Changpuek Kiatsongrit: Low Kick Legend | Biography & Fights
Changpuek Kiatsongrit introduced Muay Thai to the world in the 1980s and 1990s, showcasing its power by taking on larger foreign opponents, often under modified rules that challenged the art’s adaptability.
A seven-time world champion, he defeated fighters like Raktae Muangsurin, Krongsak Prakong Boranrat, and Rob Kaman. His 1988 win over Rick Roufus shattered perceptions of American kickboxing’s effectiveness and became a milestone in combat sports history.
| Name: | Changpuek Kiatsongrit |
| Thai Name: | สมชาย รอบแคว้น |
| Birth Name: | Somchai Ropkwaen |
| Date of Birth: | October 13, 1966 |
| Nickname: | White Elephant |
| Height: | 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) |
| Weight Class: | Middleweight, Light Heavyweight, Cruiserweight, Heavyweight |
| Occupation: | Muay Thai trainer |
| Stance: | Southpaw |
Beginnings in Muay Thai
Changpuek Kiatsongrit was born in Buriram, a rural province in northeastern Thailand. Growing up in a family of seven, he trained with his brothers under their father’s guidance. At 14, he had his first fight at a local festival, inspired by village fighters.
At 18, he moved to Bangkok to join Kiatsongrit Gym, debuting at Rajadamnern Stadium at 108 lbs (49 kg).
As he progressed, he defeated some of Thailand’s top fighters, though many were in the twilight of their careers.
In 1987, Changpuek fought Rajadamnern Champion Payap Premchai in a handicapped bout, where Payap’s kicks were banned. A fourth-round violation led to Payap’s disqualification, setting up a rematch the following year under full Muay Thai rules.
Changpuek disposed of Payap with a first-round low kick knockout.
Later that year, Changpuek faced Raktae Muangsurin, a former Rajadamnern Stadium Lightweight Champion known for his powerful right hand. Raktae had knocked out Changpuek the previous year at Rangsit Stadium, but this time, Changpuek avenged the loss with a decision victory in their rematch.
Following his win over Raktae, Changpuek defeated “The Professor” Krongsak Prakong Boranrat in Ubon Ratchathani but lost their Bangkok rematch, Krongsak’s final fight against a Thai before moving to Europe. These early bouts against elite opponents honed Changpuek’s tactical skills and physical resilience, preparing him for the international stage.
Breaking onto the International Stage
By his early-20s, Changpuek faced limited opportunities in Thailand, where most fighters competed in lower weight classes. At 70 kg (154 lbs), he turned to the international circuit, where his size and skillset made him a unique representative of Muay Thai.
In 1988, he faced American kickboxing champion Rick Roufus in Las Vegas under a blended ruleset designed to test which martial art was superior. The rules allowed low kicks, a signature Muay Thai weapon, but banned clinching, elbows, and knees.
At 22, Changpuek was relatively unknown outside of Thailand when he faced Rick Roufus, a 23-year-old American kickboxing star with an undefeated 28-0 record.
Early in the fight, Roufus dropped Changpuek with a quick left hand, breaking his jaw. Changpuek answered the eight count and, despite shaky legs, unleashed low kicks from hell that completely turned the fight in his favour. Roufus, unprepared for their impact, was unable to continue, resulting in a third-round TKO.
The shocking defeat left Roufus demoralised. Fighting in front of an American home crowd, he was rushed to hospital with battered legs. For Changpuek, it was a triumphant display of Muay Thai’s power and a global introduction to the sport.
Legendary Rivalries
Rob Kaman (Netherlands)
Changpuek’s rivalry with Dutch kickboxing icon Rob Kaman, “Mr. Low Kick,” became one of the most notable in Muay Thai history. Renowned for his crippling leg attacks and lethal right hand, Kaman was a seasoned 29-year-old fighter who had faced many elite Thai and foreign opponents.
The rivalry began in December 1989 in Paris, where Changpuek secured a decision victory. He repeatedly landed left middle kicks to Kaman’s arms and ribs, and although Kaman adapted with cut kicks in the later rounds, it wasn’t enough to sway the judges.
In February 1990, their second fight at the Holland vs Thailand event in Amsterdam ended abruptly in the fifth round as both fighters connected with left hooks simultaneously. Kaman remained standing while Changpuek was counted out, securing Kaman the vacant I.M.T.F. Light Heavyweight World Title (-79 kg) before his home crowd.
The two faced off again on April 24th, 1990, at the Holland Goes to Thailand event at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok.
Changpuek avenged his earlier loss with a decision win, reclaiming the I.M.T.F. Light Heavyweight World Title.
Their final encounter came in December 1993 at the K-2 Grand Prix Quarter-final in Japan where Changpuek won a unanimous decision victory, bringing their rivalry to a decisive conclusion with a 3-1 record in his favour.
Stéphane Nikiéma (France)
Changpuek’s rivalry with Stéphane Nikiéma, a 187 cm muay khao specialist from France, spanned three fights. Their first meeting in Bangkok in 1992 saw Changpuek win by fourth-round low kick KO, a feat he repeated at the 1993 King’s Birthday event in Thailand, knocking out Nikiéma in front of the Thai King.
The trilogy concluded in 1997 at a Muaythai Gala in Paris. This time, Nikiéma avenged his earlier defeats, securing a third-round knockout win via punches, marking a moment of redemption for the Frenchman.
Fighting Characteristics
Changpuek’s style was built around his heavy hands and low kicks. In the 1990s and early 2000s, many Western fighters lacked experience with low kicks due to their styles’ rulesets, a weakness Changpuek exploited masterfully. Fighters like “The Lumberjack” Somsong Kiathoranee demonstrated a similar style and strategy, using his freakishly powerful low kicks to break down opponents like Stéphane Nikiéma, Joe Prestia, and David Humphreys.
Though many foreigners were unprepared for his kicks, Changpuek’s wins in Thailand showed his skill extended far beyond that advantage.
While fighters like Buakaw Banchamek later refined a more technical and defensively sound style, Changpuek’s raw, aggressive approach laid the groundwork for Thai fighters on the global stage. Successors like Kaoklai Kaennorsing, with his raw aggression, and Kaew Weerasakreck, with a more technical yet equally aggressive style, followed in his footsteps under modified rules.
Later Career and Legacy
From 1994 onward, Changpuek’s career took a challenging turn. While he remained a dangerous fighter—securing wins in K-1 events, he also became more vulnerable to knockouts. High-profile defeats to Ernesto Hoost, Ivan Hippolyte, Andy Hug, and Branko Cikatić reflected the toll of over 300 fights and the elite calibre of his opposition.
Despite accumulating losses later in his career, Changpuek’s fearless approach and willingness to face larger opponents defined his legacy.
