Panpayak’s Kickboxing Reinvention Reaches Its Toughest Test Yet
Seven Muay Thai World Titles and nearly three decades of Thai stadium warfare have not slowed down “The Angel Warrior.” If anything, a new rule set has given Panpayak Jitmuangnon a second wind.
The 30-year-old puts his unbeaten kickboxing run on the line against Lamnamoonlek Torfunfarm in the flyweight main event of The Inner Circle 32, streaming exclusively for members from Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium this Friday, September 25.
Panpayak won Thailand’s Fighter of the Year award three consecutive times between 2013 and 2015 before eventually pivoting to kickboxing rules inside ONE Championship. The move has paid off in full. A split-decision win over Othman Rhouni at ONE Friday Fights 155 this past May was followed by a unanimous decision over Anuar Cisneros at The Inner Circle 23 two months later, pushing his record under the new rule set to 4-0.
Still technical and patient after hundreds of professional bouts, Panpayak brings a left kick into every fight that has ended careers on Thailand’s biggest stages.
Lamnamoonlek represents a genuine step up in competition. The WMC World Champion joined ONE as one of the most talked-about names in the country’s Muay Thai scene, and his TDed99 Gym pedigree built momentum through one Muay Thai win and two kickboxing victories before a loss to Yuan Pengjie snapped his streak in March.
At 28, Lamnamoonlek now looks to bounce back against a bona fide Thai legend and remind the promotion why his arrival to the world’s largest martial arts organization generated so much excitement in the first place.
The co-main event carries its own reinvention story. Three-time Rajadamnern Stadium Muay Thai World Champion Kongthoranee Sor Sommai makes his own kickboxing debut against Yuan, the same man who beat Lamnamoonlek, after a rough stretch that saw him drop four of his last five Muay Thai outings, including a trilogy loss to Nong-O Hama.
Two decorated Muay Thai champions, one shared discipline switch, and a Friday night in Bangkok that could reshape both of their trajectories heading into the final months of the year.
READ MORE: Paddy Pimblett Mocks “Sore Loser” Ilia Topuria Over Justin Gaethje Cheating Accusations
Recent posts
