No Contender Asia fans do not know him. He is one of the excellent Thai Muay Thai fighters who has recently joined the series, together with his friend, Yodsaenklai Fairtex. Naruepon not reputable only in this series or in many of international competition, he also the ex-champion of Lumphini Stadium in 2005, which I think it is the most difficult to get title of this stadium because there were a lot of the well known and more-than-excellent fighters around.
His camp, Fairtex is also reputable so should be no doubt what make him so strong and difficult to fight with. The most distinctive skills are knee kick and elbow. Even though he is really young, only in his early twenties) but I think he received such a wonderful success, compare to other Thai fighters in Thailand. This may be because he receive a lot of promotion and support from his camp to encourage him to develop skill as well as to support to fight overseas.
Fighter Review: Naruepon Fairtex
Tuesday, February 5, 2008Muscle and mayhem
Tuesday, January 29, 2008Reality shows don’t come with more blood, guts and testosterone – a good dosage of heart tugging drama and a dash of comedy to boot than The Contender Asia. The Asian version of the American boxing reality show is screened on AXN every Wednesday at 9pm.
Sylvester Stallone and former heavyweight champion, Sugar Ray Leonard, introduced viewers to The Contender format back in 2005. Mark “Survivor” Burnett, Stallone and DreamWorks’ Jeffrey Katzenberg produced that boxing reality show, which captured the glory of the sport and its players in an engrossing 15-episode reality series.
With The Contender Asia, produced in Singapore by Imagine OmniMedia in association with Mark Burnett Productions, audiences will gain access to the thoughts and actions of 16 professional MuayThai fighters from around the world. The one who outlasts all other contenders earns himself a cash prize of USD$250,000 (RM950,000).
In the pilot episode which aired Jan 16, there was heart-wrenching drama when one contender accidentally tripped a fellow fighter causing the latter to hurt his shoulder and elbow.
The Contender Asia is Burnett’s first reality venture into Asia; there’s a possibility of The Apprentice Asia possibly happening in 2009. In October last year (a month after Contender Asia began filming in Singapore), Burnett signed a 10-year exclusive joint venture with Genting International to develop, produce and distribute game shows and reality television series in Asia. Contender Asia is not part of that deal.
At a press conference held in Singapore recently, Riaz Mehta, the CEO of Imagine OmniMedia and executive producer of Contender Asia, said: “We have established a new standard in Asian television and raised the bar in Asian productions based in Asia... Putting together this programme, we’ve done an Asian first – it was made here, and it’s being distributed in the United States.”
Burnett, who flew down to Singapore from Los Angeles for the premiere of the series, seconded Riaz’s thought: “I think you will see a lot of people are surprised that you can shoot something and edit something entirely on location in Singapore, in this case, and it is exactly the same quality (as the American programme). I am not surprised. I think the talent here is equivalent to anywhere in the world. It’s only a matter of vision.”
Ricky Ow – general manager of SPE Networks, Asia, which owns AXN – put it in plainer words: “They’ll be shocked by the quality of this show.”
The idea for The Contender Asia with MuayThai as the fighting style started two years ago, and was fuelled by Burnett’s love for Asia.
“I really love the quality of MuayThai. When I was hanging out in Thailand, there’s nothing greater than watching a fight. There is this sense of history and respect for the inner spirit (in the game). When they take a moment before the fight, before the combat, to pray, it’s beautiful. It’s the inner journey. One thing that comes across in Contender Asia is the decency of the competitors. It’s combat is done in a very kind way, combat can be kind; there is a sense of pageantry. (But) it’s still a competition; they still want to be the best. And some – despite the sense of majesty – still succumb to their inner id, it’s about self-preservation. And other people take the moral high ground. (It’s all) good story telling.”
According to Burnett, good story telling begins with finding the right people. For Contender Asia, the 16 fighters were handpicked by Stephan Fox, who is vice-president and international co-ordinator for the World MuayThai Council in Thailand. Fox is also the series’ host, along with Jaymee Ong.
Fox said: “I picked them based on their ranking in the MuayThai Council and their personalities. This is a new learning experience for them and throughout there was great enthusiasm. They lived together and became friends. Yes, there were some heated moments but this is sports.” Fox hopes that the series may elevate the sport even further, and that it could be included in the Olympic games some day.
Singaporean Zaki, one of the fighters, described the bond he forged with the other contenders as thus: “A lot of respect went in that house.” Zaki is the contender who hurt himself in the first challenge. Although he wasn’t angry as accidents happen, this one was hard to weather and he confessed to having thoughts that the injury would ruin his chances in the competition.
It is these kinds of real emotional ups and downs that make The Contender Asia a prime candidate for popularity.
Burnett concluded: “ ... in the first episode where the guy tripped over and hurt his shoulder, think how much he had trained, he wants to win, he’s on international television and his parents and friends are watching. It’s a combat show and he falls over and dislocates his shoulder on the first day. Oh my god, you feel so much for this person. You can’t write this stuff. I mean you could write it but you don’t have to. Something always happens.”
The Contenders:
Naruepol Fairtex vs Trevor Smandych
Saturday, January 19, 2008
The Contender: Asia's first matchup was between Naruepol Fairtex of Thailand and Trevor Smandych of Canada. The Wild Boars won episode 1's competition and the right to choose the matchup. Their strategy was to eliminate the weaker opponents first. So the sent their best fighter, Naruepol to fight the Tiger King's weakest link, Trevor.
This was the most one-sided match I've seen so far. Trevor had no chance. Whatever moves he threw either missed or did no damage. Naruepol gave Trevor a good beating, but enough to get the win. He was respectful and didn't try to seriously hurt the obviously weaker opponent. He held back elbows and it was pretty obvious that he could've gone for the knockout any time he wanted and with whatever move he wanted.
16 Fighters of the Contender Asia including Naruepol Fairtex
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
16 fighters of the Contender Asia 2008. 16 fighters from 12 countries. The more detail about each fighters will be available soon. Here we go:
- Alain Sylvestre from Canada
- Bruce Macfie from Australia
- David Pacquette from England
- Dzhabar Askerov from United Arab Emirates
- James Martinez from USA
- John Wayne Parr from Australia
- Naruepol Fairtex from Thailand
- Jose Pitu Sans from Spain
- Rafik Bakkouri from France
- Sean Wright from Scotland
- Soren Mongkontong from Australia
- Trevor Smandych from Canada
- Yodsaenklai from Thailand
- “Yukay” Joakim Karlsson from Sweden
- Zig Zach from Singapore
- Zidov Dominik from Switzerland
Naruepol Fairtex
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Naruepol is another star in Fairtex's stable of fighters, In addition to his 110 -41 record he's a former Lumpini and Rajadomnern Stadium champion. Currently he's the no.1 contender to challenge Nopadetch Choowattana for the WBC title. Naruepol is considered tall for a Thai fighter and is very effective with his knees and elbows.
Personal Information
- Name: Naruepol Fairtex
- Birthdate: 1/7/1984
- Height: 177 cm
- Weight: 64 kgs - 65 kgs
- Record: 81-72-2
- Country: Thailand
Titles
- Lumpinee Champion
- Thailand Champion
Naruepol Fairtex at AUK MEN
Monday, November 5, 2007On November 1, I was invited to attend the 1st day of shooting the new MuayThai movie AUK MEN at Sor. Khamsing Gym
it is going to be unlike any other MuayThai movie as it has many fighters that are current Champions and Legends recognised thru out the world ie.
Somrak Sor. Khamsing
Ajarn Apidej Sit-Hirun
Kaoklai Kaennorasing
Charowit Jockygym
Naruepol Fairtex
Nong Toom
Sarawut Lukbanjai
Yodsangklai Fairtex was supposed to be there, but is training very hard for his fight against Farid Villaume
the fight scenes are NOT "wire-fighting" as seen in other movies, but bare MuayThai filmed in the street, Gyms, warehouses and I was informed this will have VIOLENT fight scenes, not pretty ones that look spectacular... it will also have Kaoklai in a MMA fight which I have been told "he has been training very hard for" and allegedly already asked to fight overseas
today they were filming the opening scenes of the "new arrivals" that come to a Gym in order to train MuayThai and become "champions", but things stand in their way
Ahmed (or Auk Men as he is known in Thailand) has been a MMA trainer and ground fighter in the past and is very excited to be given the chance to be the Lead Actor in this film and to train under Somrak Sor Khamsing
Ying Ismalone is the Lead Actress and Producer
Dave Ismalone is the Director
Kaoklai is the MuayThai Champion that has no time for the new guy
everybody was very happy with what was shot this morning (while I was there) and we all attended the Blessing Ceremony conducted by an Ajarn
the filming is to be finished by the 9th December and will be released hopefully early to mid next year.
Naruepol proves too strong
Friday, August 3, 2007
Naruepol had a tough opponent in front of him in Current Ratchadamnern and WMC world Super-welterweight champion Bigben Chor Praram6. Bigben came into this fight after beating French Muaythai superstar Jean Charles Skarbowsky, by knockout in the first round.
Bigben started the fight strong, pushing forward and looking to unsettle Naruepol with hard punches and lowkicks.
Naruepol, kept his cool though and landed with hard, long knees and kicks, from behind a tight guard, soaking up Bigben's attacks. Naruepol also dominated the fight inside the clinch and landed with a succession of strong knees to put him ahead and allow him to take the fight on points.