has employed his superb technical striking and unshakable mindset to establish himself as one of the flyweight Muay Thai division바카라s most exciting contenders.
Currently ranked #4 in the talent-packed division, the 26-year-old is set to face fellow Thai star on June 6 in U.S. primetime at .
Before he steps into the iconic ring at Bangkok바카라s Lumpinee Stadium, Nakrob opened up to about his journey from the Thai countryside to the bright lights of ONE바카라s massive global platform.
A Reluctant Start
Although he comes from a line of Muay Thai fighters, Nakrob initially had little interest in the striking art.
He recalled:
바카라When I was a kid, I wasn바카라t into Muay Thai at all, even though I had relatives who were boxers.바카라
His introduction to the sport came by surprise when a local fair needed a last-minute replacement fighter. In Thailand, it바카라s not uncommon for young children to compete in full-contact Muay Thai bouts.
With no formal training, Nakrob lost the fight but earned a small sum of money (about US$4.50), setting in motion his career as a professional athlete:
바카라I started when I was 6. It just so happened I went with my dad to watch some match at a local fair in my neighborhood. By chance, they were short one fighter, so he asked if I wanted to jump in. I was a bit of a troublemaker kid, so I just went along with it. I went up there and fought like I바카라d never trained a day in my life, and yeah, I lost like you바카라d expect because I wasn바카라t any good at boxing.
바카라I got 150 baht for that fight, but I actually did okay, so I got some tips from the crowd. I used the money to play that dart game and buy snacks at the fair.바카라
Building His Name In Bangkok
Despite that rough start to his fighting career, Nakrob started proper training and continued competing in local events, gradually developing his skills while building a reputation on Thailand바카라s rural circuit.
Eventually, the youngster바카라s preternatural talent caught the attention of a prominent Bangkok gym:
바카라After that, I went back to practicing and kept fighting in the provinces. I built up my boxing skills until there weren바카라t really any opponents left for me. Then, Sasiprapa Gym in Bangkok contacted me to compete in the Pun Suea boxing competition.
바카라That was my first time getting to the capital. I was about 15. That was the starting point that made me famous under the name 바카라Kaensuan Sasiprapa Gym.'바카라
The move to Thailand바카라s capital city marked an important turning point in Nakrob바카라s career. Training alongside elite professionals and competing against tougher and tougher opposition, he evolved into a formidable fighter.
What바카라s more, the growing financial rewards that came along with competitive success convinced him that 바카라the art of eight limbs바카라 could be his future:
바카라It was when I started fighting in the capital and actually started making some decent money that I realized, 바카라Okay, this is my career now.'바카라
A Career Crossroads
Like countless other fighters, Nakrob바카라s career was derailed when the global COVID-19 pandemic shut down sporting events across Thailand and much of Asia.
With no fights and no way to earn money, he considered leaving Muay Thai altogether:
바카라During the COVID-19 pandemic, I didn바카라t have any fights for almost a year, and I had to work as an employee for the electricity company just to put food on the table.
바카라At that time, I was really down because I바카라d never had a proper job before. I바카라d been fighting my whole life. I바카라m not exactly good at climbing electric poles and installing wires, you know? It was the hardest thing in my life at that point. But I just had to force myself to do it because if I didn바카라t, we바카라d starve.바카라
Compared to prizefighting, Nakrob couldn바카라t stand holding a 바카라proper job,바카라 and this challenging time tested his resolve.
While he initially contemplated retirement, a new opportunity arose that would change the trajectory of his career and put him on the path to greatness:
바카라When COVID-19 started to ease up, I saw that Fairtex was looking for new fighters. A trainer I knew recommended I go there. I spent months thinking about it. In the end, my gut told me it wasn바카라t too late to fight again. So, I decided to go alone, not knowing anyone there. And that바카라s when I changed my fight name to 바카라Nakrob Fairtex.'바카라
Achieving Global Recognition
Joining the prestigious Fairtex Training Center, where he now sharpens his skills alongside top athletes like and , proved to be a career-saving decision for Nakrob.
The world-renowned gym바카라s connections led to a chance to compete at ONE바카라s weekly ONE Friday Fights event series at Lumpinee Stadium. Well aware of the opportunity before him, he made the most of his time:
바카라I felt super happy and honored to have the chance to compete in this event. I gave it my all in every fight because I바카라ve always believed that this promotion could change my life, and it really has.바카라
Since making his promotional debut in January 2023, Nakrob has amassed an impressive 12-2 record.
It was after his ninth appearance in the organization 바카라 a stunning first-round knockout of 바카라 that he finally earned a six-figure contract and place on ONE바카라s main roster.
For a humble athlete from the rural reaches of Thailand, it was an emotional moment:
바카라When the host announced I got the ONE contract, I almost cried. My dream as a country boy going to experience the city finally came true. I바카라ve come a long way in my life, but I바카라m not stopping here. I gotta keep pushing.바카라
