‘Return To Greatness’ – Panpayak Seeks A New Dawn In Kickboxing Showdown With Zhao Chongyang At ONE Friday Fights 136
“The Angel Warrior” Panpayak Jitmuangnon has long been synonymous with Muay Thai greatness, but after a challenging run in “the art of eight limbs,” the Thai icon now turns to kickboxing in search of renewed momentum.
At ONE Friday Fights 136 on December 12 in Asia primetime, the 29-year-old returns to Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium not just to compete, but to restart, rebuild, and remind the world of who he truly is.
The seven-time Muay Thai World Champion meets China’s dangerous finisher Zhao Chongyang in a flyweight kickboxing main event.
For Panpayak, the move represents both a technical adjustment and an emotional reset following a first-round stoppage loss to Asadula Imangazaliev at ONE Friday Fights 122.
He said:
“I don’t feel regretful about the result of the last fight at all, because I executed my game plan perfectly. I controlled the pace and was able to counter his attacks throughout. I just made an unexpected mistake and got caught with a head kick. When I studied his clips before the fight, I hadn’t even seen him use that technique before.
“I see this as a normal part of a fighter’s life; there are ups and downs. I need to develop myself even more if I want to return to greatness. I assure everyone I haven’t lost heart.”
With nearly 300 bouts across two decades, Panpayak has lived every chapter a fighter can experience.
A former Lumpinee Stadium and Rajadamnern Stadium Muay Thai World Champion and the only athlete ever to win Thailand’s coveted Sports Writers Fighter of the Year award three consecutive times, his pedigree remains unquestioned.
Now, after alternating between wins and losses in his last six promotional appearances, he wants to build toward another run at ONE Championship gold, and he believes kickboxing is the right place to restart that journey.
He said:
“I was the one who informed ONE that I wanted to switch to kickboxing first to regain my confidence. My performance in the last four Muay Thai fights hasn’t been as good as expected. I am very grateful to the promotion for still believing in me.
“My physical condition right now is excellent. Fighting with the big gloves is my strength, which alleviates my concern about taking punches and allows me to utilize my technical timing to attack my opponent.”
Panpayak Confident His Timing Will Expose Zhao’s Forward Pressure
Panpayak Jitmuangnon knows that Zhao Chongyang enters the matchup with plenty of momentum after his dramatic second-round head kick knockout at ONE Friday Fights 124 in September.
The Thai star respects the danger but sees the structure of Zhao’s offense as something he can exploit.
He said:
“Zhao Chongyang is an aggressive fighter with dangerous punch combinations and decent stamina. However, I believe he is a fighter who lacks feints and relies solely on his strength to press forward, which I see as a weakness I can exploit by countering his attacks in this fight.
“Personally, I am confident that my kicks are not inferior, and neither is my timing and skill. The game plan suggests he will be the one moving forward, and I will use my superior timing and technique to counter-attack and hit him as much as possible.”
For Panpayak, a victory means that his legacy is far from finished, and he wants to prove it in emphatic fashion.
Beyond that, he knows exactly who he is fighting for. The Thai superstar draws strength from his daughter, whose voice and presence have carried him through this challenging chapter and renewed his drive to rise again.
He said:
“My daughter, who is not even 2 years old yet, already cheers for the fights. She’s always telling me to keep fighting. Just seeing her face and hearing her voice when I step off the stage lifts my spirits and makes me ready to fight again immediately.
“I’m also hoping to win the bonus as an early birthday gift for my daughter, who turns two on December 28th.”
