Rambolek Chor Ajalaboon

What started out as a bit of fun has turned into a historic career for Rambolek Chor Ajalaboon.

Born into a farming family in Chaiyaphum, Thailand, Rambolek started his Muay Thai training purely for the enjoyment. Like many young practitioners in the Isan region of Northeast Thailand, his first fight was at a local temple fair.

The Kiatpetch product endured a tough introduction to the sport, but he persevered to help support his family. Twenty fights later, his abilities began to click and the wins started to rack up.

Despite his small stature, he garnered a reputation as an aggressive, merciless fighter with an iron will. His walk-forward style also earned him the fight name Rambolek, which translates to “Little Rambo.”

With a fight name secured and a dream in hand, Rambolek’s ambition brought him to Bangkok at 15 years old in search of fame and fortune in the Thai capital.

Five years later, the fiery prospect won the 140-pound Muay Thai title at the prestigious Channel 7 Boxing Stadium, which caught the attention of ONE Championship.

There, he made an instant impact in the promotion’s weekly ONE Friday Fights event series.

Rambolek crushed Theeradet Chor Hapayak and Zhang Chenglong — both in the second round — to become the first fighter to earn a US$100,000 contract from the platform. It was a far cry from the US$8.30 he received for winning his debut fight at the temple all those years ago.

Win or lose, Rambolek always competes with his heart on his sleeve, and he hopes that will take him closer to the ONE Bantamweight Muay Thai World Title.