Knockout CP Freshmart

Thammanoon Niyomtrong (ธรรมนูญ นิยมตรง, born 20 September 1990), known by his ring name Knockout CP Freshmart, is a Thai professional boxer and former Muay Thai fighter who has held the World Boxing Association (WBA) (Super version) mini-flyweight title since 2016.

As of July 2022, Knockout is ranked the #1 strawweight boxer in the world by TBRB, The Ring and ESPN, while BoxRec ranks him as the #2 strawweight in the world.

Under the ring name "Newlukrak Pagonponsurin" (นิวลูกรัก ปกรณ์พรสุรินทร์) or "Newlukrak Sor Kattika" (นิวลูกรัก ส.กัตติกา), he won titles at Rajadamnern Stadium and Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in the 105 lbs division.

Niyomtrong trains at Excindicongbingbangongym in Bangkok.

He's also an amateur boxing Thai national champion.

Sponsored by Thai convenience store chain CP Freshmart (a network of Charoen Pokphand), he won the vacant WBC Youth World mini-flyweight title in his professional debut on June 22, 2012, defeating Marzon Cabilla by a sixth-round technical decision.

He successfully made seven consecutive defenses before vacating the minor title.

Knockout then defeated Carlos Buitrago by unanimous decision (115-113, 115–113, 115–113) to win the vacant WBA mini-flyweight interim title on October 1, 2014.

Knockout's first defense came against 44-year-old former two-time world champion Muhammad Rachman.

He won the fight via a wide unanimous decision (119-111, 117–112, 119–109).

Knockout scored a knockout for the first time since claiming the interim world title in July 2015, against Alexis Díaz.

Knockout dropped Diaz twice before the referee waved off the fight, giving Knockout a technical knockout win.

In April 2016, Knockout went on to rematch Buitrago, winning a wider unanimous decision (119-109, 117–111, 117–111) to defend his title.

The WBA then ordered a match-up between interim champion Knockout CP Freshmart and their full champion Byron Rojas in April 2016.

Rojas was previously the WBA (Regular) champion and had defeated WBA (Super) champion Hekkie Budler to win the full title.

The fight took place on June 29 in Khon Kaen.

The fight was widely considered boring, as Knockout clinched through most of the fight to no warning from the referee.

Nevertheless, he won the fight by unanimous decision (115-113, 115–113, 115–113) to become a world champion.

Knockout was scheduled to make the first defense of his WBA strawweight title against the former OPBF champion Shin Ono on December 14, 2016.

Ono was the #14 ranked WBA strawweight contender at the time.

Knockout required a few rounds to adjust to the longer southpaw boxing approach of Ono, but began to take the fight over from the fifth round onward.

He won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 118–109, 117–111, and 118–110.

Knockout was scheduled to make his second title defense against the two-time world title challenger Go Odaira on March 1, 2017.

Knockout won the fight by a fifth-round knockout, his first stoppage victory in nearly two years.

He dropped Odaira with a left uppercut and right straight combination just before the one minute mark, with Odaira being counted out at the 1:07 minute mark.

Knockout scored the first knockdown with a right straight in the fourth round.

On April 17, 2017, the WBA ordered Knockout to face the mandatory title challenger Rey Loreto, giving the two parties 30 days to negotiate the terms of the bout.

Knockout was obligated to make a mandatory title defense by March 28, 2017, and was as such a month overdue.

The fight was scheduled for July 15, 2017.

Loreto appeared to edge the first four rounds, successfully controlling the range and causing his opponent's eye to begin swelling shut.

Knockout began to take over the fight from the mid-rounds onward and won by unanimous decision, with scores of 117–110, 117-110 and 115–113.

Knockout was scheduled to make the fourth defense of his title against Toto Landero on March 6, 2018, with Knockout coming into the fight as a significant favorite.

Knockout controlled the majority of the bout, although Landero was able to momentarily stagger him in the fourth round and opened a cut by his left eye in the fifth round.

Knockout won the fight by unanimous decision, with scores of 117–111, 115-113 and 119–110.

Knockout made the fifth defense of his WBA title against the former WBC mini-flyweight champion Xiong Chaozhong on July 27, 2018.

The bout was contested in the Guosen Gymnasium in Qingdao, China, which was the first time that Knockout fought outside of Thailand in his professional boxing career.

Knockout won the fight by a wide unanimous decision, with scores of 118–110, 118-110 and 116–112.

Knockout was scheduled to fight a rematch with the former WBA mini-flyweight titlist Byron Rojas in his sixth title defense, on November 29, 2018.

Knockout beat Rojas for the second time by unanimous decision, with scores of 115–113, 117-111 and 116–112.

Both fighters were warned numerous times for hugging, holding, throwing low blows and leading with the head.