2011 has been an outstanding year for Muay Thai worldwide.

The year’s highlights included the rise of America as a genuine force in Muay Thai and the outstanding excellence of Thai fighters in the lighter weight divisions.

While more than 200 fighters qualified for the WBC Muay Thai worldwide rankings in 19 weight divisions, there are 10 champions that deserve special recognition.

Five Thais carried the accolade as the “invincible superstars” of 2011.

Leading the honour board is Saenchai Sor Kingstar who _ at 30 years of age _ is regarded as the best pound for pound Muay Thai fighter in the world and has a big fan base in Bangkok.

It’s a real treat to feel the electric atmosphere when Saenchai enters the ring at around 130 pounds to fight at full force at Lumpinee stadium.

But challenging Saenchai’s position as the Muay Thai idol in the kingdom, and in countries like Japan, is Buakaw Por Pramuk who won this year’s welterweight Thai Fight grand final on points against Australia’s Franki Giorgi.

Ironically Buakaw was only considered to be an average fighter until he shot to stardom as the K1 champion. Today he’s the epitome of Muay Thai class and his triumphs in the ring are very much a matter of Thai pride.

The other Thai Fight star of the year is Kem Sitsongpeenong who fights in the next weight up from Buakaw in the super-welterweight division.

Kem’s reputation has been building over the past two years after beating every fighter of note in Thailand and winning against the top Europeans.

Kem has taken the Thai Fight banner in his stride and he’s now on a flyer going into the Chinese Year of the Dragon.

Although perhaps lacking the X-factor, there’s a lot to like about Sakeddao Petchpayatai who enthralled the partisan fight crowd of Los Angles with a masterful performance against America’s Muay Thai hero Kevin Ross.

Sakeddao won the American dream WBC green championship after qualifying for the title with a winning streak at Lumpinee stadium.

At Rajadamnern stadium, the outstanding fighter for two successive years is Jomthong Chuwattana who has run out of quality opponents who can match him in the ring.

Jomthong is known as “Mr Perfect” which reflects how good he is at the Thai fighting art.

A natural puncher with the defensive skills of Floyd Mayweather Jr, Jomthong is considering switching from Muay Thai to the sweet science with an international career in boxing on the cards in 2012.

Yet the greatest Muay Thai fighter of the 21st century remains Artem Levin.

Fighting at about 154lb, the great Russian beat Kaoklai Kaennorasing in March to win the WBC world light-heavyweight title and then went on to dominate the Muay Thai Premier League.

American fans are hoping that Joe Schilling, who knocked out Kaoklai to take the WBC interim heavyweight title, can knock Levin off his pedestal in the unification title event which will be held some time next year.

The other American who is held in high esteem is Ky Hollenback who came to Muay Thai professional contests after a period of MMA [mixed martial arts] combat.

Hollenback comes from San Francisco and has a fan base that stretches across California to the Las Vegas capital of Nevada. His prime objective in 2012 is to fight French star Johan Lidon to unify the middleweight title.

While Liam Harrison, the fighter from Leeds, travels the world representing Britain in Muay Thai, it’s Englishman Steve Wakeling who’s won the most world championships for Britain.

After a two-year break from fighting, Wakeling came back to win the WBC world super-middleweight title last January. He’s considering going up a weight to take on Levin after Schilling gets his shot.

The final Muay Thai practitioner to make this year’s top 10 is Australian Steve McKinnon, the current WBC super-cruiserweight world champion.

McKinnon is the Sydney superstar who defended his title to a sell-out crowd in front of the Opera house. He’s now looking for opponents in Las Vegas where Muay Thai is on a roll.

Source:http://www.bangkokpost.com/
author: Patrick Cusick