PHETCHABUN: The home province of boxer Saensak Muangsurin has unveiled a statue to pay homage to the late great champion.
About 100 family members, friends and residents gathered at Wat Thung Sadieng intersection in Muang district on Saturday to witness the opening ceremony for the statue. Among them were Sanan Prompraset, the deputy speaker of the Muang District Municipality Council and a former trainer at the Phetchabun boxing camp where the boxer was based during his early career, and Somkid Khammas, the camp's owner.
Saensak Muangsurin beats world champion Pedro Fernandez of Spain by an eighth-round technical knockout at Hua Mark Stadium on July 15,1975. (Bangkok Post file photo)
Phetchabun mayor Seksan Niyompeng praised Saensak for making the province and Thailand famous in the boxing world. His success has set an example for young generations aspiring to be boxers to follow, he added.
Saensak died in 2009, aged 58. His real name was Boonsong Munsee.
He set a world record by becoming a world champion in just his third fight in international-style boxing.
A successful Muay Thai fighter, Saensak won the WBC light-welterweight title by stopping holder Perico Fernandez of Spain in the eighth round in 1975 -- less than one year after he made his debut.
Saensak ended his career in 1981 with 14 wins -- 11 of them by knockouts -- and six losses. His thunderous left punch dropped one opponent after another to the canvas.
The province also produced the twin-brother champions Khaosai and Khaokor Galaxy.
(Video YouTube/Muay Thai Scholar)