Best Muay Farang Ever in Muay Thai: Top 10
Who are the top 10 best Muay Farang ever? A select few Farang (non-Thai fighters) have risen to legendary status. These individuals left a mark in the history of Muay Thai. These fighters fully embraced the ‘Art of Eight Limbs.’
From France to Australia, Japan to England, and beyond. These figures fought against the odds in Bangkok at Rajadamnern and Lumpinee Stadium. These wins and achievements have allowed these athletes to be ranked among the top 10 best Muay Farang ever
A Nak Muay is a fighter from Thailand who competes in Muay Thai. A Muay Farang is a term for foreign fighters who compete in Muay Thai. It simply translates to “Foreign Fighter.”
Top 10 Best Muay Farang Ever
Below is a list of the top 10 best Muay Farang ever who competed in Muay Thai. These fighters came from all over the globe to compete in Thailand. The legendary stadiums of Bangkok created unforgettable moments for these 10 Best Muay Farang fighters.
10. Rafi Bohic (82-26-1)
France’s Rafi Bohic love for Muay Thai blossomed at the age of 17, a journey that started with Savate. Moving to Thailand in 2012, Rafi found his home at the Singpatong gym.
His journey to the top is marked by a string of impressive titles, including the prestigious Lumpinee Stadium Welterweight championship. His victories over top fighters like Aranchai Kiatpatarphan and Pongsiri P.K.Saenchaimuaythaigym are extra impressive. Even after being stripped of the Lumpinee Welterweight title, due to a knockout, he bounced back with a vengeance, reclaiming his title just five months later.
Rafi’s list of titles is impressive – from the WBC World Muay Thai Super Lightweight championship to the MAX Muay Thai -67kg World Champion and beyond. With his impressive achievements, he is one of the top 10 best Muay Farang ever.
9. Morad Sari (89-14-1)
The French-Algerian athlete did more than just compete, he helped define what it meant to be a non-Thai fighter in the sport. Sari is the first non-Thai to win a Lumpinee Boxing Stadium championship in 1999. Winning the Lumpinee Stadium Super Lightweight title was a historical moment for Muay Thai. In addition to this historic achievement, he also captured various world titles in ISKA. Truly a notable athlete as one of the top 10 best Muay farang in history.
8. Andrei Kulebin (73-7-2)
The German-Belarussian Andrei Kulebinn is a force to be reckoned with. His moniker, “Bullet,” encapsulates his fighting style. He began with Taekwondo at the age of eight. But it was at the age of twelve when he switched to Muay Thai that he found his true calling.
Between professional and amateur bouts he is an 18-time Muay Thai and kickboxing world champion across various weight classes from 51 kg to 67 kg. One of Kulebin’s most notable achievements was his streak at the W.M.C. I-1 World Muay Thai Grand Prix. His win at the MAX Muay Thai tournament in 2013 and his battles against renowned fighters like Saenchai showcase a fighter who never backs down from a challenge. His impressive list of wins have earned him a place as one of the top 10 best Muay farang.
7. Liam Harrison (91-25-2)
England’s “The Hitman” Liam Harrison began his career in Muay Thai at the age of 13, turning professional at only 15. Harrison established himself as the UK’s top fighter in his weight class. His transition from featherweight to light welterweight was marked by victories over both domestic and international competitors.
Despite initial setbacks in the Thai rings, Harrison demonstrated his resilience by claiming the Patong Stadium belt, the W.P.M.F. world title, and multiple world titles in WBC Muay Thai. In 2007 he earned the prestigious Muay Siam magazine’s Foreign Fighter of the Year award. With his achievements, Harrison is one of the top 10 best Muay farang ever.
“The Hitman” might be best known for his war in ONE Championship against Muangthai P.K.Saenchai. This bout is one of the best single-round fights in Muay Thai history.
6. Ronnie Green (90-8-0)
England’s “Machine Gun’ Ronnie Green is a trailblazer in Muay Thai. This talented athlete was competing in Bangkok, Thailand well before most farang, way back in the 1980s golden era.
One of the defining moments of Ronnie Green’s career was his historic victory in Thailand. In March 1983, he became the first British fighter to win a match on Thai soil, defeating Lamnak Pitiporn at the prestigious Rajadamnern Stadium. With these titles and wins he is one of the top 10 best Muay farang we’ve ever seen.
5. Dany Bill (65-11-0)
The Cameroonian-French Dany Bill is a legendary figure. At just 14 years old, in 1988, he achieved a milestone by winning the prestigious title of French Muay Thai Champion.
At the age of 20, he ventured to Thailand and defeated Den Muang Surin to claim the World Title. This historic victory took place in Bangkok during the King’s Birthday celebration. This makes him the first European fighter to earn a title in Thailand in Muay Thai. He is notable as one of the top 10 best Muay farang ever.
4. Toshio Fujiwara (126-13-2)
The iconic Toshio Fujiwara is a Japanese Muay Thai legend. Starting with table tennis, he would transition to martial arts, training in Taikiken and Mejiro Gym.
In 1971, Fujiwara made his first voyage to Thailand. In March 1978, he faced Monsawan Ruk Changmai for the vacant Rajadamnern Championship. This victory made history. Toshio Fujiwara became the first non-Thai to claim a Rajadamnern Stadium championship title. Easily making him one of the top 10 best Muay farang in history.
3. John Wayne Parr (99-36-0)
The Austrlian “Gunslinger” John Wayne Parr is a bonafide Muay Farang legend. His first steps into combat sports were with taekwondo when he was just 11 years old but it was Muay Thai that truly ignited the fire within him a few years later.
He secured titles such as the WKA World Middleweight Oriental Championship and the WKA Muay Thai World Middleweight Championship. In 1994, he showed his skilled by earning the WKA South Pacific Super Lightweight Champion. However, the crowning moment of his career was winning the 2004 S-1 Muay Thai World Middleweight Tournament. This left an indelible mark on his legacy.
During his time in Thailand, Parr’s dedication to Muay Thai went beyond the ring. He converted to Buddhism, influenced by the nation that had given him so much. As a sign of gratitude, he even spent time as a Monk, showcasing his respect for Thai traditions. A list of the top 10 best Muay Farang ever would not be complete without Parr.
2. Jean-Charles Skarbowsky (75-23-3)
France’s Jean-Charles Skarbowsky is a farang trailblazer in Muay Thai. What sets him apart was his in-depth understanding of Muay Thai mechanics which earned him respect and a distinguished reputation.
Eventually, he would move from France to Thailand. Skarbowsky’s training led him to Bangkok, where he trained full-time at the renowned Jocky Gym. Here, he rubbed shoulders with Muay Thai luminaries like Saenchai, Lerdsila, and Kaoklai.
The French striker knocked out some of the finest fighters of his era, including Lumpinee and Rajadamnern Stadium champions like Sak Kaoponlek, Khunsuk Petchsupapan, Orono Por Muang Ubon, and Chokdee Por Pramuk, among others. Skarbowsky also engaged in memorable battles against legends such as Buakaw Banchamek and John Wayne Parr.
In 2003, Skarbowsky achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first non-Thai fighter to claim the Number 1 ranking at Rajadamnern Stadium. This remarkable feat was sealed with a knockout victory over Munkong Kiatsomkuan in the 140 lbs category. He repeated this feat in 2006, securing the top spot in the Rajadamnern rankings in the 160 lbs category after another knockout win, this time against two-time Stadium champion Lamsongkram Chuwattana. Truly one of the top 10 best Muay Farang ever. He is an expert in the ‘Art of 8 Limbs.’
1. Ramon Dekkers (186-36-2)
The Dutch-born Ramon Dekkers created a legacy with a fighting style that was a fusion of power, speed, and aggression. He was a Dutch-style kickboxer who seamlessly integrated these techniques into Muay Thai.
After capturing the European Muay Thai title, mostly on a string on knockouts, the young Dekkers decided to challenge tougher opponents, at only the age of 20. His pivotal moment arrived in 1990 when he faced the three-time Lumpinee Stadium Muay Thai Champion, Namphon Nongkee Pahuyuth, in a battle for the International Muay Thai Federation Title.
This Dutch vs. Thai showdown captured the hearts of both nations. The sold-out arena in Amsterdam and millions of viewers in Thailand witnessed this clash. Against the odds, Dekkers emerged victorious, rewriting the history of Muay Thai. He is not only one of the top 10 best Muay Farang ever, he is the greatest.
As Dekkers’ career progressed, his reputation as a knockout artist grew. He earned the moniker “Turbine from Hell” due to his relentless aggression. Throughout his career, an astonishing 95 of his victories came by way of knockout.
Last Word
From Rafi Bohic’s meteoric rise in Thailand to Ramon Dekkers rewriting the history books, the top 10 best Muay Farang changed the history of Muay Thai.
