Vicharnnoi Porntawee

Chucheep Iam-erb (ชูชีพ เอี่ยมเอิบ; January 25, 1948 – January 31, 2022), later known as Vicharnnoi Porntawee (วิชาญน้อย พรทวี) was a Thai Muay Thai kickboxer who was active from 1961 to 1981.

After becoming a dominant figure in the 112 lbs to 130 lbs weight classes, he ran out of opponents and had to fight heavier opponents and was still successful.

Vicharnnoi is remembered for being an fighting at the top competitive level of Muay Thai for an unusually long period of time, resulting in the nick name "The Eternal Yodmuay." He is repeatedly heralded by renowned Muay Thai practitioners as one of the greatest athletes in the history of the sport with the likes of Samart Payakaroon or Dieselnoi Chor.Thanasukarn.

There are different ways to anglicize Vicharnnoi's name such as Wichannoi Porntawee, Vicharnnoi Phonthawee, Vichannoi Phontawi, etc.

Chucheep Iam-erb was born in January 25, 1948 in Pathum Thani province, Thailand.

The victories Vicharnnoi earned against the most significant fighters of the 1960s to 1970s is extensive and covered in names that are still respected decades later such as Dieselnoi Chor.Thanasukarn, Saensak Muangsurin, Pudpadnoi Worawut, Nongkhai Sor.Prapatsorn, etc. In 1973, Vicharnnoi's dominance reached a point where he ran out of opponents, thus he began fighting up to 20 lbs above his actual weight class of junior lightweight (130 lbs).

He would defeat the 139-pound Huasai Sithiboonlert (KO), the 150-pound Somsak Sor.Thewasoonthon (KO), and the 135-pound Wichit Lukbangplasoi among other heavier fighters.

Vicharnnoi's level of fame at this time would cause the venues he fought at to reach full capacity, filled with spectators who came specifically for him.

After moving to Nonthaburi province, he started his Muay Thai training in 1961 under the tutelage of Chaliew Tinmora who was the owner of the Srimuangnon gym.

Vicharnnoi's brothers Cherdsak and Direk were also fighting out of the camp.

He then adopted the ring name of "Vicharnnoi Luktalatkwan" and fought 10 times until he was considered a rising star and the bettor's favorite in Nonthaburi.

After changing his ring name to "Vicharnnoi Srimuangnon," he would travel throughout Thailand for several years to fight for various awards.

During his travels, the Srimuangnon gym disbanded and Vicharnnoi would catch the attention of Boonyiam Sophon who was opening the Porntawee gym in Buriram province.

Although the large Porntawee gym was populated mostly by top fighters from its local province, the first fighter to make the gym famous was the Nonthaburi-based Vicharnnoi who was also the gym's first fighter.

In his teenage years Vicharnnoi was considered the best up-and-coming fighter in the Thai circuit and would become famous under the tutelage of Sophon.

With the help of assistant promoter Sei Lithavornchai AKA Kong Sei, Sophon would have the Porntawee fighters primarily get matchups in the Rajadamnern Stadium which was the most prestigious fighting venue during Vicharnnoi's rise to fame as the top Muay Thai promoters of Thailand focused their efforts there.

The Porntawee fighters would also be frequently sent to the Lumpinee Stadium which would later become as prestigious as Rajadamnern.

Vicharnnoi was an unusual and extremely technical orthodox Muay Maat fighter meaning that he was a high fight IQ pressure fighter who focused on punches as well as low kicks.

He studied his opponents and also had the movement and rhythm of skilled rope-a-dope Muay Femur fighters on top of his aggressive fighting style, allowing him to be well-rounded and adaptable.

He exercised active footwork as he pushed forward or moved backward, allowing him to be light on his feet like a boxer and easily throw punches as he quickly traversed in and out striking range.

His footwork allowed him to quickly put power behind some of his punches such as in his KO win against the taller and heavier Huasai Sitiboonlert.

Vicharnnoi excelled at using fast, non-committal attacks such as lead low kicks and jabs to the head and body to control his opponent and manage distance like a Muay Femur.

Vicharnnoi would use a lead side teep thrown to the opponent's hip which he would use to cancel kicks from southpaw fighters, a tactic that would later be used by Samart Payakaroon.

Vicharnnoi would use these controlling tactics in a seamless combination with his aggressive punches and strong low kicks.

It is rare for a Muay Thai fighter to use long punching combinations, but Vicharnnoi excelled at it as well as using a wide array of punches to immediately counter his opponents.

He used active footwork to control when pocket exchanges would occur as well as being able to pivot away from his opponents, a tactic that he would use to dodge Dieselnoi's knees in their first fight.

Vicharnnoi also used head movement to dodge punches alongside his angling footwork to create openings for body kicks or punches.

Vicharnnoi's slightly crouched stance that allowed him to quickly move in and out was not conducive to being able to quickly raise a leg in order to check kicks, but willingly taking hits to get inside is something that Vicharnnoi embraced as a Muay Maat fighter.

Vichannoi would take advantage of his adaptable and unique Muay Maat style to become extremely successful from flyweight (112 lbs) to junior lightweight (130 lbs).

He would win both the Lumpinee and Rajadamnern stadium flyweight titles and defended them both, becoming one of the few fighters who held titles from both stadiums simultaneously at the same weight class.

He only lost these titles because he had to move up in weight.

His manager Boonyiam Sophon worked to match him up against most of the top fighters at every weight class that he fought in, casuing Vicharnnoi to become famous in Thailand.

Vicharnnoi earned the Rajadamnern junior lightweight title against Saifah Saenmorakot and defended it 4 times, resulting in the Thai media labeling him as Jonghang Huangkai ("King Cobra Who Guards His Eggs") in reference to his belts.

Vicharnnoi was praised for his ability to remain successful in the highest competitive level of Muay Thai for an unusually long time as he would fight into his 30s, an age where most Thais would have already retired from the sport.

As a result, the Thai media nicknamed him Tao Sarapatpit ("The Venomous Old Man").

In 1975 Vicharnnoi faced Poot Lorlek to determine who would win the most prestigious award in the history of Muay Thai: The Sports Writers Association Fighter of the Year.

This fight became the first in Muay Thai history to reach a gate of 1 million baht.

Poot won the fight and earned the award; in addition both fighters received the Fight of the Year award.

In 1977 Vicharnnoi himself would win Fighter of the Year.

Around the same time, Vicharnnoi would be awarded 10 baht of gold (worth 348,500 baht in December 2023) by the Rajadamnern Stadium for his performances.