Changpuek Kiatsongrit
The White Elephant who taught the West low kicks
- Born
- October 13, 1966, near Prakhon Chai, Buriram, Thailand
- Nationality
Thailand- Height
- 175 cm (5′9″)
- Stance
- Southpaw
- Style
- Low-kicking southpaw
- Weight
- Middleweight, Light Heavyweight, Cruiserweight, Heavyweight
- Active
- c. 1980–2010
- Status
- Retired · age 60
The record
Muay Thai and kickboxing per Wikipedia; muaythai.com says 'over 300 fights'. Treat as approximate. record
The story
hangpuek Kiatsongrit, born Somchai Ropkwaen near Prakhon Chai in Buriram, was too heavy for the Bangkok stadium system: at around 70 kg he struggled to find opponents at home, so he took Muay Thai abroad. In 1988 in Las Vegas, the American kickboxer Rick Roufus dropped him early, but Changpuek recovered and chopped Roufus down with low kicks until he could not continue, a result that changed how many Westerners viewed Muay Thai. He faced the Dutch great Rob Kaman four times and won three, and reached the 1993 K-2 Grand Prix final, losing to Ernesto Hoost. A southpaw with heavy hands, he is credited with seven world titles, fought from middleweight up to heavyweight, and later coached in Pattaya.
Tap a technique with an arrow to learn how it works.
- IMTF world light heavyweight champion (1990, 1992)
- WMK world heavyweight champion (1991)
- WMTC world cruiserweight champion (1996)
- UKF world light heavyweight kickboxing champion (1993–1994)
- WKU world cruiserweight champion (2001)
- K-2 Grand Prix runner-up (1993)
- Fighter Magazine Fighter of the Year (1990)
Defining fights
- 1988WINvs Rick Roufus (TKO, low kicks, Las Vegas)
- 1989WINvs Rob Kaman (decision, Paris)
- 1990WINvs Rob Kaman (decision, won IMTF title, Lumpinee Stadium)
- 1993LOSSvs Ernesto Hoost (TKO 4, high kick, K-2 Grand Prix final)
Attack the lead leg early and often, especially right after the opponent punches, so their stance and footwork break down over the rounds.
2016–now
