Rodtang “The Iron Man” Jitmuangnon: From Temple Fair Queens to ONE Championship
At just 21, Rodtang is already the most talked‑about name in Muay Thai, and now he’s stepping onto ONE Championship’s biggest stage. In September’s Conquest of Heroes in Jakarta, he’ll face the two‑time W5 World Champion, Sergio “Samurai” Wielzen. The stakes? A brand‑new chapter in his SuperSeries career.
First Strike (and a Big One)
People often ask how someone who didn’t even know a pad could come this far. The answer: he started at a temple fair in a tiny Southern Thai village. He was only eight and had already proven he could smack his way to victory in the ring.
- Won eleven consecutive fights right out of the gate.
- Gave himself a clear call‑to‑action: “I’ll fight Muay Thai full‑time.”
- Helped his parents hustle: he’d earn every time he landed a strike.
Bangkok’s Big Dream
Once in Bangkok, opportunity bloomed. Competing against the best, he caught the eye of the famed Jitmuangnon Gym. The gym’s owner, Huan, became his new coach‑guru.
But life isn’t always a walk in the park. The distance from home and the heavy training schedule began to weigh him down. A string of losses rattled him, leaving him sighing, “I’ve got no money, no motivation.”
Keeping the Iron Man Alive
Huan saw the raw potential behind the quiet troubles and pushed him on. “He shook me, told me to kick up my spirit again,” Rodtang says. The turnaround was instant, and he clinched two Omnoi Stadium Championships, signalling he was not just a flash in the pan.
Then came tragedy: Huan passed away, a blow that hurt the whole Muay Thai circle. Yet Rodtang didn’t back down. He rallied behind Huan’s widow, Mare Ae, lending a hand to keep the gym afloat.
- Daily support at the training floor.
- Helped streamline the gym’s operations.
- Open‑heart work that allowed the gym to keep running and now, to journey to ONE.
Family, Gym, and Greater Glory
With the gym’s engine revving together, Rodtang’s influence has expanded beyond the ring and into family support. 300 bouts later, he believes his crest is still in the rising curve. A win over Wielzen would send a crystal‑clear message: this kid’s got the fire.
What’s Next?
One mission: prove that the Iron Man isn’t just a nickname but a living statement. If he lands a victory in his debut faced with a seasoned opponent, the world will finally recognise Rodtang Jitmuangnon as one of Muay Thai’s greats—a roar that echoes out of the Muay Thai ring, into the ONE arena, and beyond.
