Nokweed Devy

Nokweed (nickname: Chit; ชิต) was born in a poor family in Amphoe Lang Suan, Chumphon province, but raised in Amphoe Sichon, Nakhon Si Thammarat province in south Thailand. Nokweed started Muay Thai at the age of 7 and his other two brothers are Muay Thai kickboxers, Santos Devy and Paidang Lersak Gym, all of whom are champions of the Rajadamnern Stadium.[1][2]

He used to fight with many famous Thai kickboxers, such as Sagat Petchyindee, Samingnoom Sithiboonthum, Praedam Lukphrabath, Wanpadej Phukrongfah, Sangtiennoi Sor Rungroj, Mungkorndum Sitchang, and Issara Sakgreerin etc. He won three different weight championships of the Rajadamnern Stadium and also won champion of the World Muaythai Council (WMC).[1]

Nokweed was a heavy kick fighter, he was named the heaviest kick fighter in that era. In addition, he is also the primary Thai fighter who faced foreign fighters in K-1 matches, such as Jayson Vemoa, Jérôme Le Banner, Dany Bill, Faisal Zakaria, Stéphane Nikiéma, Paul Slowinski (later became his student) and Jeff Ortzow etc.[2]

When he fought Jérôme Le Banner he weighted 72 kg while Jérôme weighted 107 kg, a 35 kg difference.[3]

After retirement, he became a trainer and had a Muay Thai gym with his fellow southern fighter, Lakhin Vasansit at Ko Samui, Surat Thani province. Paidang and Nokkweed's gym was taken over by Punch it Switzerland 10 months after his death and has been run as Punch it Muaythai Gym since July 2017.

He died suddenly while training Muay Thai in the evening of August 31, 2016 at his gym, aged 51.[1]

Rajadamnern Stadium Titles:

• Junior Featherweight Champion (122 lbs)
• Featherweight Champion (126 lbs)
• Junior Lightweight Champion (130 lbs)

World Titles:

• WMC Welterweight Champion (147 lbs)