Early career

Saenklai was inspired to take up Muay Thai at the age of 11 after watching his brother Kangwannoi fight out of the Sit Kru Od Muay Thai camp. Under the tutelage of Poompichai Rattanavisid AKA Kru Od, he had his first fight after three months of training under the ring name of Klaisaen Netkorsang. Fighting between 66 to 77 lbs (30-35 kg), he rapidly became a recognized talent in eastern Thailand where he faced future champions such as Robert Kaennorasing and Samson Isaan^[1] who he fought a total of 13 times along his career.

Fighting style

Saenklai was a rope-a-dope Muay Femur fighter, meaning that he preferred to move backwards from his opponent to bait them into moving forward into his counters or his unpredictable attacks. He excelled at controlling his opponents using a variety of techniques such as teeps (foot jabs) to interrupt his opponent's attacks, pushing his opponents when they were off-balanced, catching kicks, sweeping, etc. His footwork often times made him difficult to predict and allowed him to circle around his opponents and redirect them as they came forward, similar to a matador.

Saenklai was described to have a "strong mind" meaning that he was a durable fighter with strong strikes. Most notably, Saenklai had strong punches and a strong right kick. In its prime, the Sit Kru Od gym where Saenklai and his brother trained in was famous for producing intelligent fighters, as Kru Od believed that a fighter's intelligence was their greatest weapon.^[2][3]

Elite career and later years

In 1988, around 4 years into his Muay Thai career, he adopted the ring name of Saenklai Sit Kru Od (which translates to "Saenklai, student of teacher Od") and started fighting in Bangkok. At first, he mostly fought in Samrong Stadium until he reached 100 lbs. He then made his way permanently to Lumpinee Stadium where he fought for the Petchyindee promotion. The Lumpinee officials printed his name incorrectly as "Saenkrai" (แสนไกร) for a year.^[1]

He would go on to be one of the most successful elite fighters from 1990 to 1996. His performances made him one of the most significant fighters at the 115 to 118 lbs range during the golden era of Muay Thai. At the peak of his career as a Lumpinee stadium champion, his highest purse reached 250,000 baht.^[1] For comparison, the usual purse given to elite Muay Thai fighters during the golden era was 100,000 baht and it was rare for one to earn 200,000 baht or higher.^[4]

He would win and defend his Bantamweight (118 lbs) title 6 times from 1993 to 1994 during a time when it was uncommon for a Bangkok fighter to defend their belts at least once before it would be taken away by a challenger. Saenklai would fight Samson Isaan 13 times, with Saenklai securing 7 victories against the award-winning pressure fighter.

Saenklai retired after being knocked out by Jaoweha Looktapfah on October 12, 1997. His victories against Veerapol Sahaprom and his championship fight against "The Sadist" Taweesaklek Ploysakda were considered his best fights. He was matched up against Kaensak Sor. Ploenchit but they did not fight. Saenklai would go on to run a family business in his hometown of Bua Yai. He trained some Muay Thai fighters when he was able.^[1]

On December 15, 2019, Saenklai passed away in his home from tuberculosis complications at the age of 46.^[5][6]