‘I Became A Fitness Junkie’ – How Petchtanong Petchfergus Used Sports Science To Fuel His Elite Career
At 40 years of age and boasting an unbelievable resume of over 400 professional bouts, former ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion Petchtanong Petchfergus refuses to slow down.
The Thai veteran owns an astonishing 359-57 professional record and is currently preparing to face British sensation Ben “The Problem” Woolliss in a high-stakes bantamweight kickboxing clash at ONE Fight Night 43: Tang vs. Gasanov on Prime Video. The action broadcasts live in U.S. primetime on Friday, May 15, from the iconic Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Woolliss is eight years his junior, but Petchtanong has spent years proving that elite preparation and intelligent training can conquer Father Time. In fact, the Superbon Training Camp representative captured the ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Title at 37 years old when he edged out Hiroki Akimoto at ONE 163 in November 2022.
Even after dropping a competitive decision to Japanese superstar Yuki Yoza last year, the Thai icon remains firmly in the hunt for another World Title run. According to Petchtanong, his extraordinary longevity is no accident.
He explained:
“It started when I was around 25 or 26. I kept getting leg injuries and was constantly seeing doctors. People at the gym all gave me different advice, and it was just a lot of conflicting opinions. Since I had just finished high school, I decided to go to university for Sports Science so I could find the answers myself, to learn how to make my body as strong and resilient as possible.”
That pivotal decision permanently altered the trajectory of his career.
The Thailand native graduated from the Institute of Physical Education Samutsakorn with a bachelor’s degree in Sports Science before completing a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Thongsook College. He now plans to pursue a doctorate as part of his continued academic journey.
Along the way, Petchtanong spent six years working in Australia after landing an internship with a gym owner who admired his fighting style. Immersed in an environment that combined authentic striking with modern fitness systems, the veteran became obsessed with maximizing athletic performance.
That heavily scientific mindset has kept him highly competitive deep into his 40s, highlighted by a breathtaking second-round TKO victory over former divisional king Alaverdi “Babyface Killer” Ramazanov in 2024.
Petchtanong said:
“I became a fitness junkie. I’d see these foreign trainers with incredible strength and performance, and I’d just watch and listen to everything they said. When I moved back to Thailand and started as a freelance trainer, I combined my degree with that hands-on experience. It turned me into a specialist in Muay Thai-specific sports science. I know exactly what kind of power a fighter actually needs.
“I’m constantly reading new research. I track everything, my sleep, my diet, and I use a smartwatch to monitor my blood oxygen and heart rate zones. It tells me if I’m overtraining or if I need more recovery days. This is what has allowed me to keep competing at a high level for so long.”
Petchtanong Details The Biggest Flaw In Traditional Training
While Petchtanong Petchfergus deeply respects traditional Muay Thai culture, he also firmly believes that many old-school training systems are drastically overdue for modernization.
According to the former ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion, far too many fighters still rely on outdated methods centered entirely around sheer endurance and excessive conditioning. While those grueling approaches build undeniable toughness, Petchtanong argues they severely limit explosiveness, speed, and long-term athletic development.
Instead, the Thai veteran believes smarter recovery systems and structured periodization are the ultimate keys to maximizing performance inside the ring.
He offered:
“Recovery, hands down. If you don’t recover, you can’t train, at least not effectively. The person who recovers fastest has the biggest advantage. And obviously, nutrition plays a massive role in that process.
“You need to train five things: strength, speed, power, endurance, and skill. You can’t max out all of them in one day. If you’re exhausted from a long run, you’ll never hit your peak speed or power. Traditional training gives you endurance, but it makes you slow and stiff.”
Petchtanong applies those exact principles meticulously to his own preparation.
His daily routine features multiple striking sessions, strength and mobility work, cardio, and recovery-focused planning carefully structured throughout the week. Even now, the Thai striker continues studying new research and consulting experts to refine his methods.
That strict commitment to evolution has made him a highly respected figure among coaches attempting to balance traditional Muay Thai with modern sports science practices, as well as a sought-after trainer for high-level athletes across Thailand.
Petchtanong concluded:
“You have to periodize your training. Dedicate specific days to agility, endurance, or strength. If you’re well-recovered, you can lift heavy. If your legs aren’t fried from a run, your kicks will be lightning fast. Most gyms are still scared to commit 100 percent to this shift. I get calls from famous coaches all the time asking how to balance this with their old school staff. It’s going to take time.”
