Petchmorrakot Is Feeling A Lot Stronger Ahead Of KL Contest

Petchmorrakot Petchyindee Academy is looking for redemption at ONE: DESTINY OF CHAMPIONS.

After falling short in his last outing with ONE Championship, Petchmorrakot is eager to make a winning return to the global stage of martial arts.

The highly-decorated Muay Thai World Champion will be taking on one of England’s finest in Liam “Hitman” Harrison, who is himself a multi-time Muay Thai World Champion. On 7 December at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the pair will put their elite Muay Thai skills on display to the world.

Petchmorrakot was last seen in action at ONE: KINGDOM OF HEROES in Bangkok.

Making his debut in 4-ounce mixed martial arts gloves, the long and lean Thai faced the highly unorthodox Alaverdi “Dagger” Ramazanov.

While the bout remained competitive until the final bell, Petchmorrakot at times seemed disoriented by the Russian pugilist’s style and dropped a close decision.

Ramazanov’s hard-earned victory over the hometown favorite stunned the capacity crowd at the Impact Arena. It was a tough loss for Petchmorrakot to swallow.

“I was really disappointed to have let my fans down,” Petchmorrakot says. “I was competing in the bantamweight division. It is too small for me.

“This time around, I will be moving up to the featherweight division, where I feel a lot stronger.”

Ahead of his next clash, the two-division Lumpinee Stadium Muay Thai World Champion will be sticking to his tried and tested regime.

Representing the world famous Petchyindee Academy in Bangkok, Petchmorrakot adheres to a very strict training schedule.

The day starts before sunrise with an 13km run, followed by bag-work, pad-work, clinching, sparring, and finally strength and conditioning with a special coach.

The second session of the day follows a similar format, but the athletes are only required to run a few miles in the afternoon. All in all, it is a total of six hours of training per day, divided between two sessions.

It is an arduous task even for the most accomplished of athletes, but Petchmorrakot says he enjoys it.

“It is a lot of fun to train at Petchyindee. We are like one big family,” he says. “There are so many fighters, it makes the training fun.”

His opponent also comes from a very notable Muay Thai lineage. Harrison trains out of Bad Company Gym in Leeds, which he has been for two decades now.

Harrison also makes regular pilgrimages to Thailand where he trains at the highly respected Jitty Gym in Bangkok. “The Hitman” is an eight-time Kickboxing and Muay Thai World Champion, with Petchmorrakot well aware of his opponent’s achievements.

“Liam has his signature style of punches and leg kicks,” he adds. “He’s a very strong and aggressive fighter.”

The Thai, however, isn’t deterred, but instead is excited by the challenge that lies ahead.

“I will use my elbows and left kick to stop him,” says the Thai. “I’ll see how the fight progresses and make changes if necessary, but I think my style will beat him.”

With so many things to factor in, it is truly an exciting time for the 25-year-old, who grew up foraging for food in Thailand’s northeastern region. He is one of three Thai athletes set to compete on the card, with none other than Yodsanklai IWE Fairtex leading the way in the main-event.

“I’m really happy that Yodsanklai will get the opportunity to headline the event in a Muay Thai match,” he says.

“It is an honor to be on the same card.”

Since signing with ONE Championship, Petchmorrakot has only one goal in mind— to become a ONE Muay Thai World Champion.

His next big step towards achieving that goal is just around the corner.

It will be the Thai technician versus the British battler, and with both being highly-experienced world champions, the match can really only come down to who is the better man on 7 December.