Tawanchai PK Saenchai enters ONE Friday Fights 137 with a renewed sense of purpose, crediting his firstborn son for providing motivation that extends far beyond anything he experienced before becoming a father.
The reigning ONE Featherweight Muay Thai World Champion will face China's Liu Mengyang in a featherweight kickboxing main event on 19 December at Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand.
Since marrying longtime girlfriend Sawita Yingchuan in November last year and welcoming son Kirin in May 2025, the 26-year-old Thai striker has experienced a profound shift in his competitive drive.
"Being a father has changed my life. When I feel tired, I think of him. The motivation I had before has now doubled or tripled. I have a duty to be a good man, as a father loves his child," the PK Saenchai Muaythaigym product revealed.
Beyond immediate competition, Tawanchai considers the long-term impact his fighting career will have on his son's character development and approach to life's challenges.
"I hope that when my son grows up, no matter what difficulties or discouragement he faces, he remembers his father and knows he must fight forward, just like me. I don't expect my son to become a Muay Thai fighter like me. I just want him to train in Muay Thai for self-defense," the champion said.
With his family providing constant encouragement, Tawanchai has set his sights on capturing kickboxing gold to complement his Muay Thai crown.
"My family is always supporting me from behind, so right now, my focus is entirely on winning that Kickboxing World Championship," he emphasized.
This year-ending main event at ONE Friday Fights 137 offers Tawanchai another opportunity to demonstrate his kickboxing credentials while fighting with the heightened motivation that comes from wanting to make his young son proud.
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