Superlek Sorn E-Sarn: The Most Feared Right Hand in Muay Thai

He was known as “The Remote Puncher”—a walk-forward knockout artist with seemingly unstoppable punches and elbows. In an era crowded with legends, Superlek Sorn E-Sarn distinguished himself with inhuman punching power, leaving elite fighters like Oley Kiatoneway, Chandet Sor Prantalay, Cherry Sor Wanich, and many others knocked out cold.

Origins (1969–1988)

Born in 1969 in Ubon Ratchathani, northeastern Thailand, Superlek entered the world of Muay Thai at a young age, fighting under the name Chor Sawat early in his career. He climbed the provincial circuit with a reputation for punch-heavy brawling.

By the mid-1980s, he was competing regularly in Bangkok, gradually earning respect at Rajadamnern and Lumpinee Stadiums.

Breakthrough (1989–1990)

At 20 years old, Superlek defeated the former two-weight Lumpinee Champion Dokmaipah Por Pongsawang by decision on the Queen’s Birthday card at Lumpinee Stadium.

The result earned him a shot at the vacant Lumpinee Super Bantamweight (122 lbs) title in October against Wangchannoi Sor Palangchai. Despite the anticipation of the “800,000 Baht Kid” facing off against “The 33-Second Fist,” the bout was stopped in the fifth round and ruled a No Contest, as the official ruled that neither fighter was fighting to the best of their ability.

His opportunity came again in November, this time against reigning champion Therdkiat Sittepitak, a laid-back muay femur known as “The King of Lumpinee.” It was a Lumpinee title fight for the Bantamweight (118 lbs) belt, but Superlek struggled to deal with Therdkiat’s middle kicks and range control tactics, leading to a points loss.

However, momentum began to shift at the start of 1990.

In January, he knocked out Krungpreenoi Muang Chaiyaphum with a single right hand in round three. He followed with a points win over the three-weight Lumpinee Champion Chanchai Sor Tamarangsri in February.

In March, he faced Jaroenthong Kiatbanchong in the main event of Suek OneSongchai at Lumpinee Stadium — a bout that split the betting crowd. Odds opened with Jaroenthong the 3-2 favourite, rising to 5-4 as punters backed his technical finesse. But Superlek’s backers, known for chasing high-return knockouts, kept the money moving.

Jaroenthong kept his distance with kicks and teeps in round one, but by round two, Superlek split his lip with a right hand. In the third, a fight-changing right hand led to two standing counts before the referee waved it off — a TKO win for Superlek.

Weeks later, Superlek and the ‘Black Shark’ Cherry Sor Wanich headlined a packed OneSongchai card at Lumpinee. Both fighters entered with momentum: Superlek fresh off a TKO win over Jaroenthong, and Cherry having just earned a decision against the aggressive knee specialist Nampon Nongkeepahuyuth.

In round two, Superlek floored Cherry with a right hand, sending the crowd into a frenzy. But the Cherry recovered, pushed forwards, and took the fight to the clinch. By round four, Cherry’s knees had worn Superlek down. Trapped and unable to defend, Superlek was counted out — an unexpected reversal in front of a packed Lumpinee crowd. The bout drew heavy betting and over 1.9 million baht at the gate, with premium seats at 1,000 baht.

Despite the demoralising way in which he lost to Cherry, Superlek regrouped and reached a new milestone in Muay Thai later that year by overcoming Wangchannoi Sor Palangchai to claim the vacant Lumpinee Stadium Super Bantamweight (122 lbs) title. Superlek was shaken by a right kick in round two but stormed back with right body kicks to earn a unanimous decision. The bout headlined a Rising Star TV7 + Songchai card, pulling over 1.9 million baht at the gate.

He followed up with a statement win over Ramon Dekkers, recovering from a first-round knockdown to outwork the ‘Diamond‘ over five rounds.

He closed out the year with a narrow points decision loss against Cherry in October, then settling the score on in November with a stunning fifth-round knockout, avenging both prior defeats to Cherry that year.

By the end of 1990, Superlek had captured a Lumpinee title, stopped multiple top names, and was building a reputation for having the most dangerous right hand in Muay Thai.

Featherweight Wars (1991–1993)

The early 1990s saw Superlek continuing to compete consistently against Thailand’s best. In March, he staged an unforgettable comeback against Nampon Nongkeepahuyuth, in a fight dubbed by Thai press as a miracle — “Bak Paed Saen creates a miracle.” After three rounds of absorbing heavy kicks and knees, and trailing on all cards, he turned it around in round four with two clean right hands that earned back-to-back standing counts. The shift swayed the judges, handing Superlek a decision win.

In May, he faced Petchdam Sor Bodin in a high-stakes bout that carried a 1 million baht side bet — one of the largest of the year. Superlek started strong, landing clean kicks and punches in the early rounds and taking the edge on scorecards. But by the midway point, his pace slowed. Petchdam capitalised, using his tall frame and suffocating clinch game to dominate the later rounds with knees and low kicks. After five rounds, the decision went to Petchdam, who walked away with both the win and the seven-figure payout.

He bounced back in September, stopping Samingnoi Kiattikachai in round three after scoring a knockdown in the second.

He opened 1992 with a tough loss to Rittichai Lookjaomaesaithong at Rayong Stadium in February. Dropped early by a low kick, he never fully recovered and lost on points — a sharp reminder of the brutal depth of talent in early ’90s Muay Thai.

In a violent return to form, Superlek crushed Prabphairi Sitprapom with a first-round knockout at Lumpinee in March. A month later, he outpointed Coban Lookchaomaesaitong — nicknamed ‘The Mor Lam Puncher’ for his Isaan roots and heavy hands — in a punishing slugfest that marked the start of one of the most dominant runs of Superlek’s career.

He went on to fight nine times that year, winning seven — six by stoppage. He knocked out Oley Kiatoneway (R3), Nampon (R4), Chandet Sor Prantalay (R3), and Cherry (R3) before closing the year with a brutal elbow war against Nuathoranee Tongraja, winning by TKO in round four.

Superlek was more than just a puncher—his elbows were short and quick, and proved lethal when paired with his aggression and toughness.

1993 was a volatile year for Superlek. He opened with a draw against Boonlai Sor Thanikul, followed by a brutal KO of Neungsiam Kiatvichian.

His Lumpinee featherweight challenge ended in dejection in April when the ‘Wooden Man‘ Jongsanan Fairtex chopped him down with low kicks, and Oley soon followed with a decisive points win, outclassing him with his usual trickery.

Superlek closed out 1993 with yet another war against Den Muangsurin on December 25th at Lumpinee Stadium. Both men hit the canvas in a wild opening round, and what followed was a back-and-forth exchange with Superlek remaining the most composed out of the two aggressors. In the final rounds, Superlek’s right kicks landed cleaner and more frequently, edging him ahead on the scorecards in a brutal Saturday Songchai main event.

Fading Force (1994–1998)

Superlek brought his winning form into 1994, once again beating Jaroenthong Kiatbanchong on points at Lumpinee Stadium in January, followed by wins over Rittichai Lookchaomaesaitong and Taweechai Wor Preecha.

In April, he stopped Cherry with a round 3 KO, landing a flurry of hard punches as Cherry, dazed but still pressing forward, walked straight into the finish.

He also scored stoppages over Chandet and Wanlop Sor Thepthong — the latter being a first-round KO. But the decline was becoming clear. He later lost decisions to Rainbow Sor Prantalay, Chodchoy Shuchokchai, and Den Muangsurin.

However, he remained dangerous despite fading consistency. He stopped Jaroenwit in 1995, outpointed Manu N’toh on the 1997 King’s Birthday card, and closed with a KO over a young Wayne Parr in 1998. While these opponents weren’t of the same calibre as the elite names he’d faced regularly at Lumpinee, they still fell to a right hand that remained dangerous to the end.

Final Years (1996–2013)

After retiring in the late 1990s, Superlek transitioned to running a car dealership in Khon Kaen, while also establishing a stone-crushing plant and managing a fleet of trucks in his hometown. His son, Padsaenlek Sor Sumalee (AKA Padsaenlek Rachanon), followed in his footsteps as a fighter under Vichairachanon Khadpo’s stable.

Unfortunately, Superlek’s health deteriorated in the 2010s due to alcoholism, and he passed away from liver failure and sepsis in April 2013 at the age of 44.

He remains remembered as one of the most dangerous punchers of the golden era of Muay Thai.