Amnat Ruenroeng (; born December 18, 1979) is a Thai former professional Muay Thai fighter, kickboxer, and professional boxer. He is a former Lumpinee Stadium Super Flyweight champion in Muay Thai as well as a former IBF Flyweight world champion in boxing. He represented Thailand in the 2008 Summer Olympics and 2016 Summer Olympics.
Early life Ruenroeng was born without ever knowing who his parents were. At birth, he didn't even receive a birth certificate, as the officer refused to register him, uncertain whether he was a Thai national. He was raised in poverty by his grandmother and began fighting at the age of seven, starting in Muay Thai under the names "Petch Por.Burapha" (เพชร ป.บูรพา) and "Petch Tor.Bangsaen" (เพชร ต.บางแสน), eventually winning the Lumpinee Stadium Flyweight championship.
Amateur career Ruenroeng began boxing while serving a fifteen-year prison sentence for snatching a gold necklace, a crime he would later regret. Eventually, he turned himself in to the police, taking responsibility for his actions. In 2007, he won a Thai national title in the Light Flyweight division, and was released from prison for good behaviour the following day having served one year. He won a bronze medal as a junior flyweight at the 2007 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Chicago. He had lost in the semi-final to Philippines southpaw Harry Tanamor.
Ruenroeng took the gold medal at the King's Cup in Bangkok in 2008 after defeating Kazuto Ioka in the semifinal. He subsequently qualified to represent Thailand at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing."Amnat Ruenroeng", Time
Professional career
Ruenroeng made his professional debut in 2012. On 22 January 2014, he won the vacant IBF Flyweight title by defeating Rocky Fuentes. In his first defense, he traveled to Japan and earned a split decision over undefeated two-division champion Kazuto Ioka, who was making his flyweight debut. In his following fight, he defeated Puerto Rican challenger McWilliams Arroyo by split decision. On March 7, 2015, he earned a unanimous decision over undefeated two-time Olympic gold medalist Zou Shiming.
Ruenrong vs. Casimero
IBF flyweight titleholder Amnat Ruenroeng retained his belt with a 12-round decision win over Filipino boxer Johnriel Casimero at the Hua Mark Indoor Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Saturday, June 27. Ruenroeng (16-0, 5 knockouts) was credited with two knockdowns against Casimero (21-3, 13 KOs), beginning with a counter right in Round 2 that caught the 25-year-old from Ormoc City lunging in. A second knockdown was called in Round 7 when Casimero was pushed into the ropes by Ruenroeng following a glancing right hand. Casimero appeared to knock Ruenroeng down in Round 3 when a counter left hook caused his glove to touch the canvas, but referee Larry Doggett ruled it a slip. The fight was marred by excessive clinching and over a dozen throwdowns by Ruenroeng. Doggett issued five warnings before finally taking a point from Ruenroeng in Round 11. “Amnat made the strategy how to win easy. It was not a dirty fight,” said Ruenroeng's trainer, Aljoe Jaro, who claims Casimero had hit Ruenroeng in the leg during the fight. “About the throwing down, that’s not an issue. Casimero was also playing dirty. Amnat was doing his job as a boxer how to win.”
The roughhouse tactics detracted from an otherwise crafty, resourceful performance from the Thai incumbent champion, whose jab disrupted the rhythm of Casimero, who held the IBF junior flyweight title for two years before being stripped last year for failing to make weight for his fight with Mauricio Fuentes. Casimero was the aggressor for the final 3 rounds, desperately trying to score a knockout to erase the deficit he found himself in.
Ruenroeng, 35, has now defended his belt four times successfully since winning it in January 2014 with a victory over Filipino contender Rocky Fuentes.
Ruenroeng vs. Casimero II
On May 25, 2016, in Diamond Court of the National Tennis Center, Beijing China, Ruenroeng fought Casimero again in a rematch for the IBF flyweight title and loss via knockout with a vicious body shot in the 4th round, ending Ruenroeng's undefeated streak.
A press-release by the IBF China stated that the bout was watched by over 200 million viewers and drew a 4.7 rating on CCTV-5. However, Sina Sports reported that according to the viewership data provided by CCTV, the bout actually drew a 0.87 rating and was watched by over 160 million viewers.
Post-world champion
After losing the world championship, he did not retire. Instead, he continued to fight, returning to his roots as an amateur. Going up to the Lightweight division, he participated in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. He won his opening bout before losing in the round of 16 against Sofiane Oumiha, a younger fighter representing France. Oumiha eventually earned the silver medal, and went on to win gold at the world championships in 2017.
After the Olympics, Amnat returned to Muay Thai, which amassed as 1–2, including lost to Tenshin Nasukawa and Lin Qiangbang. On April 21, 2018, he competed again as a professional. He was knocked out in 5th round by a younger fighter, his fellow-countryman Nawaphon Kaikanha.
Amnat vs. Srisaket
On 1 August 2020, Amnat fought former world champion Srisaket Sor Rungvisai. Ruenroeng was game, and fought a close fight, but in the end didn't do enough to earn the win. Rungvisai won an all three judges scorecards, 99–91, 97–94 and 96–93.
Personal life Physical altercation On 5 October 2025, a video went viral showing him arguing with a young man in front of a convenience store. The confrontation soon turned physical, with Amnat being knocked to the ground and repeatedly struck. After the situation was brought under control, reports revealed that he had been intoxicated and was about to cause a disturbance inside the store. The young man involved claimed he acted in self-defense to protect people inside.
Following the incident, Amnat was taken to hospital where, upon regaining consciousness, he admitted that his behaviour had been caused by heavy drinking. He explained that his alcohol use was driven by stress after retiring from boxing. He had lost his job, sold most of his belongings, and gone through a divorce. Close friends and his son told reporters that he was a kind and gentle man when sober, but became a different person under the influence of alcohol. Petchyindee promoter Nuttadaj Vachirarattanawong said he had previously arranged for the former athlete to attend rehabilitation, where he showed signs of recovery. However, after losing his family and livelihood, Nuttadaj called on government agencies to step in and offer support.
The Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) has since acknowledged the case and confirmed that assistance is now being arranged. After that, he continued drinking and repeatedly got into trouble. Eventually, in the middle of 2026, he decided to quit alcohol once and for all. He rode his motorcycle for more than to Ubon Ratchathani to meet Yutthaphon Srisompong, better known as "Jonny Mueprab" (Jonny the Handcuff), a well-known social media personality, in order to start a new chapter in his life. He also received financial assistance from Rodtang Jitmuangnon, the famous Muay Thai and MMA fighter, who helped support him on his journey.
Titles and accomplishments Muay Thai Lumpinee Stadium 2000 Lumpinee Stadium Flyweight (112 lbs) Champion
Professional boxing record
ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes28Loss21–7Petchsatra CP Freshmart1028 Jun 202227Loss21–6Wanchana MenayothinUD1023 Nov 202126Loss21–5Arnon YupangUD1027 Feb 202125Win21–4Pungluang Sor SingyuUD87 Nov 202024Loss20–4Srisaket Sor RungvisaiUD101 Aug 202023Win20–3Brian LobetaniaUD623 Mar 201922Win19–3Petchbarngborn KokietgymUD68 Feb 201921Loss18–3Nawaphon KaikanhaTKO5 (12)21 Apr 201820Loss18–2Wenfeng GeUD1221 Nov 201719Win18–1Petchthongchai SingmanassakTKO3 (8)26 Aug 201718Loss17–1John Riel Casimero4 (12), 25 May 201617Win17–0Myung Ho LeeUD127 Dec 201516Win16–0John Riel CasimeroUD1227 Jun 201515Win15–0Zou ShimingUD128 Mar 201514Win14–0McWilliams ArroyoSD1210 Sep 201413Win13–0Kazuto Ioka127 May 201412Win12–0Rocky FuentesUD1222 Jan 201411Win11–0Takuro HabuTKO4 (12), 16 Aug 201310Win10–0Ricky ManufoeTKO4 (12)21 Jun 20139Win9–0Julius AlcosUD1219 Apr 20138Win8–0Michael RodriguezUD1215 Feb 20137Win7–0Geboi Mansalayao TKO7 (10)26 Dec 20126Win6–0Danilo Pena616 Nov 20125Win5–0Wilber Andogan6 (10)19 Oct 20124Win4–0Safwan LombokTKO5 (8)17 Aug 20123Win3–0Lowie BantiguePTS620 Jul 20122Win2–0Jemmy Gobel627 Jun 20121Win1–0Rino Ukru4 (6), 18 May 2012
Muay Thai & Kickboxing record
|- style="background:#fbb;" | 2018-06-01 ||Loss ||align=left| Lin Qiangbang || Kunlun Fight Macao|| Macau, China || Decision (Unanimous) || 3 || 3:00
|- style="background:#fbb;" | 2017-02-12|| Loss ||align=left| Tenshin Nasukawa || Knock Out Vol. 1 || Tokyo, Japan || KO (left hook to the body) || 4 || 2:39
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 2016-12-24 ||Win ||align=left| Albert Amirdzhanyan|| Thai Fight 2016 || Bangkok, Thailand || Decision || 5 || 3:00
|- style="background:#fbb;" | 2004-12-07 ||Loss ||align=left| Sam-A Gaiyanghadao || Lumpinee Stadium || Bangkok, Thailand || Decision || 5 || 3:00
! style=background:white colspan=9 |
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 2004-10-09 ||Win ||align=left| Sam-A Gaiyanghadao || Lumpinee Stadium || Bangkok, Thailand || Decision || 5 || 3:00
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 2004-09-14 ||Win ||align=left| Pettawee Sor Kittichai || Lumpinee Stadium || Bangkok, Thailand || Decision || 5 || 3:00
|- style="background:#fbb;" | 2004-05-28 ||Loss ||align=left| Sam-A Gaiyanghadao || Lumpinee Stadium || Bangkok, Thailand || Decision || 5 || 3:00
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 2004-04-21 || Win||align=left| Rungruanglek Lukprabat || Lumpinee Stadium || Bangkok, Thailand ||Decision || 5 || 3:00
|- style="background:#fbb;" | 2004-03-30 ||Loss ||align=left| Sam-A Gaiyanghadao || Lumpinee Stadium || Bangkok, Thailand || Decision || 5 || 3:00
|- style="background:#c5d2ea;" | 2002-03-26 || Draw||align=left| Kangwanlek Petchyindee || Lumpinee Stadium || Bangkok, Thailand ||Decision || 5 || 3:00
|- style="background:#c5d2ea;" | 2000-08-05 || Draw||align=left| Rungrit Sitchamlong || Lumpinee Stadium || Bangkok, Thailand ||Decision || 5 || 3:00
|- style="background:#fbb;" | 2000-07-18 || Loss ||align=left| Phet-Ek Sitjaopho || Lumpinee Stadium || Bangkok, Thailand || Decision || 5 || 3:00 |- ! style=background:white colspan=9 | |- style="background:#cfc;" | 2000-|| Win ||align=left||| Ngathao Attharungroj Lumpinee Stadium || Bangkok, Thailand ||Decision || 5 || 3:00 |- ! style=background:white colspan=9 |
|- style="background:#fbb;" | 2000-02-11 || Loss ||align=left| Wanpichai Sor.Khamsing || Lumpinee Stadium || Bangkok, Thailand || Decision || 5 || 3:00
|- style="background:#fbb;" | 2000-01-25 || Loss ||align=left| Thongchai Tor.Silachai || Lumpinee Stadium || Bangkok, Thailand || Decision || 5 || 3:00
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 1999-11-26 || Win||align=left| Kongprai Phayaklemon || Lumpinee Stadium || Bangkok, Thailand ||Decision || 5 || 3:00
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 1999-09-03 || Win||align=left| Dansiam Kiatrungroj || Lumpinee Stadium || Bangkok, Thailand || KO||3 ||
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 1999-07-17 || Win||align=left| Kongprai Phayaklemon || Lumpinee Stadium || Bangkok, Thailand ||Decision || 5 || 3:00
|- style="background:#cfc;" | 1999-05-02 || Win||align=left| Ekachai Chaibadan|| || Bangkok, Thailand || Decision || 5 || 3:00
| colspan=8 | Legend:
Viewership
Date Fight Country Network Viewership () Source(s)John Riel Casimero vs. Amnat RuenroengCCTV-5 Total viewership 160,000,000–200,000,000
References
External links
"Amnat Ruenroeng", n°56 on Time’s list of "100 Olympic Athletes To Watch" Results.beijing2008.cn - Bio Biographies for Amnat Ruenroeng International Boxing Association