4x Muay Thai World Champion Sakasem "The Punisher" Kanthawong's business page, gym, and online store
Clinching intro and basics at Sakasem The Punisher Kanthawong's Muay Thai gym in Louisville, KY
Focus mitt partner work in class at The Punisher Muay Thai gym in Louisville, KY
Brycen showing a beginner boxing combo with Sakasem The Punisher
Sakasem's signature sexy elbow combo
Pad work in class at Sakasem's Punisher Muay Thai gym
Sakasem working with his future fighter Brycen during class at The Punisher Muay Thai🥊
Brycen's consistency and work ethic speak volumes. Whether it’s supporting fellow students in class, helping clean up the gym after training, or putting in extra work when no one’s watching, he leads by example.
This was less than two months into training with Sakasem, and he is learning fast.
Beginner class at The Punisher Muay Thai & Fitness. Nice job RaShawn, DeMarcus, Brycen, and TJ!
Muay Thai classes taught by 4x World Champion Sakasem "The Punisher" Kanthawong at his gym in Louisville, KY. He loves sharing his passion for Muay Thai with students of all levels - whether they train for fitness, self-defense, or fighting.
Beginner friendly and supportive environment. Multiple classes per week with a new membership option for busy schedules.
Contact us to join The Punisher family 🥊
ThePunisherMuayThai.com
23/02/2025
HOME OF THE PUNISHER 🥊
Sakasem's gym, The Punisher Muay Thai & Fitness, opens for regular weekly classes next month in Louisville KY, starting Saturday, March 1st.
For details on the class schedule, membership options, and gym location, please visit ThePunisherMuayThai.com
23/06/2024
After a few years in the United States, Sakasem The Punisher Kunponli (Fairtex) ศักดิ์เกษม ขุนพลลี้ returned to Thailand for one year in 1997. During his visit, he opened a small Muay Thai gym in his hometown. He wanted to give back to his community and create opportunities for kids to train and become Muay Thai fighters.
The environment in his hometown could be very challenging for families due to an increasing infiltration of harmful substances combined with a lack of opportunity and financial resources. In an effort to keep the younger generation on the right track in such circumstances, Sakasem collaborated with parents, teachers, and police in order to offer an activity during the evening (after school hours). Thus, the lessons at his gym were intentionally offered to help the local kids develop their strength, courage, confidence, and overall character, in addition to opening more doors for their future.
Sakasem is pictured here at this gym, Kunponli, in his hometown, Lamphun, Thailand, in 1997.
Sakasem organized events for the students to compete. These events often consisted of multiple days of Muay Thai fights in addition to fun activities for the community, such as movies, dancing, and enjoying food from the vendors. Profits generated from these events were put back into the local community, with a focus on funds for the school, police station, and families in need.
One of the students who trained at Sakasem's gym as a teenager went on to become a Muay Thai fighter and opened a gym in Lamphun that is in operation to this day.
Sakasem "The Punisher" Kanthawong, 4x Muay Thai World Champion, recounts pivotal aspects of his journey that propelled him on the path to monumental success.
He expresses immense gratitude and respect for those who supported his career, especially Mr. Philip Wong and Apidej Sit-Hirun.
Sakasem's first fight camp was at the Fairtex Gym in Thailand, founded and owned by businessman Bunjong Busarakamwong, who is better known as Mr. Philip Wong.
Sakasem's first trainer was Apidej Sit-Hirun, a former Muay Thai champion who is considered the hardest kicker in Muay Thai history. Apidej (1941 - 2013) was honored as a national hero and Muay Thai Fighter of the Century by King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
With guidance and assistance from Mr. Wong, Sakasem came to the United States in 1993, where he continued his training at the Fairtex Gym in Phoenix, Arizona.
In 1995, he opened a gym in Arizona, the House of Pain. He moved to Indianapolis in 1997 and was chief instructor at Siam Muay Thai Kickboxing. After a few years in Indiana, he moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, and opened Punisher Muay Thai gym in 2002. Upon a cancer diagnosis, he moved to Louisville KY in 2018 for treatment. The following year, he was given a clean bill of health.
Sakasem is a true inspiration, leading by example as an epitome of optimism and valor. Today, Sakasem teaches and leads the Muay Thai training program at Fight Factory gym.
Videography by Nick Beckman
Fight clip credit: James Blair Productions