It is a rare moment in combat sports where a dominant fighter can somehow come back looking even stronger than they were before. This was what Petchpanomrung was able to accomplish in 2024.
His victory in the single-night Glory RISE Featherweight Grand Prix, where he was virtually untouched, has secured him the title of Beyond Kickboxing’s 2024 Fighter of the Year.
The Thai-born Petchpanomrung has already lived a lifetime in combat sports and was considered among the all-time greats even before his 2024 run began. Between Muay Thai and kickboxing, he has an incredible record of nearly 200 professional victories, starting when he was only 14 years old.
Throughout his career, Petchpanomrung has defeated numerous notable athletes and held titles in both Muay Thai and kickboxing. Yet, despite his storied achievements, 2024 stands as his defining moment.
Petchpanomrung’s trainer, Adrian Fairtex, shared the challenges Petch overcame in preparation for the Grand Prix. “Leading up to the tournament and his previous fights with Ahmad Chikh Mousa, Kento Haraguchi, and Chadd Collins, his left ankle was actually fractured. We weren’t sure if his body would fully recover," Fairtex said.
The road to recovery was not an easy one. "We had the operation, rested the ankle, and it's fully healed now. This literally was the first fight camp where we did two months of intense training—super, super hard training. We did strength and conditioning. We did everything possible," Adrian continued.
Petch's training camp spanned multiple countries, a testament to his dedication and the team's meticulous planning. "We spent a month in Canada at the Muay Thai Academy in Vancouver, then moved to Thailand and went to Superlek's Gym. We trained there for another month. We didn't really know, going into the tournament, how his body was going to react. But as you can see, his body is absolutely back to 100%," Fairtex explained.
The results speak for themselves. The Thai fighter dominated his opponents in the Grand Prix, looking better than ever. "He hasn't looked this good since he won the title from Robin van Roosmalen back in the Netherlands. We're absolutely over the moon. He feels stronger than ever and is ready to get the RISE belt back off Chadd Collins in June," Fairtex shared.
One of the keys to Petch's resurgence has been his sparring partners at the Muay Thai Academy in Vancouver. "These are all bigger guys, and they’re giving him a hard time in sparring. He’s getting great rounds in. So when it comes to fighting at 65 kilos, he’s so used to these bigger guys. It’s really, really helped," Fairtex said.
Petchpanomrung's 2024 campaign was nothing short of extraordinary. For a fighter already hailed as one of the best, it is remarkable to see him push past physical setbacks and deliver what might be the finest year of his career. Upon hearing the news, Petchpanomrung responded:
"It's an honor and a privilege for the recognition. I'm so happy! Thank you so much for selecting me to be Beyond Kickboxing’s Fighter of the Year 2024. I trained so hard for this tournament, so I could show everyone the best version of myself, and to show everyone in the stadium my skills and ability, to show everyone around me on the biggest stage in the world, that I can do it, and I was successful. I am very happy! Thank you to everyone who supports and cheers for me. I am going to keep training hard like this from now on and do my best I can in the future."
