Kaoklai Kaennorsing

Kaoklai Kaennorsing (ก้าวไกล แก่นนรสิงห์; born September 13, 1983) is a former Thai light heavyweight Muay Thai fighter.

On March 31, 2001, Kaoklai fought against Kozo Takeda in Japan.

Takeda just won the title of Rajadamnern Stadium at welterweight on January 21.

Kaoklai knocked down Takeda with right middle kick to his temple at 1R, but he started getting damaged with right low kicks.

Takeda knocked down Kaoklai with right low kick during 3R, and Kaoklai lost by the unanimous decision at 5R.

In September 2002, at the age of 19, Kaoklai fought against Charnvit Kiat T.B.Ubol for the vacant title of Rajadamnern Stadium championship at welterweight.

Kaoklai won by decision at 5R, and he won one of the most prestigious belts in Muay Thai.

Although Kaokalai defeat Charnvit before, he failed to defend his title from the same fighter in 2002, and he lost his first title.

On December 13, he participated the championship against Chalermsak Chuwatthana for the vacant title of Rajadamnern Stadium at Super welterweight.

He won by the unanimous decision, and succeeded to win the titles at two different weight division.

On October 20, 2002, Kaoklai fought against Toshio Matsumoto in Japan, but he lost by the unanimous decision at 5R.

After this bout, the Thai promoter protested and asserted that the judges did not consider Kaoklai's technics of neck wrestling, clinching and knee strikes.

In result, this bout was decided as no contest and Shinichi Ihara, the president of SNKA, announced that SNKA is going to promote rematch in Thailand.

Later, the rematch was canceled, and it was promoted next year in Japan.

In 2003, Kaoklai fought against Yokkao Borchorror2 to defend his title, but he lost by unanimous decision, and lost his title again.

On March 30, 2003, Kaoklai fought against Lamsongkram Sauna-Harnjawe currently known as Lamsongkram Chuwattana.

He won by TKO.

On October 12, Kaoklai had a rematch against Toshio Matsumoto in Japan.

During 1R, he knocked down Matsumoto with right cross, but he was knocked out with punches at 2R

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Kaennorsing is the K-1 World Grand Prix 2004 in Seoul tournament winner, former two-division Rajadamnern Stadium champion, and former WBC Muay Thai Light Heavyweight Champion.

At the time of his K-1 debut, on July 17, 2004 in Seoul, Kaoklai weighted 78 kg, the lightest and youngest fighter ever to win a K-1 Openweight tournament.

His name Kaoklai means in Thai "to have a good future".

Kaoklai is currently an instructor of Muay Thai at Evolve MMA in Singapore.

Kaoklai Kaennorsing was born as Athit DamKam in the heart of Northeastern Thailand, in the city of Khon Kaen.

He became a student of Jockey Gym and he started training Muay Thai at the young age of eight.

He had his first fight a year later which he lost by points decision.

After graduation of junior high school for 3 years, he devoted himself to train Muay Thai.

Kaoklai made his K-1 debut on July 17, 2004 at the Asian qualification Grand Prix, held in Seoul, Korea.

He started the night with a quick right punch knockout win over Denis Kang in the quarterfinals.

In the semis, he met Tsuyoshi Nakasako from Japan and earned a unanimous decision victory, sending him to the finals against Shingo Koyasu.

Kaoklai won the evenly fought battle in the extra round, collected 60 million ₩ and advanced to K-1 World GP 2004 Final Elimination, held in Nippon Budokan Arena, Tokyo, Japan.

His opponent at the Final Elimination was Belarusian kickboxer Alexey Ignashov.

Having to overcome 80 lb weight and 8 in height disadvantage Kaoklai's quick, hit-and-run strategy started to paying off at the end of second round.

Ignashov was issued two yellow cards for inactiveness throughout the fight, and the judges scored the fight after one extra round by a split decision in Kaoklai's favor.

Kaoklai is being called "Matrix defense" because his defense skills looked like Neo from the movie of The Matrix.

On December 4, 2004, Kaoklai was the youngest and the lightest fighter ever to compete in the 12th annual K-1 World GP Championships, held in Tokyo Dome, Japan.

His opponent, American slugger Mighty Mo, the winner of Las Vegas GP, was the heaviest at 280 lb. Kaoklai started the fight cautiously circling the American, tossing in hard low kicks.

At the end of the first round Kaoklai landed a lightning-quick jumping right high kick which connected flush to the head of Mo sending him unconscious to the canvas.

This KO win over MO would not only send Kaoklai to the semifinals but earn him the nickname "Giant Killer".