Every given year in the

Muay Thai Muay Thai ( th, มวยไทย, , ), sometimes referred to as Thai boxing, is a combat sport that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. This discipline is known as the "art of eight limbs", as it is characterised ...

world, with few exceptions, three different major "Fighter of the Year" awards are presented. The Sports Writers Association of Thailand in the first half of a year annually, the Sports Authority of Thailand decides the winner at the end of December, and the Siam Kela award is given in March annually.

Sports Writers Association of Thailand

The Sports Writers Association of Thailand started giving out their Fighter of the Year award in 1984. Prior to 1984, they had only given the "Athlete of the Year Award". In its history, there have only ever been four fighters to have won the award more than once: Kaensak Sor.Ploenjit in 1989 and 1990, Saenchai Sor.Kingstar in 1999 and 2008,

Anuwat Kaewsamrit Anuwat Kaewsamrit (อนุวัฒน์ แก้วสัมฤทธิ์) born November 17, 1981 is a Thai Muay Thai kickboxer and a former Lumpinee and four time Rajadamnern Stadium champion who used to fight out of Kaewsamrit Gy ...

in 2003 and 2004, lastly

Panpayak Jitmuangnon Panpayak Jitmuangnon (พันธุ์พยัคฆ์ จิตรเมืองนนท์) is a Thai Muay Thai fighter, originally from the Samut Prakarn, but now fighting out of Bangkok, Thailand. He is the former Lumpinee Stadium fe ...

, the only ever to have won it three times, from 2013 to 2015.

Thongchai Tor.Silachai Thongchai Tor.Silachai (ธงชัย ต.ศิลาชัย) is a retired Thailand, Thai Muay Thai fighter. He is a former four-time Lumpinee Stadium champion and is the only fighter to have ever knocked out Muay Thai legend Saenchai. Bio ...

is by far the oldest recipient of the award as he won it at 30 years old in 2001. He defeated former rival Saenchai Sor.Kingstar by 2 years as Saenchai won the award for a second time at 28 years old in 2008. The only time there have been two winners of the award was in 2012, when Yodwicha Por.Boonsit and Sangmanee Sor.Tienpo shared the award. Coincidentally, Sangmanee is the youngest winner in the history of the award, narrowly beating out Yodwicha by 30 days as they were both 15 years old at the time. In 2019, controversy struck the Sports Writers Association of Thailand as they revoked

Rungnarai Kiatmuu9 Rungnarai Kiatmuu9 ( th, รุ้งนารายณ์ เกียรติหมู่ 9) is a Thai Muay Thai fighter, originally from Buriram, in the northeast of Thailand. Biography and career Rungnarai started Muay Thai at 8 years old ...

of his 2018 Fighter of the Year award after he was knocked out by Yothin F.A.Group just days after he had received the award.

Sports Authority of Thailand

The Sports Authority of Thailand Fighter of the Year award is awarded annually in December. In the history of the award, only two fighters have won it more than once: Nong-O Sit-Or and

Sagetdao Petpayathai Sagetdao Petpaiyathai ( th, สะเก็ดดาว เพชรพญาไท; born January 1, 1987) is a Muay Thai fighter and mixed martial artist from Thailand who is currently signed to ONE Championship. He is a former Lumpinee Stadiu ...

Siam Kela

The Siam Kela award is given on March 6 every year. The award is not strictly for Muay Thai. In fact, Muay Thai is only a small part of their award ceremonies. Recipients of the award also receive a prize of ฿50,000 baht. {, class="wikitable" , + !Year !Fighter , - , 2006 , Norasing Lukbanyai , - , 2007 ,

Wuttidet Lukprabat Wuttidet Lukprabat ( th, วุฒิเดช ลูกพระบาท), is a Thai Muay Thai fighter and Wushu (sport), wushu practitioner. In 2007 Wuttidet was elected Fighter of the year by multiple authorities. The next year his ...

, - , 2008 , Saenchai Sor.Kingstar , - , 2009 , Pornsanae Sitmonchai , - , 2010 ,

Sam-A Gaiyanghadao Sam-A Gaiyanghadao ( th, สามเอ ไก่ย่างห้าดาว; born October 13, 1983) is a Muay Thai fighter from Thailand formerly signed to ONE Championship until his retirement. He was, up until the title was taken from him ...

, - , 2011 ,

, - , 2012 , Yodwicha Por.Boonsit , - , 2013 , Petchboonchu F.A.Group , - , 2014 , Superbank Sakchaichot , - , 2015 ,

Thanonchai Thanakorngym Thanonchai Thanakorngym (ธนญชัย ธนกรยิมส์) is a retired Thai Muay Thai fighter. Biography Thanonchai started training in Muay Thai with his father at 12 years old. He then went to train with the legend Sangtienno ...

, - , 2016 , Puenkon Tor.Surat , - , 2017 , Yodlekpet Or.Pitisak , - , 2018 , Tawanchai P.K.Saenchaimuaythaigym{{Cite web, last=ครบทุกกีฬา, first=SMMSPORT COM เว็ปเดียวจบ, date=2019-03-06, title=กวาดเรียบ! 'ตะวันฉาย' ผงาดคว้า 'ยอดมวยสยามกีฬาฯ', url=https://www.smmsport.com/reader/news/236990, access-date=2021-03-26, website=SMMSPORT.COM เว็ปเดียวจบ ครบทุกกีฬา, language=th , - , 2019 ,

Nuenglanlek Jitmuangnon Nuenglanlek ( th, หนึ่งล้านเล็ก) is a Thai Muay Thai fighter. He is a former Lumpinee Stadium 130 lbs champion, and the 2019 Lumpinee Stadium Fighter of the Year. Muay Thai career Nuenglanlek defeated Yodthongthai So ...

References

Muay Thai awards