Saenchai PK (Sor Kingstar) has become one of the most popular Muay Thai fighters in the world, having beaten the best rivals at Lumpinee and Rajadamern stadiums.
Leeds’ Liam Harrison, left, will fight Thai superstar Saenchai in Macau on Dec 9.
He's currently on a European tour, fighting in Scotland this weekend, followed by a whirlwind of events in France, before he heads to Macau for a showdown with Leeds' Liam Harrison in the main event of the Muay Thai Warriors on Dec 9.
Saenchai is regarded as the best pound-for-pound Muay Thai fighter after convincingly beating arch-rival 'Black Lion' Singdum Kiatmoo 9 in this year's best-of-three showdown contests at Lumpinee and Rajadamnern.
"I put myself up to fight anyone around my size and weight in Thailand and have won and now I am showing my fighting technique to foreigners," the WBC Muay Thai diamond belt world champion said before flying out from Thailand for the two-month European blitz.
"Muay Thai is known everywhere in the world," Saenchai said.
"Everybody knows who's fighting who and I'm fortunate to still be at my best, even through I am 30 years and getting older."
Saenchai said he had great admiration for his mentor and former manager and trainer, Somluck Khamsing, who, at 41 years of age, made a successful comeback as a Muay Thai fighter and will be a main attraction at the big Lumpinee event on Dec 7 fighting against the fit and able veteran Jomhod Kiatadisak, who's also on the comeback trail.
Somluck has reportedly signed a 1.8 million baht six-fight deal with Wanmitchai Promotions for events at Lumpinee and Rajadamnern, with country-wide television rights under negotiations.
Lumpinee's December birthday bash will be one of its last celebrations, as its current central city premises will be relocated to a stadium that's scheduled to open in 2014 on Ram Intra Road in northern Bangkok.
Currently, Lumpinee attracts hundreds of foreigners who are willing to pay for ringside seats. The stadium is regarded as a prime Bangkok inner-city tourist attraction, conveniently located near to the main city hotels and next to both the underground and skytrain stations.
Management of the new Lumpinee is betting that its five-star facilities will outweigh any inconvenience of getting to the relocated venue in the city's north.
Boxing fans regard the existing Lumpinee Stadium on Rama IV Road as a hallowed ground for Muay Thai that rivals Rajadamnern as a historical site. It's where Thailand's national sport underwent a transformation from battlefield weaponary to adopting internationally recognised rules and regulations that include a uniform-sized boxing ring, gloves, referee, judges and safety standards.
For many years, there have been concerns that the partly dilapidated building structure of Lumpinee, with an old tin roof, is a health hazard.
Traditions die hard in Thailand and Muay Thai fans won't like their stadium being moved. But the relocation is inevitable, as the Army Welfare Department has decided that the existing stadium opened in 1956 will be officially closed in early 2014.
The new Lumpinee will cost 380 million baht and comprises three buildings. The air-conditioned main arena will have 500 ringside seats with a capacity for 8,000 people.