Bar Knuckle Fighting Championship announced that Buakaw Banchamek will take on Suphachai ‘Saenchai’ Saepong in March 2023.
Muay Thai legend Buakaw enjoyed a successful career in the sport, racking up 240 wins in a total of 276 bouts. The 40-year-old decided to step away from muay Thai earlier this year in favor of an unexpected move to bare-knuckle boxing after signing with BKFC. Fellow icon Saenchai followed in Buakaw’s footsteps and inked a contract with the promotion shortly after.
BKFC announce that Buakaw vs. Saenchai is set for March 2023
On Wednesday, BKFC president David Feldman announced a ‘special rules’ bare-knuckle Muay Thai fight between Buakaw and Saenchai at a BKFC event set for March 18. Although there has been no official confirmation, the show would likely be held in the Middle East.
“They’ve both had legendary careers and competed in many of the most exciting Muay Thai fights in history,” BKFC president David Feldman said in a release. “Combat sports fans have always had very strong opinions about who would win, now they’re going to take the gloves off and finally settle their score.”
Saenchai will mark his BKFC debut
Buakaw is widely regarded as one of the greatest Muay Thai fighters in history. He recently made his bare-knuckle fighting debut against Erkan Varol at BKFC Thailand 3 in September. The striking expert displayed his dominance with a first-round finish of his opponent as he connected with a violent body shot that knocked Varol out at the famous Rajadamnern Stadium in Bangkok.
Saenchai has one of the most decorated resumes of any combat sports athlete, scoring 327 wins and becoming a five-time Lumpinee Stadium champion. He will enter the contest undefeated in nine years, with his last Muay Thai loss coming in 2014.
It is unclear what weight the bout will be at. Considering Saenchai’s competition weight of 146 pounds to Buakaw’s 154 pounds, it will likely be a catchweight contest
