Almost Famous Known at Ratchadamnoen Boxing Stadium as Number One Sakhomsilp, 24-year-old Virut Kaewkumnerd is a former holder of championship belts from both the World Muay Thai Council as well as his home Ratchadamnoen Stadium. He is also an instructor at Inn Grame Yim, a boxing gym that caters to Japanese.

BK: How did you get started?

Virut Kaewkumnerd: When I was a small boy, I got beaten up quite a lot. So my brother, who is also a boxer, taught me how to fight. I was in Kanchanaburi, but I followed my brother to Bangkok when I was eight years old and then grew up in a boxing gym. I was trained by my uncle, who owned the gym, for two years. After that, he introduced me to the Sakhomsilp Camp, so that I could live and train there.

BK: How much do you make per fight?

VK: Now, I get B35,000. I get the money just to be on stage, no matter if I lose or win. But if I lose two or three times in a row, then my fee drops. If I keep winning, I earn more and more!

BK: Does it hurt?

VK: Sometimes, it hurts, yeah. But if I practice hard before a fight, I usually don’t get hurt.

BK: Does it stress your girlfriend out?

VK: She’s OK but a little bit worried. She’s never seen me in the ring because people in the boxing business believe that it will bring bad luck to bring your girlfriend or wife to a fight. We can’t even say goodbye or that kind of thing before we leave home. It’s an old warrior tradition.

BK: What’s the life of a fighter like?

VK: Being a boxer means you spend most of your time practicing. That’s why I live in my gym. I wake up early to go for a 10 km run, then I do a “warm up” in the gym and finally some sparring in the ring. After that, I get a big break to do anything I want. Around 4pm, I go back to the gym, which is always much harder than in the morning. The worst is just before a fight! Then it gets really tough.

BK: Do you hear people cheering while you’re fighting?

VK: Yes, I hear them, but I ignore it. I must listen to my coach.

BK: Have you ever knocked someone out—or been KO’ed?

VK: Both. At Ratchadamneon Stadium, I won by KO twice, I think, but I can’t even remember which fights! I also was knocked out when I was defending my championship title. I wasn’t ready for the fight, but I couldn’t cancel.

BK: Ever thought of changing jobs?

VK: I used to. But I know I can’t do another job because my life has been so easy. I can’t imagine doing anything else. I’m afraid of hardship. Saransri Prawatpattanakul and Sumanut Thiengthong