This past Friday, I made the one-hour journey north of Bangkok to the Pathum Thani province, accompanied by Nort Beauchamp (19-7-1, 3 KOs).

Beauchamp, a seasoned fighter who has shared the ring with the likes of Brock Jarvis (21-1, 19 KOs) and Sam Goodman (19-0, 8 KOs), was there to spar with WBA titlist Thammanoon Niyomtrong (24-0, 9 KOs), also known as Knockout CP Freshmart, at the Thai Payak Boxing Gym. Owned by former WBC flyweight champion Chatchai Sasakul, the facility has become a key training ground for the champion.

As Nyomtrong’s trainer, Sasakul is playing an instrumental role in preparing him for his upcoming clash with rising Australian prospect and 2020 Olympian Alex Winwood (4-0, 2 KOs) on September 7.

Sasakul, who was ringside preparing for a sparring session, remarked, “I think this is a good fight. If the fight was in Thailand, I believe Knockout would win easily, but going abroad is not an easy task. However, our chances are high. We will be flying out a week before the fight, so we have time.”

This will be Niyomtrong’s second time fighting away from home turf. The last time he ventured outside of Thailand, he secured a unanimous decision victory over Chaozhong Xiong (27-8-1, 14 KOs) in Qingdao, China. This experience of winning on foreign soil adds another layer of confidence as he prepares to face Winwood.

Niyomitrong, rated at No. 4 by The Ring at strawweight, was already gearing up for the session. The plan for the day was eight rounds of sparring with two partners. In the first four rounds, he faced an amateur boxer from Saudi Arabia. The champion started slow, methodically building up the intensity as the rounds progressed. It was clear that despite his two-year absence from the ring, he had never truly left the gym—his timing and conditioning were impeccable.

Next, he went four rounds with Beauchamp. Both fighters traded blows, their ring experience on full display. The pressure that the Thai star applies is a thing of beauty—his ring generalship and ability to cut off the ring to set up his punches are pure mastery. Patience is one of his most notable qualities, a trait honed from years of fighting since he was just seven years old.

Niyomitrong first began his journey in combat sports with Muay Thai at the age of seven in his hometown of Surin, located in northeastern Thailand. After dominating locally, he moved to Bangkok to compete at the highest levels on the Muay Thai circuit, eventually becoming a Lumpinee Stadium champion at 105 pounds. With limited competition left in Muay Thai, the Surin native transitioned to professional boxing, making his debut in 2012 where he defeated Marzon Cabilla (18-23-1, 6 KOs) via sixth-round stoppage.

His next major break came in 2014 when he faced Carlos Buitrago (38-14-1, 22 KOs), defeating the Nicaraguan by unanimous decision. He successfully defended an interim title won in that fight three times before challenging Byron Rojas (29-4-3, 11 KOs) for the WBA championship in Khon Kaen, where he once again secured a victory by unanimous decision.

Now, eight years later and at 33 years of age, the Thai champion prepares to go on the road for only the second time in his career, eager to defend his title in Australian.

Former amateur standout Winwood is on the cusp of making Australian boxing history as he aims to win a world title in just his fifth professional fight. Now ranked by all the major sanctioning bodies, Winwood made his debut at the end of 2022, claiming the Western Australia State title in his first bout. While Winwood made his debut in a 6-round bout, he quickly moved on to longer fights. Niyomtrong, on the other hand, has exclusively competed in 10-12 round title fights from the start of his career, never participating in a bout under 10 rounds.

Knockout CP Freshmart (R) battles Wanheng Menayothin in July 2022. (Photo by Wasim Mather)

After the sparring session, I watched him hit the pads with Sasakul, who has been guiding him since turning pro in 2012. The padwork was fascinating—every punch was thrown with intention, and Sasakul meticulously corrected even the smallest details.

Once training wrapped up, I had the opportunity to sit down with the champion and discuss his upcoming fight.

Reflecting on his preparations, he said that “training has been good. It’s slowly intensifying as September 7 approaches. I watched and studied one of his 12-round fights. He moves a lot, uses his agility, and tries to act as a counter specialist—but I’m onto it.”

When discussing his preparation and thoughts on Winwood, his confidence was evident. “We have a game plan, and we’re sticking to it,” he added. “Wait until September 7th to find out.”

Acknowledging Winwood’s skills, he continued, “Winwood is slick and has lots of amateur experience, but I have 24 professional fights, and this bout is over 12 rounds. I am confident and motivated.”

Asked about his recent inactivity and the difficulty in securing fights, he didn’t hold back.

“I’ve had a few fights fall through, specifically with Erick Rosa. The fight fell through three times, and unfortunately, we could never make it happen. Rosa has since moved up to 108 pounds. I think Rosa is avoiding me, protecting his record, and doing anything he can to steer clear of a fight with me.”

As for who he would like to fight next, the Thai fighter was clear about his priorities.

“I’m just looking forward to being active again. If I get past Winwood, I’m open to fighting Hasanboy Dusmatov (6-0, 5 KOs),” he said.

When questioned about the possibility of moving up to 108 pounds, the champion was measured in his response. “I want to focus on the Winwood fight first. After that, it’s up to my promoter and manager to decide what the best route is—whether it’s staying at 105 or moving up to 108.”

On his place in the strawweight division’s landscape, he was candid. “I haven’t fought in a while, and my inactivity caused me to drop in the rankings, but I believe I am the best.”

Regarding his status as the only boxing world champion from Thailand, he expressed his pride. “I’m very proud. I’m honoured to represent Thailand as a champion. The (strawweight) belt is a Thai belt and belongs in Thailand.”

With a game plan in place and a clear understanding of the task at hand, he is set to prove that he’s not only the best in the division but also that his belt truly belongs in Thailand. As the date approaches, all eyes will be on the champion to see if he can once again deliver the kind of performance that has defined his career.

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