Sirimongkol Singmanasak

Sirimongkol Singmanasak (ศิริมงคล สิงห์มนัสศักดิ์; born 2 March 1977) is a Thai professional boxer, bare-knuckle boxer and kickboxer. He is a world champion in two weight classes, having held the WBC bantamweight title in 1997 and the WBC super-featherweight title from 2002 to 2003. His other names were Sirimongkol Nakhon Thong Park View (ศิริมงคล นครทองปาร์ควิว), Sirimongkol Singwancha (ศิริมงคล สิงห์วังชา), Sirimongkol Nakornloung (ศิริมงคล นครหลวงโปรโมชั่น), and Sirimongkhon Iamthuam (ศิริมงคล เอี่ยมท้วม).

Biography and boxing career
Sirimongkol was born into a family closely connected to Muay Thai, with his father owning the "Singmanasak Boxing Gym" (ค่ายมวยสิงห์มนัสศักดิ์) and his brother fighting under the name "Manopchai Singmanasak" (มานพชัย สิงห์มนัสศักดิ์). His early interests in the Thai folk theatre form Likay were curtailed by his father, who encouraged him to pursue boxing instead.

WBC world champion
Starting as an amateur in high school, Sirimongkol quickly ascended in professional boxing. He claimed the WBU Super flyweight and Bantamweight titles in 1995 and became the WBC Bantamweight Champion in August 1996 at just 19 years old, defeating interim champion José Luis Bueno in Phitsanulok, Thailand. His title shot was earned through a victory over veteran Thai boxer Thanomsak Sithbaobay.

Sirimongkol successfully defended his WBC bantamweight title three times. However, his reign ended in November 1997 when he lost to former Japanese world champion Joichiro Tatsuyoshi in Osaka, Japan. He rebounded strongly, capturing the WBC Super featherweight title in 2002 with a knockout win over Kengo Nagashima, but lost the title a year later to Jesús Chávez.

Post-world title reign
In May 2007, Sirimongkol won the Asian Boxing Council (ABCO) super featherweight title. He then won the PABA light welterweight title in December 2007 before defending the title once in May 2008.

Arrest and later career
In 2009, Sirimongkol's career took a turn following his arrest for possession of Ya ba. During his incarceration, he taught boxing to fellow inmates and continued to compete, winning the WBC Asia Continental Welterweight title. He successfully defended the WBC Asia Continental belt five times from 2012 to 2014. He was pardoned four years into a 20-year sentence.

In October 2014, Sirimongkol defeated Dan Nazareno Jr. to win the WBO Asia Pacific junior middleweight title. He defended the WBO Asia Pacific belt twice in April 2015 and September 2015.

His 51-fight winning streak was finally broken in 2017 by Uzbek boxer Azizbek Abdugofurov in an unsuccessful bid for the WBC Asia middleweight title, marking his first defeat in 14 years.

After winning the UBO Inter-Continental light middleweight title in May 2017 and the Thai light heavyweight title September 2018, Sirimongkol announced his first retirement from boxing on September 20, 2018. He came out of retirement for two more fights, including unsuccessfully challenging Teerachai Sithmorseng for the WBA Asia light heavyweight title in April 2021, before retiring once again.

Bare-knuckle boxing
Sirimongkol made his bare-knuckle boxing debut at BKFC Thailand 1: The Game Changer on December 18, 2021, fighting under his real name of "Sirimongkol Iamthuam". His opponent was Iranian Brazilian jiu-jitsu and full contact karate practitioner Reza Goodary. Despite standing 168 cm and Goodary standing 195 cm, Sirimongkol controlled the majority of the fight and scored a knockdown to win via split decision.

BKFC Thailand Champion
Sirimongkol faced Mike Vetrila for the inaugural BKFC Thailand Light Heavyweight Championship at BKFC Thailand 2: Iconic Impact on May 7, 2022. He won the close fight via majority decision to become the first BKFC Thailand Light Heavyweight Champion.

Entertainment career
Sirimongkol, known for his striking appearance, was dubbed "Teppabud na yok" ("handsome divinity") by his Thai boxing fans. After losing the WBC world title in 1997, he transitioned into show business. His ventures included modeling for a women's fashion magazine, appearing on the 2003 Thai TV drama "Pret Wat Suthat" on Channel 7 and the 2008 martial arts film "Chocolate", and featuring in a music video by the rock band Motive alongside Dom Hetrakul.

In 2005, Sirimongkol faced a scandal involving nude photos. Police discovered gay pornographic magazines featuring his photos being sold at Or Tor Kor Market. This incident was covered by various media outlets.