekkers, arguably the greatest non-Thai fighter in Muay Thai, died from an apparent heart attack on Wednesday while riding a bicycle in his hometown in the Netherlands. He was 43.
Dutchman Ramon Dekkers, right, was a Muay Thai superstar in the 1990s.
The 'Diamond' collapsed in a tunnel in Breda as bystanders tried to revive him to no avail, reports said.
The eight-time Muay Thai world champion started his professional fight career in 1986. He retired in 2006 with a record of 186 wins (95KOs), 33 losses and two draws.
Dekkers was the first foreigner who beat some of the kingdom's best Muay Thai fighters including Saengthiennoi Sor Rungroj, Coban Lookchaomaesaitong and Superlek Sorn-esan.
Dubbed the 'Turbine from Hell' by the Thai press, Dekkers was regarded as a Muay Thai ambassador who helped promote the sport overseas in the 1990s.
He was the first non-Thai to win the Sports Writers' Association of Thailand's Muay Thai fighter of the year award in 1992.