Paruhatlek Sitchunthong

Paruhatlek Sitchunthong (Thai: พฤหัสเล็ก ศิษย์ชุนทอง) is a former Thai Muay Thai fighter who competed from 1980s to 1990s. He is the only fighter to have beaten legend Samart Payakaroon in Muay Thai rules by knockout.

The sixth of nine children (seven sons, two daughters), Paruhatlek Sitchunthong came from a family of Muay Thai fighters in Pathum Thani, about 30 km (18.6 mi) north of Bangkok. All of his brothers were fighters. His older brother is also a famous Muay Thai fighter, Paruhat Loh-ngoen. He started his Muay Thai training at the age 9 in a space near his house with his father as a trainer. He had his first fight a few months later, he got only 15 baht for it.
A year later Paruhatlek joined the Sichunthong gym, his family business. This gym originally belonged to his father, Kimchun Kuntharee. When his father died, his mother, Luan Kuntharee continued to run the operation.

He had his first fight in Lumpinee Stadium at the age of 16.

He fought Samart Payakaroon four-times in total. He won by knock out on the second time in the third round with punches. His older brother, Paruhat Loh-ngoen had also fought with Samart Payakaroon and was one of two opponents that Samart said he was the most afraid (the other being Mafuang Weerapol).

Paruhatlek Sitchunthong was a five-times Lumpinee Stadium champion across four weight categories, consist of pinweight (102 lb), mini flyweight (104 lb, two-times), junior flyweight (108 lb), and flyweight (112 lb). To win his first belt Paruhatlek needed three attempts before being successful. At the peak of his career, he was paid a maximum of 120,000 baht.

Paruhatlek was regarded as a small shape fighter, therefore he was often at a disadvantage against his opponents. He was a tough fighter who never backed down, pushing forward for the win with his heavy punches. Hence, he was given the fierce alias of "Raging bull of the Rangsit field", owing to his birthplace, Rangsit area. He also received another alias the "ring gentleman", during a fight against Fahlan Lukprabat he had his opponent on the verge of collapsing but chose to step back and let him lose by decision to avoid stripping him from his Rajadamnern Stadium belt.

He has been collecting the Muay Thai trunks he wore during his entire career, most of them are red trunks, because he often fought in the red corner.

• Lumpinee Stadium
  • 1981 Lumpinee Stadium 102 lbs Champion
  • 1982 Lumpinee Stadium 102 lbs Champion
  • 1983 Lumpinee Stadium 108 lbs Champion
  • 1985 Lumpinee Stadium 108 lbs Champion
  • 1988 Lumpinee Stadium 112 lbs Champion
  • 1989 Lumpinee Stadium Fight of the Year