Kongtoranee Payakaroon

Payakaroon (personal nickname: Chart; ชาติ) started his career from Muay Thai at the age of 11 before the brother, Samart. The brothers have the same trainer was Yodtong "Kru Tui" Senanan. Later, he became famous in the Amphoe Bang Lamung, eastern Thailand. In 1977, when he was 17 he came to Bangkok for as fighter under the famous promoter, Songchai Rattanasuban along with Samart, and since then, he has become a famous and favorite Muay Thai fighter. Before that, he had experienced about 100 fights. He fought with many famous fighters, such as Bangkhlanoi Sor.Thanikul, Samransak Muangsurin, Chamuakpetch Hapalang, Wangchannoi Sor Palangchai or Petdam Lookborai. His maximum remuneration was 120,000 baht in fight against Samingnoom Sithiboonthum at Rajadamnern Stadium. He won five different weight championships of the Lumpinee Stadium during 1978–84.^[2]

Payakaroon made his professional debut on April 2, 1985. Among his early victories was a notable win over fellow Thai boxer Payao Poontarat, a former WBC Super Flyweight champion. However, that win occurred sometime after his debut and was not his first fight.

He went on to record a total of nine consecutive wins before challenging Gilberto Román, the reigning WBC Super Flyweight champion, on December 19, 1986, at Indoor Stadium Huamark. The bout was organized by Gen Sunthorn Kongsompong.^[3] Payakaroon lost the fight by unanimous decision and suffered significant facial injuries.^[4][2]

He continued fighting three more times and eventually rose to become the #1 contender in the WBA Junior Bantamweight rankings. On January 26, 1988, he faced fellow Thai fighter Khaosai Galaxy, the WBA titleholder, at Lumpinee Stadium.^[2] The two knew each other well, as Payakaroon had once served as Galaxy's sparring partner. Galaxy had previously trained at Yodtong Senanan's gym in Nong Prue, Chonburi, in preparation for his 1984 title fight against Dominican boxer Eusebio Espinal.

In their bout, Payakaroon wore blue trunks with gold stripes and golden boots. He employed hit-and-run tactics throughout the 12 rounds and even managed to knock Galaxy down in the fifth round. After the fight, he expressed strong confidence in his victory, as did his fans and manager. However, when the official decision was announced, he lost. His manager, Songchai Rattanasuban, reacted angrily, claiming the fight had been rigged.^[5][6]

Later, Rattanasuban received an offer for Payakaroon to challenge Ellyas Pical, the IBF Junior Bantamweight champion from Indonesia, who had previously lost to Galaxy by knockout in the 14th round in 1987. The fight was to take place in Pical's hometown, but Payakaroon declined the offer, believing the pay would be unfairly low.

After failing to win the world championship in two attempts, Payakaroon was invited by a friend, who was a war correspondent, to join him in covering conflicts in France, Lebanon, and along the Thai border in what is now Sa Kaeo province. Although he was offered the opportunity to assist, he ultimately did not take the role due to a lack of skills and fluency in English. Unexpectedly, he returned to Muay Thai and continued fighting until his retirement in 1990. After retiring, he spent two years in Japan working as a Muay Thai trainer.^[2]

Later, he served as an assistant trainer at Sityodtong Gym in Bangkok, under the direction of Yodtong Senanan; he also had the opportunity to train students in Baku, Azerbaijan.

In 2007, he took over the management of a Muay Thai gym from his brother, Samart Payakaroon, after Samart's divorce.^[7]

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