‘I’ve Come A Long Way In My Life, But I’m Not Stopping Here’ – Inside Nakrob’s Rise To Muay Thai Stardom
Nakrob Fairtex has employed his superb technical striking and unshakable mindset to establish himself as one of the flyweight Muay Thai division’s most exciting contenders.
Currently ranked #4 in the talent-packed division, the 26-year-old is set to face fellow Thai star Jaosuayai Mor Krungthepthonburi on June 6 in U.S. primetime at ONE Fight Night 32: Rodrigues vs. Cohen on Prime Video.
Before he steps into the iconic ring at Bangkok’s Lumpinee Stadium, Nakrob opened up to onefc.com about his journey from the Thai countryside to the bright lights of ONE’s massive global platform.
A Reluctant Start
Although he comes from a line of Muay Thai fighters, Nakrob initially had little interest in the striking art.
He recalled:
“When I was a kid, I wasn’t into Muay Thai at all, even though I had relatives who were boxers.”
His introduction to the sport came by surprise when a local fair needed a last-minute replacement fighter. In Thailand, it’s not uncommon for young children to compete in full-contact Muay Thai bouts.
With no formal training, Nakrob lost the fight but earned a small sum of money (about US$4.50), setting in motion his career as a professional athlete:
“I started when I was 6. It just so happened I went with my dad to watch some match at a local fair in my neighborhood. By chance, they were short one fighter, so he asked if I wanted to jump in. I was a bit of a troublemaker kid, so I just went along with it. I went up there and fought like I’d never trained a day in my life, and yeah, I lost like you’d expect because I wasn’t any good at boxing.
“I got 150 baht for that fight, but I actually did okay, so I got some tips from the crowd. I used the money to play that dart game and buy snacks at the fair.”
Building His Name In Bangkok
Despite that rough start to his fighting career, Nakrob started proper training and continued competing in local events, gradually developing his skills while building a reputation on Thailand’s rural circuit.
Eventually, the youngster’s preternatural talent caught the attention of a prominent Bangkok gym:
“After that, I went back to practicing and kept fighting in the provinces. I built up my boxing skills until there weren’t really any opponents left for me. Then, Sasiprapa Gym in Bangkok contacted me to compete in the Pun Suea boxing competition.
“That was my first time getting to the capital. I was about 15. That was the starting point that made me famous under the name ‘Kaensuan Sasiprapa Gym.'”
The move to Thailand’s capital city marked an important turning point in Nakrob’s career. Training alongside elite professionals and competing against tougher and tougher opposition, he evolved into a formidable fighter.
What’s more, the growing financial rewards that came along with competitive success convinced him that “the art of eight limbs” could be his future:
“It was when I started fighting in the capital and actually started making some decent money that I realized, ‘Okay, this is my career now.'”
A Career Crossroads
Like countless other fighters, Nakrob’s career was derailed when the global COVID-19 pandemic shut down sporting events across Thailand and much of Asia.
With no fights and no way to earn money, he considered leaving Muay Thai altogether:
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, I didn’t have any fights for almost a year, and I had to work as an employee for the electricity company just to put food on the table.
“At that time, I was really down because I’d never had a proper job before. I’d been fighting my whole life. I’m not exactly good at climbing electric poles and installing wires, you know? It was the hardest thing in my life at that point. But I just had to force myself to do it because if I didn’t, we’d starve.”
Compared to prizefighting, Nakrob couldn’t stand holding a “proper job,” and this challenging time tested his resolve.
While he initially contemplated retirement, a new opportunity arose that would change the trajectory of his career and put him on the path to greatness:
“When COVID-19 started to ease up, I saw that Fairtex was looking for new fighters. A trainer I knew recommended I go there. I spent months thinking about it. In the end, my gut told me it wasn’t too late to fight again. So, I decided to go alone, not knowing anyone there. And that’s when I changed my fight name to ‘Nakrob Fairtex.'”
Achieving Global Recognition
Joining the prestigious Fairtex Training Center, where he now sharpens his skills alongside top athletes like Stamp Fairtex and Saemapetch Fairtex, proved to be a career-saving decision for Nakrob.
The world-renowned gym’s connections led to a chance to compete at ONE’s weekly ONE Friday Fights event series at Lumpinee Stadium. Well aware of the opportunity before him, he made the most of his time:
“I felt super happy and honored to have the chance to compete in this event. I gave it my all in every fight because I’ve always believed that this promotion could change my life, and it really has.”
Since making his promotional debut in January 2023, Nakrob has amassed an impressive 12-2 record.
It was after his ninth appearance in the organization – a stunning first-round knockout of Tagir Khalilov – that he finally earned a six-figure contract and place on ONE’s main roster.
For a humble athlete from the rural reaches of Thailand, it was an emotional moment:
“When the host announced I got the ONE contract, I almost cried. My dream as a country boy going to experience the city finally came true. I’ve come a long way in my life, but I’m not stopping here. I gotta keep pushing.”
