Samorn Kwamsawat (Thai: สมร ความสวัสดิ์; born March 20, 1971), known professionally as Nungubon Sitlerchai (Thai: หนึ่งอุบล ศิษย์เลิศชัย), is a Thai former professional Muay Thai fighter and boxer. He is a former four-division Lumpinee Stadium champion who was famous in the 1990s and 2000s.
Notably, nine years after winning his first title, he'd defeat the rising star Saenchai for his fourth and final title.
Kwamsawat was born on March 20, 1971 in Ubon Ratchathani province. He first discovered Muay Thai by watching fights on television and later started training with the encouragement of his older brother. His initial training began at age 7 in his home. At 16-years-old he joined the Por.Muangubon-Sitlerchai gym located in his local province. He would then begin training under the gym's owner, Kru Pot Wongmuangchan, and became a teammate of award-winning champion Orono Por.Muangubon. He had numerous fights in the Isaan region at 42 kg/92.6 lbs.[1] He would adopt the ring name of Nungubon Sitlerchai.
His ring name "Nungubon" translates to "#1 of Ubon." There are also alternate ways to anglicize Nungubon's ring name such as Neung Ubon Sit Lertchai, Nung-Ubon, Neungubon, etc.
Nungubon was an orthodoxMuay Femur fighter (rope-a-dope stylist in Muay Thai) who was skilled with punches and kicks from both legs. Nungubon was born with his left leg longer than his right, resulting in the Thai media nicknaming him Tuan Pae (translates to "The Limp" or "The Lame"). Despite this physical abnormality, Nungubon would become an accomplished fighter from 1990 to 1999. In fact, Nungubon's favorite technique was his lead left kick to the body[1] which he often used to interrupt his opponents' aggression and would sometimes cause them to get redirected, allowing Nungubon to circle away from his opponents. Another one of Nungubon's signature techniques which can repeatedly be seen in his fights is his powerful right cross which he would use to KO Wangchannoi Sor.Palangchai and to knockdown "The Batman" Samkor Kiatmonthep or Kaensak Sor.Ploenchit.
2 years after joining the Por.Muangubon gym, he would make his Bangkok debut at 18-years-old. He would begin fighting for the Onesongchai promotion, considered the best fight promotion of the golden era of Muay Thai.[1][2] The victories on Nungubon's fight record is filled with championship and award-winning fighters. In particular, he has victories from 8 different Sports Writer's Association Fighter of the Year award winners: Langsuan Panyuthaphum (KO), Kaensak Sor.Ploenchit, Jaroensap Kiatbanchong, Wangchannoi Sor.Palangchai (KO), and others. For context, the Sports Writer's Association Fighter of the Year award is considered in Thailand to be the most prestigious title a Muay Thai fighter can win.[3]
Nungubon's prime lasted from 1990 and 1996, during which he would earn 3 Lumpinee titles in 3 weight classes against elite fighters such as Kompayak Singmanee or Langsuan Panyuthaphum. His 4th and most notable title capture was when Nungubon was past his prime, being visibly slower and less agile as he was matched up against Saenchai in 1999. During this time, Saenchai had entered the peak of his career by winning the highly prestigious Fighter of the Year award and losing no other fight that in 1999 except his first title fight against Nungubon. Nungubon stated that his favorite memory from his career was winning the Lumpinee mini flyweight title (105 lbs/47.6 kg) against Kompayak Singmanee in 1990. Nungubon has stated that the most difficult opponent he ever faced was "The Top Master" Karuhat Sor.Supawan.[1]
While Nungubon excelled in kicking as can be seen in his fights, he also excelled in punching. He took advantage of his boxing skills to earn 15 victories out of 16 fights in boxing matches held by the Pan Asian Boxing Association. He earned the PABA bantamweight title (118 lbs/53.5 kg) and defended it twice.[1]
Nungubon's Muay Thai career within Thailand was unusually long, as most fighters from his generation (fighters that rose to prominence in early 1990s or late 1980s) such as Karuhat Sor.Supawan or Kaensak Sor.Ploenchit had stopped taking matchups from top Thai competition before the 2000s. Nungubon would continue to challenge elite fighters including the Sitjaopho twins, Fahsuchon Sit-O, and Anuwat Kaewsamrit between 2000-2003. The highest fight purse Nungubon received was 180,000 baht,[1] which is 180% the usual pay of yodmuay (top fighters).[4]
After his fighting career Nungubon opened his own gym named Sit Nungubon in his native province of Ubon Ratchathani. The gym is one of two camps within the same building, the other camp being the Santi Ubon gym which also accepts fighters from the Sit Nungubon gym.[5]
