Tag: Buakaw

Video – Muay Thai legend Buakaw smashes Minoru Kimura with wicked second-round KO at RIZIN Lanmark 9

Video - Muay Thai legend Buakaw smashes Minoru Kimura with wicked second-round KO at RIZIN Lanmark 9Muay Thai legend Buakaw Banchamek added another highlight-reel knockout to his resume. On Saturday, March 23, Buakaw stepped inside…

Video - Muay Thai legend Buakaw smashes Minoru Kimura with wicked second-round KO at RIZIN Lanmark 9

Muay Thai legend Buakaw Banchamek added another highlight-reel knockout to his resume.

On Saturday, March 23, Buakaw stepped inside the World Memorial Hall in Kobe, Japan for a clash with former K-1 Fighter of the Year Minoru Kimura as part of a loaded RIZIN Landmark 9 event.

Competing under kickboxing rules, the two fighters met in the middle of the cage and immediately began trading blows. Kimura put his power on display early, unleashing an onslaught of strikes against the Thai icon, but it was just a matter of time before Buakaw found his range and began to fire back. Just past the one-minute mark of the second round, Buakaw blasted his opponent with a perfectly-timed straight right that sent Kimura crashing to the canvas.

It was Buakaw’s 243rd career victory and 74th knockout. ‘The White Lotus’ has not lost a fight since March 2018.

“Who said this would be easy? Look at the first round. I admit that I almost didn’t make it past the first round,” he said in a post-fight interview. “If it were another fighter, they would already get knocked out. Those punches were very heavy. I will tell you that they were the heaviest punches I had been hit with in my career.”

Buakaw at RIZIN Landmark 9

Buakaw Banchamek adds to his legendary legacy

He is considered to be one of, if not the greatest practitioner in the history of the art of eight limbs, earning a laundry list of accolades. Buakaw Banchamek is a two-time K-1 World Max Champion, a former WBC Muaythai Diamond World Champion, a four-time WMC champion, and a Kunlun Fight Muaythai Middleweight World Championship.

In addition to his incredible history in both Muay Thai and kickboxing, he is undefeated under the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship banner, earning wins over Erkan Varol and fellow Thai legend Saenchai.

Buakaw
Buakaw
Buakaw

Manny Pacquaio to fight Muay Thai Legend Buakaw in ‘The Match of Legends’ on April 20

Manny Pacquiao vs. BuakawWe now have a date for the previously announced crossover clash between Manny Pacquiao and Buakaw Banchamek. Emanating from…

Manny Pacquiao vs. Buakaw

We now have a date for the previously announced crossover clash between Manny Pacquiao and Buakaw Banchamek.

Emanating from Impact Arena in Bangkok, Thailand, the eight-time boxing world champion will square off with the Muay Thai icon on April 20, 2024. Billed as ‘The Match of Legends,’ the bout will be contested under international boxing rules, in a “six three-minute rounds with two-minute breaks” format. The fighters will compete at 154 lbs, or 70kg, the equivalent of super welterweight in boxing, or junior middleweight in Muay Thai.

The winner will walk away with a cash prize of 10 million baht which translates to $289,000 and a WBC Legends Belt.

We are honored to have Manny ‘PacMan’ Pacquiao and Buakaw Banchamek for this historic event, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity you won’t want to miss,” Fresh Air Festival CEO Vinij Lertratanachai said in a statement.

Manny Pacquaio last competed in August 2021, suffering a unanimous decision loss to Yordenis Ugás. Over his 26-year career, ‘PacMan’ is the only boxer to win 12 world championships across eight different divisions. He is also the first fighter to win the lineal championship in five different weight classes.

With nearly 300 fights to his credit, Buakaw Banchamek is widely considered to be one of the greatest Muay Thai practitioners in the history of the sport. He is a two-time K-1 World Max Champion and has captured titles under the WMC and WBC banner. In November, he earned a decision victory over Saenchai at BKFC Asia 5. A month later, Buakaw added another win to his resume, besting Nayanesh Ayman at Rajadamnern Stadium.

BKFC Asia CEO Details struggles behind booking a fight between Lethwei Legend Dave Leduc and Buakaw Banchamek

Dave LeducDave Leduc, a six-time Lethwei world champion, has long called for a clash with Muay Thai icon Buakaw Banchamek….

Dave Leduc

Dave Leduc, a six-time Lethwei world champion, has long called for a clash with Muay Thai icon Buakaw Banchamek.

It’s a fight that fans of the two sports would undoubtedly love to see, but BKFC Asia CEO Nick Chapman believes there are far too many political obstacles to make it happen. Speaking with John Hyon Ko of The AllStar, Chapman says that you can never say never, but he has little confidence that anyone could make that fight a reality, including himself.

“Personally as a fan, I love the fight,” Chapman said. “I think it’s great. I mean, who wouldn’t want to see that fight? But I do know without going too much into detail that there are some political reasons as to why that fight could most likely never happen. Even I don’t think I could make that fight happen and I don’t have any limitations in my mind, but there are political reasons way above anything that we control that will prevent that fight from happening which is a shame, but let’s never say never.

“If anyone can, I can, but it’s a very tricky situation, that one. Dave Leduc’s pretty outspoken and he said some things about some people. It’s completely irrelevant to me. Makes no difference to me. I like the way he promotes himself, but it’s been perceived as very disrespectful to a certain group of people in Thailand who have a massive amount of influence over Buakaw.”

Dave Leduc is Banned From Entering Thailand

On April 28, 2021, Leduc stirred controversy with a profanity-laced social media post saying that Muay Thai was nothing more than a “softened version of Burmese boxing.” He also criticized Buakaw Banchamek and stated that claims surrounding the Nai Khanom Tom folklore story were false and that he was simply a prisoner in ancient Burma during the Burmese–Siamese War.

The post sparked a considerable amount of backlash from the Muay Thai community.

Leduc doubled down on his statement later calling the Muay Thai folklore figure Nai Khanom Tom a “bitch, after getting captured by the Burmese.” referring to Siamese prisoners captured by Burmese troops during the war.

As a result, the Ministry of Culture banned Leduc from entering Thailand in May 2021.

Despite all of that, Chapman still believes there is a small chance that Buakaw vs. Leduc could come to fruition, so long as the numbers justify looking past the Lethwei star’s past transgressions.

“It’s all about numbers,” he added. “If we can see the numbers and people want to see the fight, we’ll see what we can do.”

BKFC Asia CEO Doesn’t Believe Conor McGregor Has the Stones to Accept Buakaw’s Bare-Knuckle Challenge

Conor McGregor BuakawMuay Thai legend Buakaw has the desire to fight Conor McGregor in bare-knuckle. BKFC Asia CEO Nick Chapman says…

Conor McGregor Buakaw

Muay Thai legend Buakaw has the desire to fight Conor McGregor in bare-knuckle. BKFC Asia CEO Nick Chapman says they have the money to make it happen. The question is, does the Irishman have the balls to sign on the dotted line?

That was the subject of a recent conversation between Chapman and The AllStar’s John Hyon Ko.

Fans have been clamoring to see Conor McGregor drop the four-ounce gloves and toe the line under the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship banner ever since he stepped inside the squared circle at BKFC 41 for a face-off with reigning ‘King of Violence’ Mike Perry.

Buakaw, who made his second appearance for the promotion in November, scored an impressive win over fellow Thai icon Saenchai and BKFC Asia 5. Shortly after, he called for a clash with Conor McGregor and attempted to goad the former UFC champ by suggesting that he “doesn’t have the balls” to fight in him in bare knuckle.

Nick Chapman echoed similar sentiments while discussing the potential showdown.

“We asked him the same question the media asked him,” Chapman said. “If you could fight anyone in bare-knuckle Thai, who would it be? He said, ‘My ultimate fight would be Conor McGregor, but he also doesn’t think Conor McGregor has the balls to fight in bare-knuckle Thai because he’d chew him up and he absolutely means it.

“Once he released the article, it went viral and crazy, especially around the Thai media, but would McGregor really do it? I don’t think so. I think he’d bottle it. He has been to our events and he has said that he would hopefully fight bare-knuckle. My question is, would McGregor fight Buakawa in bare-knuckle Thai? That’s the question. I don’t think he would. He’d probably come up with an excuse like, ‘Eh, you couldn’t pay me enough.’ We have backers in the Middle East that might disagree with you.”

The biggest obstacle would be McGregor’s current contract with the UFC. The Irishman is currently gearing up for a long-awaited return to the Octagon in 2024.

Even if the two companies were able to work out a temporary truce, Chapman isn’t so sure McGregor would seize the opportunity.

“Legitimately think about it as a fight, he added. “Forget all the other details around putting a fight on. Has McGregor got the balls to get in a bare-knuckle Thai fight with Buakaw? That’s the question.

Buakaw Scores Decisive Win Over Nayanesh Ayman in Rajadamnern World Series Main Event (Highlights)

Buakaw BanchamekA few short weeks after defeating Saenchai under the BKFC banner, Buakaw Banchamek returned to the ring for a…

Buakaw Banchamek

A few short weeks after defeating Saenchai under the BKFC banner, Buakaw Banchamek returned to the ring for a rematch with Nayanesh Ayman in the headlining bout at the RWS Legend Of Rajadamnern event, at the iconic Rajadamnern Stadium in Bangkok.

Buakaw scored a quick finish in their first meeting at Kunlun Fight 69 in 2018 with a slick left hook just past the two-minute mark of the opening round. This time, Ayman was able to go the distance against, though he didn’t offer up much opposition throughout the three-round affair.

Buakaw put Ayman on the canvas in the opening round and overwhelmed the Congo-born fighter with constant pressure, but he was unable to finish the fight as Ayman kept himself out of danger by constantly tying up the Thai icon. Buakaw was understandably frustrated by his opponent’s strategy, but in the end, he still walked away with the victory via a unanimous decision.

Buakaw leaves the door open for a return to Rajadamnern Stadium

The bout was advertised as Buakaw’s last kickboxing match in The Land of Smiles. Asked if that is still the case during an interview with Antoine Pinto, the former WMC and WBC Muay Thai world champion didn’t seem so certain.

“In fact, as I have said before: This time is the last time… maybe I will come back and fight in kickboxing at Rajadamnern Stadium again,” he said. “It depends on RWS, if we will talk about a plan or agreement in the future… I think this time I will change my preparation to fight in a different style”.

Next up for Buakaw is a boxing match against legendary pugilist Manny Pacquiao in the first quarter of 2024. Details regarding the contest are expected to be released in the coming weeks.

Muay Thai Legend Buakaw wants to welcome UFC star conor McGregor to BKFC: ‘I’m ready to go to war’

BuakawAfter scoring an impressive victory over fellow Thai legend Saenchai, former two-time K-1 World MAX champion Buakaw Banchamek would…

Buakaw

After scoring an impressive victory over fellow Thai legend Saenchai, former two-time K-1 World MAX champion Buakaw Banchamek would love the chance to welcome Irish megastar Conor McGregor to the BKFC squared circle.

Emanating from the sold-out Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Hall in Pattaya, Buakaw made his second appearance under the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship banner for a long-awaited showdown with Saenchai, a Muay Thai icon with more than 350 career fights to his credit. After three rounds of intense action, it was Buakaw who had his hand raised, scoring a unanimous decision in the first-of-its-kind special rules bare-knuckle bout at BKFC Thailand 5.

Despite walking away victorious, Buakaw had some admittedly mixed feelings after going toe-to-toe with a man he considers to be his friend.

“I really appreciated the opportunity to fight such a high-level opponent, but at the same time he’s my friend,” Buakaw told the promotion. “We both fought hard and put our friendship aside for the fight because we’re professionals, but after the fight I was glad it was over. It has been a great journey working with BKFC on this event and I’m really pleased they were able to make it happen.”

Buakaw Reveals his Dream Fight in BKFC

With 240 career victories and a lifetime’s worth of world titles, Buakaw has little left to prove in the art of eight limbs, but that won’t stop him from accepting the challenge of any man willing to step inside the squared circle with him, gloves or no gloves.

As for who he would love to fight if allowed to choose, ‘The White Lotus’ revealed that the name at the top of his list just so happens to be the biggest star in mixed martial arts history, Conor McGregor.

“I’ve told BKFC I’d fight absolutely anyone under this new rule set, but it has to be a big name. I’m ready to go to war with anyone. I want someone to really test me,” he said.

My ultimate fight would be against Conor McGregor in a bare-knuckle Thai fight, but I wonder if McGregor would even take a fight like that against me. I doubt it.”