Muay Thai Star Khun Sakon Lek Returns After 11-Month Injury Layoff
Former Rajadamnern 118-pound champion Khun Sakon Lek returns to competition Saturday after 11 months sidelined by knee injury and appendix surgery. The 2567 Fighter of the Year faces Iranian striker Payman Solfagari at Rajadamnern stadium.
Khun Sakon Lek Bum Dek Sayan, the former Rajadamnern 118-pound champion, returns to the ring this Saturday, August 15, after an 11-month absence that he describes as the most painful period of his life. He will face Iranian striker Payman Solfagari, a former Rajadamnern title challenger, in a 122-pound bout at the Rajadamnern stadium.
2567 was a golden year for Khun Sakon Lek. He earned between 4 and 5 million baht in bonuses and fight purses from RWS, received consistent main card billing as the Rajadamnern 118-pound champion, and won the prestigious Fighter of the Year award. However, when 2568 began, his fortunes shifted dramatically. He successfully defended his title once before relinquishing it due to weight-cutting difficulties and moving up to the 122-pound division. His two victories at the new weight seemed to set him on course for greatness, earning him a title shot against Petchsila W. Orachat in October 2568. But weeks before the bout, he suffered a knee injury in a soccer accident and was forced to withdraw.
After four months of treatment, he returned in February with a bout against Chayaton W. Orachat, only to suffer a ruptured appendix days before the fight. He underwent emergency surgery and months of recovery. The fighter confirmed that the past 11 months have been filled with hardship that caused him immense emotional pain.
"I sit staring at my own photos all the time, crying inside," he said. "During my peak year, I was the Fighter of the Year and earned 4 to 5 million baht from RWS in that year alone. But these past 11 months, all I could do was watch other fighters compete. I missed boxing so much. I'm glad to be back."
The past 11 months have robbed Khun Sakon Lek of multiple lucrative opportunities and high-profile matchups. Now he stands at the threshold of redemption, facing Payman, a former Rajadamnern 118-pound title challenger and fighter from Medi Satut's renowned Vietnam Muay Thai gym. The boxing world will be watching closely to see whether his extended layoff affects his performance and whether the 2567 Fighter of the Year can reclaim his dominance. Don't miss tonight's RWS card at Rajadamnern.
