Amnat Ruenroeng


Amnat Ruenroeng is a Thai professional boxer who held the IBF flyweight title from 2014 to 2016.

Early life

Ruenroeng was born without knowing who his parents were, when he was first born he didn't even have a birth certificate because the officer refused to register him due to not being sure he was Thai. He grew up in his grandmother's care in poverty and had to fight at the age of seven, starting in Muay Thai named "Petch Por Burapha" and "Petch Tor Bang Saen" and won Lumpinee Stadium champion Flyweight division.

Amateur career

Ruenroeng began boxing while serving a fifteen year prison sentence for robbery. In 2007, he won a Thai national title in the Light Flyweight division, and was released from prison for good behaviour the following day having served one year. He won a bronze medal as a junior flyweight at the 2007 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Chicago. He had lost in the semi-final to Philippines southpaw Harry Tanamor.
Ruenroeng took the gold medal at the King’s Cup in Bangkok in 2008 after defeating Kazuto Ioka in the semifinal. He subsequently qualified to represent Thailand at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

Professional career

Ruenroeng made his professional debut in 2012. On 22 January 2014, he won the vacant IBF Flyweight title by defeating Rocky Fuentes. In his first defense, he traveled to Japan and earned a split decision over undefeated two-division champion Kazuto Ioka, who was making his flyweight debut. In his following fight, he defeated Puerto Rican challenger McWilliams Arroyo by split decision. On March 7, 2015, he earned a unanimous decision over undefeated two-time Olympic gold medalist Zou Shiming.
Ruenrong vs Casimero
IBF flyweight titleholder Amnat Ruenroeng retained his belt with a 12-round decision win over Filipino boxer Johnriel Casimero at the Hua Mark Indoor Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Saturday, June 27.
Ruenroeng was credited with two knockdowns against Casimero, beginning with a counter right in Round 2 that caught the 25-year-old from Ormoc City lunging in. A second knockdown was called in Round 7 when Casimero was pushed into the ropes by Ruenroeng following a glancing right hand.
Casimero appeared to knock Ruenroeng down in Round 3 when a counter left hook caused his glove to touch the canvas, but referee Larry Doggett ruled it a slip.
The fight was marred by excessive clinching and over a dozen throwdowns by Ruenroeng. Doggett issued five warnings before finally taking a point from Ruenroeng in Round 11.
“Amnat made the strategy how to win easy. It was not a dirty fight,” said Ruenroeng’s trainer, Aljoe Jaro, who claims Casimero had hit Ruenroeng in the leg during the fight.
“About the throwing down, that’s not an issue. Casimero was also playing dirty. Amnat was doing his job as a boxer how to win.”
The roughhouse tactics detracted from an otherwise crafty, resourceful performance from the Thai incumbent champion, whose jab disrupted the rhythm of Casimero, who held the IBF junior flyweight title for two years before being stripped last year for failing to make weight for his fight with Mauricio Fuentes.
Casimero was the aggressor for the final 3 rounds, desperately trying to score a knockout to erase the deficit he found himself in.
Ruenroeng, 35, has now defended his belt four times successfully since winning it in January 2014 with a victory over Filipino contender Rocky Fuentes.
Ruenrong vs Casimero II
On May 25, 2016, in Diamond Court of the National Tennis Center, Beijing China, Ruenroeng fought Casimero again in a rematch for the IBF flyweight title and loss via knockout with a vicious body shot in the 4th round, ending Ruenroeng's undefeated streak.

After world champion

After losing the world championship, he did not retire. Instead, he continued to fight, returning to his roots as an amateur. Going up to the Lightweight division, he participated in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. He won his opening bout before losing in the round of 16 against Sofiane Oumiha, a younger fighter representing France. Oumiha eventually earned the silver medal, and went on to win gold at the world championships in 2017.
After the Olympics, Ruenroeng returned to Muay Thai. On April 21, 2018, he competed again as a professional. He was knocked out in 5th round by a younger fighter, his fellow-countryman Nawaphon Por Chokchai.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
24Loss20–4 Srisaket Sor RungvisaiUD101 Aug 2020 Workpoint Studio, Pathum Thani, Thailand
23Win20–3 Brian LobetaniaUD623 Mar 2019 Workpoint Studio, Pathum Thani, Thailand
22Win19–3 Petchbarngborn KokietgymUD68 Feb 2019 Yingcharoen Market, Bangkok, Thailand
21Loss18–3 Nawaphon KaikanhaTKO5 21 Apr 2018 Workpoint Studio, Pathum Thani, ThailandFor WBC–ABCO Continental super-flyweight title
20Loss18–2 Wenfeng GeUD1221 Nov 2017 Sports Center, Suzhou, ChinaFor vacant WBO Oriental super-flyweight title
19Win18–1 Petchthongchai SingmanassakTKO3 26 Aug 2017 Khao Bang Krak Gym, Uthai Thani, Thailand
18Loss17–1 Johnriel Casimero4, 2:1025 May 2016 Diamond Court, Beijing, ChinaLost IBF flyweight title
17Win17–0 Myung Ho LeeUD127 Dec 2015 Centential Club, Hua Hin, ThailandRetained IBF flyweight title
16Win16–0 Johnriel CasimeroUD1227 Jun 2015 Indoor Stadium Huamark, Bangkok, ThailandRetained IBF flyweight title
15Win15–0 Zou ShimingUD128 Mar 2015 The Venetian Macao, Macau, SARRetained IBF flyweight title
14Win14–0 McWilliams ArroyoSD1210 Sep 2014 Liptapanlop Hall, Nakhon Ratchasima, ThailandRetained IBF flyweight title
13Win13–0 Kazuto Ioka127 May 2014 Bodymaker Colosseum, Osaka, JapanRetained IBF flyweight title
12Win12–0 Rocky FuentesUD1222 Jan 2014 Liptapanlop Hall, Nakhon Ratchasima, ThailandWon vacant IBF flyweight title
11Win11–0 Takuro HabuTKO4, 1:3716 Aug 2013 Viphavade, Surat Thani, ThailandRetained IBF Asia flyweight title
10Win10–0 Ricky ManufoeTKO4 21 Jun 2013 University, Bangkok, ThailandRetained IBF Asia flyweight title
9Win9–0 Julius AlcosUD1219 Apr 2013 Trairatanakon Temple School, Chaiya, ThailandWon vacant IBF Pan Pacific flyweight title
8Win8–0 Michael RodriguezUD1215 Feb 2013 Wat Promthamnimit, Chom Bueng, ThailandWon vacant IBF Asia flyweight title
7Win7–0 Geboi MansalayaoTKO7 26 Dec 2012 Rajapark Institute, Bangkok, Thailand
6Win6–0 Danilo Pena616 Nov 2012 Pang Mu School, Maehongson, Thailand
5Win5–0 Wilber Andogan6 19 Oct 2012 Ladprao, Bangkok, Thailand
4Win4–0 Safwan LombokTKO5 17 Aug 2012 City Sports Centre, Trat, Thailand
3Win3–0 Lowie BantiguePTS620 Jul 2012 Baan Khao Hom School, Chantaburi, Thailand
2Win2–0 Jemmy Gobel627 Jun 2012 Taweethapisek School, Bangkok, Thailand
1Win1–0 Rino Ukru4, 0:3018 May 2012 City Hall Ground, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand

Muay Thai and Kickboxing record