Last Sunday night saw the pilot show of All Star Fight, a new Bangkok-based muay Thai promotion, with a bonafide superstar recuited to headline its inaugural event -- and none are bigger or better than Buakaw Banchamek.
Standing in front of Buakaw was Frenchman Azize Hlali, himself a former world champion and a fighter who has shared the ring with some of muay Thai's biggest stars, but on this occasion Hlali's skills were no match for the prowess of the Thai superstar.
Buakaw ended his highly rated opponent's hopes in short order, with the end inside the very first round.
The contest opened with the Thai fighter testing the defence of the Frenchman with a flurry of lightning-quick body kicks.
The Surin native whipped himself into supreme condition in the build-up for this fight, and once again he showcased to the world that he still masters precision and pinpoint accuracy in his power-laden hands.
One of those aforementioned hands landed as a clean, crisp hook to the jaw of the Frenchman, duly bringing about an abrupt and clinical end to the bout, moments before the bell to end the first round was set to ring.
The "White Lotus" raised a portrait of His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, who passed away last year, in tribute as his victory was announced.
Buakaw, easily the most recognisable exponent of muay Thai, secured yet another win and ended a very successful first night for the newly formed promotion.
In another bout on the event, former Lumpinee champion Pakorn PK Saenchai Muaythai Gym sealed a points victory over Brazilian fighter Julian Lubo.
In total, there were nine fights on the card, with a host of international talent taking some of Thailand's finest. The event will be broadcast at a later date via ESPN and Fox Sports.