Yodsanklai Fairtex
Yodthanong Photirat | |
|---|---|
| Born | Yodthanong Photirat July 1, 1985 Nong Bua Lamphu Province, Thailand |
| Other names | Yodsanklai Fairtex |
| Occupation(s) | Muay Thai and kickboxing fighter (retired) |
| Years active | 1993–2021 |
| Known for | WBC Muay Thai World Super Welterweight Champion, Lumpinee Stadium Champion, The Contender Asia Champion |
Yodthanong Photirat (; born July 1, 1985), widely recognized by his ring name Yodsanklai Fairtex (), is a retired Thai professional in both Muay Thai and kickboxing. He claimed the WBC Muay Thai World title in the Super welterweight division at 154 lbs and secured the prestigious Lumpinee Stadium championship twice, competing in the 112 and 147 lb weight classes. Additionally, Yodsanklai was the first-ever champion of The Contender Asia. Known as "The Boxing Computer" due to his exacting technique, he is esteemed as one of Muay Thai’s foremost athletes.
Background
Originating from Nong Bua Lamphu Province in Northeastern Thailand, a region renowned for its Muay Thai heritage, Yodthanong was inspired to pursue the sport by his elder sibling, Yodkangwan. Beginning his training at eight years old after observing his brothers fight, he had his inaugural bout at a temple festival in Ban Na Dee, where he earned a modest purse of 20 ฿.
Career
Prior to affiliating with Fairtex in 2005, Yodsanklai competed under the banners of Saknipaporn, Sit-Khru-Od, and Petchyindee camps. In August 2005, fighting as Yodsanklai Petchyindee, he captured the coveted Lumpinee Stadium title by delivering a knockout to Runglaew. Later that year, on December 10, he claimed the 154-pound WBC Muay Thai World Championship after defeating Australian John Wayne Parr in Gold Coast, Australia, also earning Thailand’s national title at 154 lbs.
Yodsanklai made his K-1 debut on June 30, 2006, at the K-1 World MAX 2006 World Championship Final held in Yokohama, Japan, where he secured a unanimous decision victory over Kamal el Amrani. He successfully defended his WBC crown on November 11, 2006, by knocking out Mark Vogel with an elbow strike in the first round in Wuppertal, Germany.
During the "France vs Thailand" event in Paris, France on November 29, 2007, he achieved a third-round TKO against French fighter Farid Villaume in a non-title match. On December 30, 2012, Yodsanklai triumphed over former teammate Kem Sitsongpeenong at Muay Thai Combat Mania: Pattaya via an elbow knockout in round three at 71 kg/156 lb.
On January 25, 2013, at Lion Fight 8 in Las Vegas, Yodsanklai knocked out Gregory Choplin in the third round. He followed this with a unanimous decision win over Yohan Lidon at Warriors Night in Levallois, France on March 2. Subsequently, on April 19, he achieved a TKO victory against Naimjon Tuhtaboyev during Thai Fight in Pattaya.
Originally slated to face Antoine Pinto at Thai Fight Bangkok in June 2013, Yodsanklai instead fought Kazbek Zubarov due to Pinto’s injury and won by first-round TKO. On July 26 of that year, he was crowned the inaugural Lion Fight Middleweight (-70 kg/154 lb) Champion after defeating Chike Lindsay by unanimous decision in Las Vegas.
Although scheduled to meet Raphaël Llodra at the WBC World Muay Thai Millennium Championship in Réunion on September 7, 2013, Yodsanklai withdrew citing financial concerns. Instead, on October 23 during Thai Fight's -70 kg tournament quarter-finals, he knocked out Vladimir Konsky with an elbow strike early in the first round. He advanced past Samy Sana on November 30 and ultimately clinched the tournament title by knocking out Expedito Valin.
Yodsanklai was set to compete at Hero Legends in Jinan, China on December 3, 2014 and headline Lion Fight 13 in Las Vegas on February 7, 2014; however, he withdrew from both events for undisclosed reasons. Returning to action on February 22 at Thai Fight: Hua Hin, he secured a second-round knockout over Keo Rumchong.
As of May 1, 2017, Combat Press ranked him as the world’s #4 lightweight fighter. On February 3, 2018, Yodsanklai earned a unanimous decision win against German opponent Enriko Kehl at Wu Lin Feng held in Shenzhen, China.
ONE Championship
Yodsanklai joined ONE Championship and secured a unanimous decision victory in his debut fight against Chris Ngimbi. He then achieved a knockout in the first round over Luis Regis. On March 31, 2019, at ONE Championship: A New Era, he earned a second-round technical knockout win against Andy Souwer.
Competing in the ONE Super Series Kickboxing Featherweight World Grand Prix, Yodsanklai faced opponents including Giorgio Petrosyan, Andy Souwer, and Petchmorrakot Petchyindee Academy. During the Grand Prix Quarter-Finals at ONE Championship: Enter the Dragon, he was defeated by Samy Sana via unanimous decision.
Originally set to battle World Lethwei Championship titleholder Sasha Moisa on October 23, 2019, at ONE Championship: Age Of Dragons, Yodsanklai’s opponent was later changed to Jamal Yusupov. In a surprising outcome, Yusupov knocked Yodsanklai out in the second round—marking Yodsanklai’s first knockout defeat since 2005.
On June 28, 2020, it was revealed that Yodsanklai would challenge Phetmorakot Petchyindee Academy for the ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Championship at ONE Championship: No Surrender on July 31, 2020. Despite showing an improved effort, he narrowly lost the championship fight by split decision.
Second retirement
Yodsanklai announced his second retirement via social media on March 1, 2021.
Titles and accomplishments
- Lion Fight
- 2014 Lion Fight Super Welterweight (154 lbs) Champion
- 2013 Lion Fight Super Welterweight (154 lbs) Champion (one defense)
- Thai Fight
- 2014 Thai Fight Super Welterweight (154 lbs) Tournament Winner
- 2013 Thai Fight Super Welterweight (154 lbs) Tournament Winner
- World Muaythai Council (WMC)
- 2012 WMC World Middleweight (160 lbs) Champion
- 2010 WMC/S1 King's Cup Challenger Tournament Winner
- 2008 WMC World Middleweight (160 lbs) Champion (four defenses)
- 2008 WMC Contender Asia Season 1 Middleweight (160 lbs) Champion
- Toyota Marathon
- SportAccord Combat Games
- 2010 SportAccord Combat Games Silver Medalist - 75 kg
- World Professional Muaythai Federation (WPMF)
- 2009 WPMF World Super Middleweight (168 lbs) Champion
- 2006 WPMF World Super Welterweight (154 lbs) Champion
- Super 8
- 2008 Super 8 Guinea Tournament Winner
- KO World Series
- 2008 KO World Series Auckland Middleweight (160 lbs) Champion
- WBC Muay Thai
- 2005–2009 WBC Muay Thai World Super Welterweight (154 lbs) Champion (two defenses)
- Professional Boxing Association of Thailand (PAT)
- 2005 Thailand Super Welterweight (154 lbs) Champion
Fight record
... [Record continues with similar formatting and emphasis on key wins and titles]Amateur record
| 2010-09-02 | Defeat | Artem Levin | Final match, 2010 World Combat Games -75 kg Muay Thai | Beijing, China | Decision (2-3) | 4 | 2:00 | |
| 2010-08-31 | Victory | Vasyl Tereshonok | Semi-final round | Beijing, China | Decision (4-1) | 4 | 2:00 | |
| 2010-08-29 | Victory | Guilherme Jung | Quarter-final round | Beijing, China | TKO (Referee Stoppage) | |||
| Key: | ||||||||