Tawanchai PK Saenchai is not getting carried away with his newfound fame ahead of his next defence of the ONE featherweight Muay Thai world title at ONE 167 on June 8.
The Thai superstar will be the headline attraction once again when he faces fellow countryman "Smokin" Jo Nattawut at the Impact Arena.
The pair will continue their rivalry after engaging in one of the best fights of 2023 under kickboxing rules, which saw Tawanchai edge out a close unanimous decision victory.
Tawanchai has become a global star in his eight-fight run on the global stage with ONE Championship so far, but he refuses to let fame get to his head.
"ONE Championship has changed my life in a very good way. My life is better and more comfortable," he said.
"But I'm still just acting normal. I don't see myself as a celebrity or someone special. I'm still the same Tawanchai who eats street food as usual. It's important not to get blinded by the spotlight and always remember that behind an able man, there are always other able men. Fame doesn't stay for long. Don't forget your true self."
The 25-year-old can barely walk down the streets in his home country without being stopped by adoring fans.
He doesn't mind the attention, he says, but his training will always come first. After all, he is a fighter by trade.
"When I go running, there will be children, women, and old people coming and calling my name. And I saw many women who never watched Muay Thai before come to watch the fights live," he said.
"I feel like what my fans like is my work. When they come to me and ask for a selfie or something, I'll let them take pictures until they are satisfied. I don't feel uncomfortable. Except when I'm training or running. I'll ask them to wait for me for a moment because I want to complete my training first," he added.
Tawanchai now enjoys numerous endorsements alongside his career in ONE, and even dabbles in modelling in his spare time.
His good looks, combined with his obvious talent as an athlete, have only fuelled his rise to stardom. Ultimately, the down-to-earth world champion sees all the attention as an opportunity to shine a light on his first passion -- the sport of Muay Thai.
"I want my fame to become an inspiration for more people to exercise. When some people see my body or see my exercise clips on social media, I want them to feel excited after watching and to go exercise to make their body strong, too," he said.
"I feel very proud to be a part of making everyone turn to watching Muay Thai because Muay Thai is the heritage of the nation and everyone should support it."
