Saenklai SitKruOd

Early life

Sachart Krailart was born on July 7, 1973 in Bua Yai, Nakhon Ratchasima province. He was the 4th child of his family with 6 siblings. His personal nickname was Moo. He was inspired to take up Muay Thai at the age of 11 after watching his older half-brother Kangwannoi Or.Sribualoi^[1] fight out of the Sit Kru Od gym located in their hometown of Bua Yai. Under the tutelage of Poompichai "Kru Od" Rattanavisid, he had his first fight after three months of training under the ring name of Klaisen Netsongkram. Fighting between 66 and 77 lbs (30–35 kg), he rapidly became a recognized talent in Isan, the northeastern region of Thailand where he faced future champions such as Robert Kaennorasing and Samson Isaan. He then ran out of opponents in Isan.^[2]

In 1988, around 4 years into his Muay Thai career, he started fighting in the metropolitan Bangkok area. At first, he fought in Samrong Stadium^[a] until he reached the 100 lbs (45.36 kg) weight division. He then began fighting primarily in Lumpinee Stadium under the Petchyindee promotion. After he made his successful Lumpinee debut against Rattanachai Sitrattanachai, his later performances were inconsistent. He then adopted the ring name of Saenklai Sit Kru Od (translates to "Saenklai, student of trainer Od") and quickly rose to the top of the competitive landscape, becoming a popular fighter in the Lumpinee Stadium. The stadium's officials incorrectly printed his ring name as "Saenkrai" (แสนไกร) for a year.^[2]

Fighting in Bangkok

Saenklai was an orthodox Muay Femur fighter (Muay Thai equivalent to rope-a-dope boxers), meaning that he preferred to walk backwards and used strategic approaches to his fights. He excelled finding opportunities to throw his right kick or to maneuver himself or his opponents away. He also was skilled at using teeps and knee guards to stop his opponents in place or to defend strikes, catching his opponent's kicks to counter them or to make them fall, and pushing on his opponent's faces or chests during striking exchanges to create distance or to disrupt their balance.^[4] Saenklai was described in Thai as having a "strong mind" meaning that he was a durable fighter. In its prime, the Sit Kru Od gym where Saenklai and Kangwannoi Or.Sribualoi trained in was famous for producing intelligent fighters as Kru Od believed that a fighter's intelligence was their greatest asset.^{[5]: 1:30:40} Kangwannoi was also described to be an intelligent fighter with a strong mind. Saenklai and Kangwannoi were 2 of the 4 fighters that first made the Sit Kru Od gym famous in Thailand.^[6] They both won the Lumpinee Bantamweight title.^[1][2]

Saenklai's most significant achievements were his Lumpinee Bantamweight title wins. He earned the title in 1991, but then lost it to Samson Isaan in the same year. He won it again in 1993 and defended it 6 times in the next 18 months. He then won the World Muay Thai Council Super Bantamweight title in 1995. During that year, Saenklai was considered to be one of the most successful Muay Thai fighters in the Kingdom of Thailand. He was noted for his 11-fight rivalry against Samson; Saenklai secured 6 victories against the award-winning pressure fighter.^[7] Saenklai was nicknamed by Thai audiences as Yodmuay Bua Yai (Muay Thai Master from Bua Yai) and Jomyuth Pliewayo (The Active Footwork Fighter).^[2]

Saenklai's prime lasted from 1990 to 1996. He was considered to be one of the most significant fighters in the 115 to 118 lbs (52.16–53.52 kg) weight divisions during the golden era of Muay Thai. His highest purse reached ฿250,000 (equivalent to ฿496,168 in 2020).^[2] 1993 was the most significant year of his combat sports career. During that time, Saenklai accumulated 9 wins against elite fighters and had only 2 losses.^[4]

Saenklai retired after being knocked out by Jaoweha Looktapfah on October 12, 1997. His victories against Veeraphol Sahaprom, Silapathai Jockygym, Taweesaklek Ploysakda, and Anantasak Panyuthaphum were considered his best fights. He had a missed fight against Kaensak Sor.Ploenjit. Saenklai cited Veeraphol to be the most difficult opponent he ever faced. He would go on to run a family business in his hometown of Bua Yai. He trained some Muay Thai fighters when he was able to.^[2]

Death

In the time leading up to his death, Saenklai almost died from tuberculosis but was saved by his doctor at Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital. He was then sent to Bua Yai Hospital for further treatment and was later sent back home to recover. On December 15, 2019, Saenklai died at his home in Bua Yai from tuberculosis complications at the age of 46.^[8]