Attachai Fairtex

Pornsak Bunrat (Thai:พรศักดิ์ บุญรัตน์; born May 29, 1980), known professionally as Attachai Fairtex (Thai:อรรถชัย แฟร์เท็กซ์), is a Thai former professional Muay Thai fighter. He is a former Lumpinee Stadium Super Bantamweight Champion. With 200 professional Muay Thai fights and a 90% win record (180–15–5), he has been voted as one of the greatest fighters of his era by Thai media.

He is a certified Muay Thai instructor from the Fairtex Camp in Thailand and has taught at various gyms in Thailand, the United States, and Singapore. He now runs his own gym in Thailand – Attachai Muay Thai Gym.

Biography

Early life

Attachai was born in Rattanaburi, a poor village in the province of Surin. Muay Thai was a means for him to bring money home for his family. He started training at the age of 8. Muay Thai runs in Attachai's family and his cousin, Chaiya Sor Supawan, was also a champion in Lumpinee Boxing Stadium. When Attachai was 12 years old, his parents could no longer afford to provide for all 4 of their children. Seeing Attachai win all his fights in his hometown, his cousin saw potential in him and decided to bring him to Bangkok to train at Por Somranchai Gym to provide him with a better training environment and ease his family's financial strain.

Rising through the ranks

While in Bangkok, Attachai trained his hardest and fought his best. His desire to win soon made him a rising star in the Sukonesongchai promotions. Attachai fought his way up to the highest levels in the Rajadamnern and Lumpinee stadiums and fought many of the greatest Muay Thai fighters of his era including Saen Chai Sor Kingstar aka Saenchai PKSaenchai Gym, Samkor Kiatmontep, Khunpinit Kiattawan, Anuwat Kaewsamrit, Namsaknoi Yudthagarngamtorn, Lamnanoon Sor Sumalee, Chalermpon, Therdkiet, Kongpipop, Nopparat, Sakedpetch and Petmunkonk.

Transition to boxing

At 23 years old, Attachai made the switch to boxing. Under the instruction of Somluck Kamsing – the first Thai athlete to win a gold medal in the Olympics, in boxing at the 1996 Olympics, Attachai competed in many boxing tournaments; notably the Amateur Boxing Association of Thailand under the "Royal Patronage of His Majesty the King", in which he emerged as the champion. He also represented the Royal Thai Police in the Kings Cup Boxing tournament – winning a silver.

Fighting internationally

When Attachai was 26 years old, he was bought over by the world-famous Fairtex camp to make his return to fighting in Muay Thai. Alongside training with Attachai were fighters such as Kaew Fairtex, Yodsanklai Fairtex and Naruepol Fairtex; who have all grown to become the biggest stars of Fairtex Gym, Pattaya. Attachai represented Fairtex and won numerous fights in France, United States of America and Japan. He won a total of 180 fights out of his 200 professional fights.

Life after fighting

Attachai retired from fighting at the age of 31 to become a full-time Muay Thai instructor. He first joined Kanomtom Gym Thailand as an instructor assisting in the fighters' training programmes. He was then invited to work in Florida at Tampa Muay Thai Gym, a sister company of Kanomtom Gym. In 2011, Attachai was head hunted by Evolve Mixed Martial Arts (Singapore) – One of the largest martial arts gyms in Asia. Attachai worked alongside the other World Champion instructors at Evolve Mixed Martial Arts for 4 years. In 2015, Attachai left joined Trifecta Mixed Martial Arts as their Muay Thai instructor and led their competition team. Attachai now runs his own gym in Thailand – Attachai Muay Thai Gym.

Titles and accomplishments

• Lumpinee Stadium 1997 Lumpinee Stadium Super Bantamweight (122 lbs) Champion One successful title defense 1997 Lumpinee Stadium Fighter of the Year 1998 Lumpinee Stadium Fighter of the Year
• Professional Boxing Association of Thailand (PAT) Thailand Light Flyweight (108 lbs) Champion
• World Muay Thai Council 1995 WMC World Light Flyweight (108 lbs) Champion

Awards

• 1997 Sports Authority of Thailand Fighter of the Year

Fight record