Thachtana Luangphon (25-0-1, 15 KOs), also known as Chainoi “The Rockman” Worawut, will face Australian Sam Goodman in an elimination fight to be held on July 10, 2024 in Fresh South Wales during an event promoted by No Limit Boxing.

The winner will earn a chance to fight The Ring’s No. 2 ranked contender, Naoya “The Monster” Inoue (27-0, 24 KOs).

This will be Worawut’s first fight outside of his native Thailand. As for Goodman, all of his professional fights have come in Australia, which presented a huge challenge for “The Rockman.”

Worawut, whose knockout power earned him the nickname, posted a screenshot in early May suggesting a fight with Goodman. Initially, it seemed unlikely, as Goodman was set to challenge “The Monster” Inoue later in the year. A later press release from Worawut’s promoter, Mr. Surachart Pisitwuttian of Nokornloung Promotions, clarified that no official contact had been made.

To everyone’s surprise, almost two months have passed and the fight with Sam Goodman has been confirmed, and “The Rockman” is preparing for the biggest fight of his career.

After receiving permission from Team Worawut, I made the two-and-a-half-hour journey from Bangkok to Sara Buri, the central Thai province where the team is based. The gym, located in the tranquil Phra Phutthabat district, was bustling with the Worawut fan club that had come to support them.

While waiting for the team, I ran into my aged friend, super featherweight Wanchana Meenayothin (22-2-1, 12 KO), a half-Thai, half-German boxer who had been brought in as a sparring partner. I was lucky enough to arrive on an unexpected sparring day. I asked Meenayothin how training was going and he said, “Training is going well. This area is great for concentration. There’s not much to do here; it’s nature, but I prefer training here than in Bangkok. We usually spar on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, but Sia Hui is coming in today to see how Chainoi is doing. We’ll do the last sparring of the camp today.”

When “The Rockman” arrived, his reserved demeanor contrasted with the heated reception he received from his fan club, who eagerly took photos and listened to their president’s candid speech. This tight-knit support network surrounds Worawut as he prepares for his upcoming clash with Goodman, ready to make his mark on the international stage.

As Surachart Pisitwuttian, known as “Sia Hui,” entered the composed and peaceful boxing gym, the atmosphere changed to one of respect and seriousness. Newly arrived boxers prepared diligently for grueling sparring sessions, aware of the acute eye of their promoter. With a tradition dating back to 1994, Sia Hui has played a key role in shaping boxing in Thailand, nurturing talents such as Veeraphol Sahaprom (66-4-2, 46 KO), Sirimongkhon Iamthuam (98-5, 62 KO) and Srisaket Sor Rungvisai (56-1-1, 46 KO). His presence commands attention, reminding us of the champions he has trained, and the gym vibrates with a renewed sense of purpose and discipline. Mr. Pisitwuttian is the promoter of former champion Srisaket Sor Rungvisai, ranked No. 9 by The Ring at 115 pounds, who made boxing history with his surprising wins over Roman Gonzalez (51-4, 41 KOs).

After wrapping his hands, head coach Supap Boonrawd told his protégé Worawut to start loosening up. Worawut made changes to his training camp, bringing in Supap, who has been shaping and training former WBC minimumweight champion Wanheng Meenayothin (53-3, 19 KOs) throughout his career. The experienced coach is adept at working with world champions. After a few minutes of jumping rope, the sparring session began. Today’s schedule included 10 rounds with sparring partners Wanchana Meenayothin and former world title challenger Nawaphon Kaikanha (60-4-1, 50 KOs). Kaikanha, who fought Jason Maloney (27-3, 19 KOs) in Australia, always brings the pressure. Last year, he came close to winning a WBC eliminator against Filipino Vincent Astrolabio (19-4, 14 KOs), but lost by knockout in the 11th round.

I put down my phones and asked Mr. Pisitwuttian if I could take pictures. He told me firmly that it was all right, just no videos. Kaikanha’s constant pressure and combinations were evident during the sparring session. The boxers rotated in each round, keeping Worawut fresh with a modern partner every three minutes. Meenayothin, 25, with an impressive record, performed well. Worawut showed excellent footwork and selective striking, seeming ready for the challenge ahead. In some rounds, he sparred for six minutes straight, in the soggy, scorching gym, adding to the stifling intensity. During the exchanges, Supap’s coach instructed his protégé to stay focused.

Chainoi Worawut (right) fights with Wanchana Meenayothin (left) – Photo by Wasim Mather

Even though Chainoi is a pressure fighter, it was amazing to see his footwork and control from the mid-range behind the acute left jab. This was the last sparring session of the camp, but instead of stopping, they went into eight rounds of intense pad work. Everything Worawut did was intense and ferocious, showing his focus and hunger, punching with all his might as the clamorous thuds echoed with each strike landing on the pads. Padman kept the session intense, ensuring Worawut paid his dues.

I asked Meenayothin if Worawut trained this way. He simply replied, “It’s always like that; he gives 150% in every session.” Worawut, 28, was a successful Muay Thai fighter who had 250 fights before making his professional debut in 2018. Coming from a family of fighters, his father, Chartchainoi Chaorai-oi, was a eminent Muay Thai fighter from the golden era, known for his unsafe right hook as a left-hander. Meenayothin added, “It’s quite captivating. Chainoi is an orthodox and is known for his left hook, and his father is a left-hander and is known for his right hook.”

Worawut began his career with knockouts so brutal they could be turned into a highlight reel, with unanimous decision victories over former world champions Suriyan Satorn (61-14-1, 41 KOs) and Panya Uthok (58-16, 39 KOs). Interestingly, the 27-year-old seems to have lost his knockout power. His last knockout was five fights ago, in May of last year, against Filipino Brian Lobetania (14-9-4, 11 KOs).

I spoke to Sia Hui’s promoter about his allegations. “Boxing in Thailand is very tranquil right now, with one world champion. Chainoi is in phenomenal shape and I’m sure he can do it. It’s similar to when Srisaket went to Madison Square Garden in Fresh York and beat Roman Gonzalez (51-4, 41 KO). Nobody believed he could do it. I think Chainoi can do it and then maybe people in Thailand will start following boxing again.”

After Worawut finished training, I managed to ask him a few questions. When asked about Sam Goodman as a fighter, he said, “Sam Goodman is a good fighter with rapid footwork. He’s always waiting for a counterattack and has a great lead hand.” Referring to fighting overseas for the first time, he added, “It’s like another fight. I’ve been training 100% for over two months. My goal is to fight Inoue; that’s my dream, but first I have to win the fight with Goodman.”

In Saturday’s session, Worawut showed he is 100% ready for the Goodman fight. He brings ferocity and intensity reminiscent of the eminent sensation of his stablemate Srisaket. Worawut enters as an underdog, and boxing fans wonder why Goodman didn’t face Inoue. It’s unclear if Goodman is using Worawut as a warm-up, but “The Rockman” is definitely ready.

Goodman (18-0, 8 KOs) is currently undefeated in the pro ranks with a decorated amateur career. Rated No. 4 by The Ring in the bantamweight division, Goodman has wins over Tj Doheny (26-4, 20 KOs), Miguel Flores (25-5-1, 12 KOs) and Ra’eese Aleem (20-1, 12 KOs).

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