Naruepon Fairtex is a highly decorated traditional Muay Thai fighter from Bangkok, Thailand. He is passionate about his craft and sharing his skills through teaching youth and adult Muay Thai classes. Naruepon brings 30 years of experience in competition and instruction of traditional Muay Thai.
Naruepon started training Muay Thai when he was seven years old at Sakhomsin Gym in Bangkok, Thailand. As a young boy Naruepon had a small build and frame, frequently getting picked on by the other boys at his school. There was a Muay Thai gym on the route he walked to and from school and had stopped to watch when one of the trainers asked him if he wanted to give it a try. Naruepon learned the basics for 2 months. He had his first professional fight after three months and won in the first round by knockout. He continued to train every day and hone his skill set. Now his school friends were afraid to pick on him and Naruepon understood that he could fight to earn money for himself and help take care of his family. By the time he was eleven years old, Naruepon had already made a name for himself, fighting in local festivals as the main event. At fifteen, Naruepon had his first fight at the world-renowned Rajadamnern Stadium in 1999. Afterward, promoters lined up to put him on their cards, fighting many famous opponents. Naruepon spent the next three years going back and forth between Rajadamnern Stadium and the prestigious Lumpinee Stadium, among other big name promotions, earning the nickname “Tiger Knee”.
In 2002, at eighteen, Naruepon fought for the Lumpinee Super-lightweight title against Chokdee Por. Pramuk and won. He went on to win the Thailand Champion Super-lightweight title against Petnamek Sor Siriwat in 2003. In 2005, in a move similar to professional sports teams trading players, Naruepon signed on at the famed Fairtex training camp where he gained the nickname “Mr. GQ”. He continued to train and fight in Thailand. Later that same year he fought Khunsuk Phetsupapan for the Thailand Champion Super-lightweight title a second time and won. In 2006 Naruepon took on Chaowalit Jockygym for the Thailand Champion Welterweight 147lbs title and won. In 2010 Naruepon dislocated his shoulder in a fight in France and took a 6-month break from fighting. His last fight in Asia was in 2012 in Hong Kong after which he spent the next few years traveling Asia and Europe teaching at various gyms in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, Italy, and France, most notably at Evolve MMA in Singapore.
In 2008 the reality TV series “The Contender Asia” was hosted in Singapore. Naruepon was one of 16 fighters competing for $150,000USD and bragging rights as “The Contender Champion”. He was eliminated in episode 9 in a match against his former teammate Yodsanklai Fairtex. He was later featured in Men’s Health Thailand.
In 2015, Naruepon moved to Fremont, California, where he continued to fight, coach, and train fighters in the U.S. In 2018, he took on Eddie Farrell for the IKF Pro Full Rules Middleweight World Champion title and Triumphant Middleweight title and won by TKO in the fifth round. Naruepon has amassed an impressive fight record with well over 200 fights. 181 known wins, 53 by way of knockout, 46 losses and 5 draws. His technical skills in the ring have placed him in the top 5% of Muay Thai fighters in the world.
After 7 years of teaching, coaching, and competing in the San Francisco Bay area, Naruepon made the move to Tucson AZ to pursue a new opportunity in teaching Muay Thai. He is very excited to be the head coach of his own Muay Thai program with Carlson Gracie Tucson and share his experience. Naruepon’s skills and modest personality will be a great addition to the Tucson Muay Thai community.
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