Jomhod Kiatadisak – 14 x Muay Thai world champion
I decided to write this article about the “King Of The Ring” after my last contact with Jomhod in Bangla (Phuket’s local muay thai stadium) Every time i bump into Jomhod we smile, shake hands (wai) and usually share a few words about who’s fighting and even when (the now 42 year old Jomhod) will fight again next.
It’s crazy to think he began fighting at 11, now 42 and Jomhod is still taking fights. For those not so great at math – that’s 31 years of fighting professional muay thai. Elbows, knees, punches and kicks (on the most elite level in the world) 31 years of this brutality and the man is still not done.
I’m not sure if this is a money issue (possibly) or if this guy really just doesn’t want to let go of that feeling being ‘King Of The Ring’ can bring.
Jomhod usually strolls around Bangla while 99% of the tourists and even fighters of that night, have no idea who he is. I’m forever pointing out Jomhod to people and explaining “that guy is 14 x world muay thai champion – he smashed the best in there prime. He has won the Lumpinee Championship, the Ratchadamnoen Championship in two different weight classes and destroyed Ramon Dekkers in his prime”
It really is strange that so many don’t know Jomhod (most have heard the name and possibly remember the Dekkers fight) but overall he goes by un-noticed. He strolls around with no riches and no VIP treatment. He seems humble and very chilled out. Jomhod in reality is the Ali-Mayweather of muay thai, the Jordan or Tiger Woods of Thailand.
Winning titles from featherweight all the way up to middleweight – never afraid to fight much bigger, strongers, fitter and younger opponents. Jomhod’s last world title was the WMC 76kg title he won in 2011 (at age 40)
Jomhod has said he plans on title no.15 in 2012 – which will put him in the guinness book of world recrords.
To be perfectly frank – if he was a ‘western’ man in a western country in any combat sport or indeed nearly any sport at all… i believe the man would be pretty rich, receive VIP status and no doubt be featured in advertisements and commercials. Alas – he’s thai, and he’s one of the greatest muay thai fighters ever.
He is humble, not rich, does not recieve VIP status and never will.
He is just Jomhod
