Vicharnnoi Porntawee: Legacy of The Immortal Boxer
This article is part of our “long article” requests through Patreon! A huge thank you to Alteroc (@crwate01) for this excellent topic suggestion.
In an effort to learn more about combat sports, Alteroc laid out an article format that covers three athletes from a specific sport:
An all-time great
A specialist
Someone “weird”
This article covers #1 for the art of Muay Thai
One of the greatest tragedies in combat sports is the loss of footage and information from Muay Thai’s Golden Age. From the late 1970’s to the early 90’s, the sport of Muay Thai thrived in a way that it hasn’t since - interest in the sport was at an all-time high, and there was abundant talent to satisfy the demand. Unfortunately, record-keeping was sparse, and those in charge often more interested in exploiting athletes for profit than preserving the history and legacy of the sport.
Not only are some of the most famous fights in Muay Thai history lost to the ether, but it’s impossible to find complete records, especially of those who entered their prime before the 80’s. All we have to go on regarding some of the greatest fighters in history is patchwork information and a handful of preserved fights.
“The Immortal Boxer,” Vicharnnoi Porntawee, was perhaps the greatest of all these olden-day greats, although he was at his best before the beginning of the Golden Age. Vicharnnoi began fighting in the early 1960’s and was known as one of the biggest stars of the 70’s. Along with contemporary greats, Poot Lorlek and Pudpadnoi Worawoot, Vicharnnoi helped popularize Muay Thai and usher in the Golden Age.
I can’t give you a detailed breakdown of his record, or point you toward a reliable source listing the Rajadamnern and Lumpini titles he won (of which there were several). His Thai Wikipedia page contains the most complete record, listing just under 20 fights, and starting in the year 1978, when Vicharnnoi was in his 30’s and well out of his prime.
What I can tell you is that he beat a who’s who of his era’s greats, with wins over Poot, Pudpadnoi, Narongnoi Kiatbundit, Vichit Loogbangplsoi, Saensak Muangsurin, as well as arguably the greatest Nak Muay of all time, Dieselnoi Chor Thanasukarn. Vicharnnoi went 2-1 with Dieselnoi, with both wins coming when Vicharnnoi was well past his prime and only a few short years before Dieselnoi would make his legendary run as Lumpini champion.
Update: Nak Muay Sylvie Von Duuglas-Ittu recently published an incredibly detailed and informative conversation with Vicharnnoi, and was able to gather some details about his accomplishments. Vicharnnoi won the Flyweight (112 lbs.) championship at Lumpinee and Rajadamnern stadium, as well as the Rajadamnern Jr. Lightweight (130 lbs.) belt. Vicharnnoi was named the Rajadamnern fighter of the year in 1977.
There are exactly eleven surviving fights of Vicharnnoi’s, most of them taking place in his later career. When watching Vicharnnoi on tape, however, it’s immediately clear that he is anything but a relic. Vicharnnoi plays a game that would thrive in any era, and indeed, possesses a lot of skills that modern Thais tend to lack.
The Immortal Boxer
Vicharnnoi’s style is as unique as his legendary career. An incredibly well-rounded fighter, Vicharnnoi seamlessly blended the heavy boxing and leg kick game of the Muay Mat with the dazzling outside movement typical of the Muay Femeu style. Just as he danced along the line between Femeu and Mat, Vicharnnoi also skirted the line between volume and power. He had a high volume style with lots of lead hand activity, but was also capable of loading up and delivering massive power when necessary.
When we look at the great Femeus or outside fighters in Muay Thai, they tend to be tall and svelte, capable of attacking from range without reprisal, or (like Saenchai) make up for a lack of length with deft use of the rear-leg body kick. Vicharnnoi was short and thick, often fighting taller and heavier opponents. He played a brilliant short-man version of the typical Femeu game, mixing in power punching, pace, and heavy pressure to mitigate the disadvantages of his length.
Simply seeing Vicharnnoi in his stance was enough to tell that his hands were his primary weapons, as he fought out of a rear-foot weighted stance with a slight fold in the rear hip. This stance allowed him to rapidly feint in and out by quickly bouncing weight to his front leg and back, and facilitated power punching by giving him room to shift weight onto his lead hip in order to throw big right hands. The partial crouch afforded him a measure of built-in boxing defense, allowing him to dip naturally off his jabs and lead hooks.
When MMA or Kickboxing personalities talk about Muay Thai, they tend to have a singular conception of Nak Muays - the static powerhouse, standing upright in a square stance with his hands by his temples, imposing yet immobile. If you look at the best fighters in the sport’s history, particularly in the Golden Age, rarely do they actually fit this model.
Vicharnnoi couldn’t be further from the stereotypical notion of a Nak Muay. He fought out of something resembling a boxing stance and used active footwork, both linear and lateral. He was an in-and-out fighter, standing at the edge of his opponent’s range and constantly feinting entries to dull their senses.
If opponents sat at range and tried to catch him on the way in, they would be left whiffing at feints or unable to respond to his true entries. If they pursued him on the way out, he’d be ready to counter and exit safely.
The key to his effective entry feints were the small steps. Large, committed steps into the pocket make it easier to time your entry, but by constantly moving forward in sharp, short steps, Vicharnnoi could precisely control the distance he was at, stepping just to the end of punching or kicking distance and drawing his feet back slightly if his opponent lashed out. By moving primarily in short motions, he could also more effectively employ large steps to cover distance rapidly, as they would come at a contrast to his more controlled motions and take opponents by surprise.
The jab was an important tool allowing Vicharnnoi to feint in and out constantly. Each forward step carried the promise of a jab, and his crouched stance allowed him to glide under counters when jabbing in. Vicharnnoi was excellent at quickly entering with the jab and leaving range before opponents had a chance to counter.
Vicharnnoi even used a consistent body jab to disguise his punches upstairs- a rarity in Muay Thai, where body punches are used sparingly and mostly for power due to the threat of kicks, knees, and clinches, as well as a scoring system that disincentivizes punching. Vicharnnoi’s constant feints kept opponents from punishing the level change, and he would throw it with just a slight bend in the lead leg while remaining upright, away from kicks and knees.
One of the hallmarks of Vicharnnoi’s style is his non-committal, flicking lead-leg low kick. He throws it with a pendulum step, hopping in from out of range and delivering it quickly, and exits by backstepping into southpaw, putting even more distance between himself and his opponent. The combination of these factors make it nearly impossible to counter, as he’s in and out before the opponent has a chance to respond. When he wants to do damage, he will step up with his rear leg and throw a harder, more static kick with his lead leg.
The lead-leg kicks shined in his earlier fight with legendary southpaw round kicker, Pudpadnoi Worawoot. Vicharnnoi picked the more powerful kicker apart with non-committal leg kicks, feinting in and out, and exiting before he had a chance to deliver his body kicks, before eventually knocking him out off a blocked body kick.
Vicharnnoi’s rear leg was usually reserved for powerful low kicks more typical of the Muay Mat style. He would often throw these to the rear leg against southpaws, which tends to be less used to taking kicks and not as well conditioned as the lead leg. The left kick tends to be an integral weapon in the southpaw’s arsenal as well, so actively attacking it meant taking the open-side kick away from them.
Kicks to the rear leg are difficult to set up and land, as they require getting very close to your opponent, within their punching range. Vicharnnoi would use pressure to set the kicks up, pushing his opponent onto the backfoot so they weren’t prepared to counter, and hiding them within punching combinations. He’d also occasionally hand-fight, trapping or pinning the rear hand so his opponent wasn’t prepared to counter the kick.
Vicharnnoi used a consistent side-teep to the hip, especially against southpaw kickers. The kick wasn’t thrown hard, just enough to jam their forward momentum and throw off their kicks. Along with the non-committal leg kicks, the jamming side teep was integral to his victory over Pudpadnoi. Later on, the side-teep would be picked up as a more powerful, committed strike, most famously by the legendary Samart Payakaroon.
Vicharnnoi’s boxing and kicking game flowed together excellently. The jab and inside leg kick acted as dual threats allowing him to pick at opponents from multiple ranges while maintaining a safe distance. Hard punching combinations hid his more committed leg kicks, and his kicks were often used as a safe entry into his punching combinations.
Punching off kicks is an oft-underused tactic that goes a long way toward increasing the efficacy of both weapons. In his first fight with Tawanchai PK Saenchai, Sangmanee Sor Tienpo consistently had his body kicks caught and countered. In the rematch, Sangmanee made a committed effort to step in and punch directly off the round kicks, which allowed him to punish Tawanchai for trying to catch and counter the kicks. Linking kicks and punches gives the opponent two weapons to think about at the same time, both requiring different responses, and punishes them for choosing.
Vicharnnoi had several different ways to use his kicks as entries. He would step into southpaw and open up with combinations directly off his kick, or throw the rear kick and straight in sequence, using the hip motion of one to disguise the other. He’d also occasionally use his kicks to close distance into the clinch and score with dirty boxing or a few quick knees.
Heavy Punching
Though Vicharnnoi’s fleet footwork and skill at distance made him difficult for opponents to hit, those who found their way into exchanges with him often fared no better. Vicharnnoi’s volume-heavy style was born not of an inability to punch, but the intelligence and craft to know when to do so. Vicharnnoi was more than capable of sitting down on bombs, displaying every bit as much poise and grace in his power punches and flurries as in his outside footwork.
Vicharnnoi was judicious about when to open up with heavier punches. He made sure to set them up well in order to avoid wasting energy. Many of his power punches came on the counter, but he was also excellent at using large hop-steps to quickly cover distance. His lead hand served to measure distance and frame opponents off, allowing him to line them up for a massive rear straight or overhand.
Often non-committal volume work and heavy combinations on the inside are at odds with each other, but Vicharnnoi weaved together two seemingly disparate styles brilliantly. Vicharnnoi was incredibly adaptable, capable of making quick tactical and strategic shifts to capitalize on an opponent’s tendencies or change the course of a fight. In his earlier fight with Narongnoi Kiatbundit (they fought many times, but only two survive on tape), he struggled with Narongnoi’s counter kicking early, but quickly adjusted and began to pressure the kicker, countering his kicks with uppercuts, overhands, and strong flurries.
The tapping inside leg kicks meshed perfectly with his powerful right-hand counters. By quickly hopping into them and backstepping out to create distance, Vicharnnoi would walk his opponents onto his right hand as they followed to fill the space he’d created and counter the kicks.
Vicharnnoi’s feints and distance management made fencing with him a difficult task, but his sharp counterpunching made walking him down even more difficult.
He possessed a wide array of counters, but his lead hook and right straight/overhand stood out in particular. Vicharnnoi was not only well-prepared to exploit an opponent’s aggression, but he was brilliant at playing the matador, goading them into lashing out with feints and non-committal strikes, before planting his feet and swinging hard when they did. He was excellent at taking away their opportunity to retaliate as well by pivoting or hop-stepping away after making his attack.
Vicharnnoi had a lovely check hook, which helped him maintain distance and turn opponents looking to pressure him. He was always right back in a strong stance after he pivoted off, ready to throw counter combinations if his opponent got aggressive and tried to follow him.
One of the most impressive aspects of Vicharnnoi’s game was his combination punching. Punching combinations are often limited in Muay Thai because pocket exchanges tend to be ephemeral, with fighters focusing on hand-fighting into the clinch or framing off as soon as they close past kicking range. Getting inside is difficult in such a kick-heavy sport, and opening up with punching offense runs the risk of allowing an opponent to clinch. However, the scarcity of extended pocket exchanges also means that there’s a lot to exploit for fighters who can find a way to force them.
Vicharnnoi’s combination punching is conceptually elucidating, not just in terms of how a puncher can excel in a sport built around other weapons, but also as to how combinations work at the elite level.
His footwork is no less sound in punching exchanges than when he’s moving around on the outside. By taking subtle angles mid-combination, Vicharnnoi can force his opponent to turn and hit them while they’re out of position. These angles also open up new weapons, allowing him to sneak an overhand cleaner around the guard by hop-stepping outside, or an uppercut through the middle by pivoting inside.
The beauty of combinations is that they serve to create and immediately exploit openings through the interplay of different strikes. A jab forces an opponent to extend his rear hand in a parry, creating the opening for a followup hook. Vicharnnoi demonstrates this principle brilliantly through both his body-head work, and his right uppercut and overhand. The overhand is great against an opponent standing tall, while the uppercut punishes them for ducking. Both strikes have the same preliminary motion - they come off the same hip with similar hand positioning, and the opponent is forced to guess knowing that failure will lead to damage. The uppercut is particularly effective in Muay Thai, where it can slide smoothly under the extended long guard.
One concept more specific to Muay Thai that Vicharnnoi’s combination punching demonstrates is the importance of framing. He’ll slot in a lead hook here and there or hook off the jab, but most of his combination work is done with the rear hand. His lead hand is extended to measure distance and line up the big rights by occupying the opponent’s vision, but also to control them. The extended lead hand works as a frame, keeping his opponent at mid-range where he can bang away with the right. He’ll use the lead hand to hold and hit too, catching a collar tie or posting on the head to control distance and posture while alternating overhands and uppercuts.
Vicharnnoi’s lead hand was also used for hand-fighting. He would initiate combinations by occupying the lead hand to enter safely, or pull the opponent’s guard down and punch around it.
You can see all the principles we discussed at play here. The angling footwork, interplay of punches, and framing. The punches are brilliantly chosen; lighter shots are used as setup and the big punches come once he’s confident an opening has been created.
Vicharnnoi had excellent punch selection, allowing him to see openings in his opponent’s guard and pick the right tool to exploit it. Uppercuts attacked long guards or opponents trying to dip away from his overhands, while hooks and overhands punished a tighter, more forward-focused guard. He would also occasionally swing shovel hooks around the guard.
Graceful Motion
While Vicharnnoi was a threat in the pocket, his masterful distance control and footwork meant that pocket exchanges tended to happen on his terms. Opponents seeking to pressure with their hands and exchange with him would often be left dazzled by finesse, swinging at air and eating counters for their trouble.
In addition to his in and out footwork and adjustment steps within exchanges, Vicharnnoi made excellent use of larger pivots and shifts to cut sharp angles on the outside.
Vicharnnoi’s pivots allowed him to control exchanges by breaking his opponent’s line of attack, forcing them to turn to continue and providing him a window of escape. They were particularly useful against the southpaw kickers common in Muay Thai. When Vicharnnoi fought a strong southpaw kicker and knee fighter in Vichit Loogbangplasoi, he effortlessly defused his rear leg through pivoting outside when Vichit threw his kicks and knees.
He also had a lovely switch-step he used to exit at a 90 degree angle into southpaw, allowing him to create an opening for his body kicks or glide away from linear strikes. Note also how he posts on the face briefly after shifting so he can load up a strike before his opponent turns to face him.
Vicharnnoi had gorgeous boxing defense which is a rarity in a sport which prioritizes kicks and knees over punches (although not nearly as rare as is generally believed). The natural hip fold in his stance and his dipping jab allowed him to slide into the pocket underneath his opponent’s counters. His head movement was sharp, and he employed a responsive long guard when opponents tried to flurry on him. His head movement and guard were seamlessly integrated with his footwork as well, as he’d slip or take a few shots on the guard before pivoting off to change the angle and create separation.
Vicharnnoi’s long guard covers the lower sides of his face, but he’s keeping his eyes on his opponent and responding to the threats, rather than hoping his guard will be enough. He uses head movement to cover the holes in his guard, pulling from the uppercuts and ducking or pivoting away from the overhands. Not only is he making his opponent look silly here, but he’s using pivots and shifts to create distance to land clean counters among his opponent’s fruitless flurrying.
Fighting out of a stance more oriented toward punching than kicking meant that Vicharnnoi was always going to have more trouble defending kicks. The reason the “Thai stance” is stereotyped as narrow and upright is that this stance creates the ideal weight distribution for defending kicks. As kicks to the arms score in Muay Thai, blocking kicks with the forearms is seen as a last resort. The desired response to a kick is to either pull away and make it fall short, or check it with the shin or knee. That narrow, upright stance allows fighters to quickly pull either leg up high at a moment’s notice to check body kicks.
With Vicharnnoi’s wider and lower stance, he was unable to quickly draw his legs up to check the kicks, which meant that he needed to employ a different response. His feints made him difficult to kick at range and he was great at making kicks fall short, but for someone who relied so much on an ability to close distance and force pocket exchanges, he knew that he would occasionally have to take kicks.
The key to Vicharnnoi’s response to kicks is that he didn’t give anything away for free. Dissuasion is often as effective as evasion, and Vicharnnoi made a concerted effort to punish every kick his opponent landed.
Vicharnnoi would step in off his opponents kicks and throw devastating right hands or flurries. The power and commitment was an essential part of the equation here - clean body kicks are among the highest scoring weapons in Muay Thai, and anyone would be happy to take a punch to the face in order to land one. But if every clean kick landed is met with a brutal power punch, it quickly becomes a far less attractive option. Vicharnnoi even knocked out the great Pudpadnoi with a big right off a kick to the forearms.
Narongnoi Kiatbundit learned this lesson the hard way. Although he had more success kicking Vicharnnoi clean than anyone else on the brief tape that’s available, in their earlier fight of which we have film, Vicharnnoi quickly instilled hesitance by smashing him with heavy flurries whenever he did it.
Although body kicks were not Vicharnnoi’s main weapon, he was crafty there as well. His rear leg didn’t do much work aside from a few power kicks when he found clear openings, but he had a deft lead leg and a switch kick that sacrificed power for speed and utility.
His switch-step on the kick was lightning fast, allowing him to throw it as a counter when opponents came forward to punch. His recovery was excellent as well, stepping immediately back into his stance to continue punching, or backstepping/shifting out the side to safely exit the exchange.
Many of the lead-leg kicks came from using his extended lead hand or long guard to frame his opponent off and maintain distance. He was clever about linking the kicks with his footwork, hitting them after creating angles with pivots, shifts, or hop steps. He’d also put them on the end of combinations, busying opponents with punches before kicking them on the way out.
It’s easy to see Vicharnnoi’s influence on the art of Muay Thai, but in many ways he was totally unique. He possessed a beautiful style that perfectly blended central aspects of Muay Thai with more non-traditional weapons, and thus a study of his style serves as an ideal myth-buster for those that hold a singular notion of what Muay Thai fighters can be.
While debates around the greatest of all time abound in boxing and MMA, the tragic thing about Muay Thai is that we largely lack the information to even have that conversation in a thorough manner. Pick any fighter that one might reasonably rank in the top 5, and there’s a good chance the vast majority of their fights are missing, their known record incomplete.
But anyone close to Muay Thai knows Vicharnnoi as a legend.
Recently, Sylvie von Duuglas-Ittu, the most prolific Western Muay Thai fighter, asked various Thai legends to name their five greatest fighters of all time. Vicharnnoi’s name showed up on six out of ten lists, with four of them naming him as their number one, and the other two ranking him second.
There’s only eleven of Vicharnnoi’s fights available on film, but each and every one is more than worth watching. They not only hold up brilliantly, but arguably eclipse anything found in today’s Muay Thai.
You can find all of Vicharnnoi’s available fights below: