Recognized by Thai people as the greatest Muay Thai boxer in history, Nai Khanom Tom was a Siamese commoner who lived quietly in Ayutthaya, the old Siam capital.
In 1767, Burmese troops had conquered Ayutthaya and rounded up a group of Thai People to be captured as prisoners at the city of Ungwa in Burma, and Nai Khanom Tom was one them. Some time later, King Mangra, the Burmese monarch, decided to organize a religious festival in honor of the Burmese pagoda. Boxing matches between Thai prisoners and Burmese fighters were staged and Nai Khanom Tom had been included in the group of Thai boxers.
The boxing ring was set up in front of the Burmese king. After the fighting began, Thai boxers had been conquered one by one until the turn of Nai Khanom Tom. Although faced with the Burmese champion, he defeated the Burmese boxer in only a short time. According to legend, Nai Khanom Tom dazzled his first opponent with a pre-fight ritual called Ram Muay, a ceremonial dance honoring his teachers and mentors. The Burmese monarch then offered him his freedom if he could fight nine other Burmese champions, and he agreed. Nai Khanom Tom defeated Burmese boxers one by one without a break, and this effort extremely impressed the Burmese king. Nai Khanom Tom was freed and went back to Ayutthaya.
Today, his great victory is still well recognized by Thai people. “Boxer’s Day” or “National Muay Thai Day” is entitled on March 17 to honor Nai Khanom Tom, one of the great founders of Muay Thai.
