AW - Has winning the world title changed anything for you? Are you more recognized and have you had more offers of sponsorship, commercials, etc.?
KP - My life has totally changed since I won the world title. Many Thai boxing fans come up and congratulate to me. More Thai people know me when I walk in public. Many sponsors come up to support my fight like CP Company, the biggest food company in Thailand also supports me. The CP Company built a new house for me in the province. My normal life has been changed. The public pays more attention to me in my professional career. They all smile and give me handshakes wherever I go in public.
AW - It’s obviously early days but when are you looking to fight next? Do you have any potential opponents?
KP - It depends on my promoter and my sponsor, Mr. Virat Vachirarattanawong and Mr. Piyarat Vacihirarattanawong as well as my main sponsor, CP Company. I do not know much about my next fight. I have to wait for my promoters and sponsors but I am very eager to defend the title. I will fight anywhere in the world and the opponent will be decided by the promoters.
AW - Are you open to fighting Hernandez again in a rematch? Would you like to go to Mexico and fight him in his country like he did with you coming to Thailand? Do you have a message for him?
KP - It depends on the promoters. I can fight anyone assigned by the promoters- even Adrian Hernandez- and to fight anywhere in the world, not only in Mexico or Thailand. Ever since I beat Hernandez, I received nothing from him, maybe because I cannot write English and also I don’t have any email or Facebook. I have only my mobile phone number. The language barrier will be the problem between us. I need to talk to him but I have no chance even in the ring and after fight.
AW - Now that you are the champion, what are your thoughts on the other champions like the WBA’s Roman Gonzalez, the IBF’s Ulises Solis and the WBO’s Donnie Nietes? Who is the best light flyweight in the world, in your opinion?
KP - In my opinion, Roman Gonzalez is the best in this division. However, I would like to try to fight him if I have the chance. Nietes is also a good Philippine [fighter]. I need to meet all of them if I have the chance.
AW - Could you tell us about your team? Also where do you regularly train? Can you tell us what other pros you train with?
KP - My managers are Mr. Piyarat Vachirarattanawong and Mr. Virat Vachirarattanawong from Diamond Boxing Promotion company. My trainer is Mr. Chatchai Sasakul, former WBC flyweight champion, and Chom Soongnok, the veteran and experienced trainer. He has been training many world champions such as WBC youth champions Yodmongkol [Vor Saengthep, a light flyweight, 20-2 (11)], Yodgoen [Tor Chalermchai, 8-1 (4), who recently lost to Kazuto Ioka in a WBC strawweight world title challenge], Petch [Sor Chitpattana, a flyweight, 10-0 (9)] and Medgoen [Singsurat], the former flyweight champion who beat Manny Pacquiao. I have been training at Diamond Boxing Gym with many WBC youth champions as I mentioned above.
AW - Boxers in Thailand are known for training very hard. Can you tell us what a normal day in training is like, regarding running, weights, sparring, etc.? Also, what food do you eat?
KP - I train very hard, especially before the fight. I run over 20 kilometres daily and have to control my weight over two months. I spar over 150 rounds for over two months at least 10 rounds every day. I normally have Thai food, spicy food, but when I get into a boxing program, I will have some fish fillets and steak sometimes but mostly Thai food. I like Thai food very much.
AW - You’re from Lam Plai Mat in the Northern part of Thailand. Can you tell us a little about your life growing up? Were things tough like they are for many people in Thailand?
KP - I was born in Buriram Province, the northeastern province of Thailand, about 500 kilometres away from Bangkok. I come from a very poor family. My parents have tried very hard to make their living. Boxing is the only way I can earn money to support my parents. That is the reason why I know boxing. I started Muay Thai and kickboxing when I was only nine years old. Like many Thai world champs, most of them come from poor families. My idol is my trainer, Chatchai Sasakul. He was a very good pro boxer.
AW - Many Thai boxers come from a Muay Thai background but did you have an amateur boxing career you can tell us about? If so, can you tell us how it took you into professional boxing?
KP – Yes, like any other Thai world boxers, they start from Muay Thai. Me also, I have solid Muay Thai background but Muay Thai or kickboxing is totally different from professional boxing. In Muay Thai, you can use legs, elbows and knees but in professional [boxing], you can use only two hands but I got endurance and stamina from Muay Thai.
AW - Can you tell us a little about yourself as a person and your home life away from boxing? What do you enjoy doing with your spare time and do you have any hobbies or interests?
KP - My hobby is going to see movies and sightseeing. I feel sometimes very lonely when I am away from home but I will call [my family] by mobile phone and chat with them. I really like my boxing career and enjoy it but now that I have become champion, I will try to collect money to send to my parents.
AW - Now that you are a world champion, what goals do you still have in boxing?
KP - I want to become a world recognized champion like Manny Pacquiao and earn more money for my parents. I need my parents to have rest in their remaining lives and not work too much.
AW – Finally, do you have a message for the boxing fans around the world that have really enjoyed your recent title-winning performance?
KP - I mostly get messages from my local boxing fans in Thai. I do not know English and it is very hard to operate email and Facebook, just only [communicate in] Thai language. It is great and I am very happy about this as they know more about me. They always come to me and tell me that, “It is a great fight. You have made the country proud of your performance.” Finally, I also would like to thank you for giving me my chance for an interview and let all boxing people around the world know me and hope they would cheer and support me always.
Questions and or comments can be sent to Anson at elraincoat@live.co.uk and you can follow him at www.twitter.com/AnsonWainwright.
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