Pre-Bangkok career

Nungubon first discovered Muay Thai by watching Muay Thai matchups on television and started training with the encouragement of his older brother. He first started his training at the age of 7 in his home. At 16-years-old he joined the Por.Muangubon-Sitlerchai gym owned by Kru Pot Wongmuangchan. The gym was located in his hometown of Ubon Ratchathani and Nungubon would become a teammate of award-winning champion Orono Por.Muangubon.^[1] He had numerous fights in the Isaan region at 42 kg. His ring name "Nungubon" translates to "#1 of Ubon."^[2]

There are also alternate ways to anglicize Nungubon's ring name such as: Neung Ubon Sit Lertchai, Nung-Ubon, Neungubon, etc.

Elite career

Nungubon was a rope-a-dope Muay Femur fighter who was skilled with punches and kicks from both legs. Nungubon was born with his left leg longer than his right, resulting in the Thai media nicknaming him Tuan Pae or "The Lame." Despite this physical abnormality, Nungubon would become a highly successful fighter from 1990 to 1999. In fact, Nungubon's favorite technique was his lead left kick to the body^[2] which he often used to interrupt his opponents' aggression and would sometimes cause them to get redirected, allowing Nungubon to circle away from his opponents. Another one of Nungubon's signature techniques which can repeatedly be seen in his fights is his powerful right cross which he would use to KO Wangchannoi Sor.Palangchai^[3] and to knockdown "The Batman" Samkor Kiatmonthep or Kaensak Sor.Ploenchit.

2 years after joining the Por.Muangubon gym, he would make his Bangkok debut at 18-years-old. He would begin fighting for the Onesongchai promotion, considered the best fight promotion of the golden era of Muay Thai.^[2][4] The victories on Nungubon's fight record is filled with championship and award-winning fighters. In particular, he has victories from 8 different Sports Writer's Association Fighter of the Year award winners: Langsuan Panyuthaphum (KO), Kaensak Sor.Ploenchit, Jaroensap Kiatbanchong, Wangchannoi Sor.Palangchai (KO), and others. For context, the Sports Writer's Association Fighter of the Year award is the most prestigious title a Muay Thai fighter can win in Thailand.^[5]

Nungubon's prime lasted from 1990 and 1996, during which he would earn 3 Lumpinee titles in 3 weight classes against elite fighters such as Kompayak Singmanee or Langsuan Panyuthaphum. His 4th and most notable title capture was when Nungubon was past his prime, being visibly slower and less agile^[6] as he was matched up against Saenchai in 1999. During this time Saenchai had entered the peak of his career by winning the highly prestigious Fighter of the Year award and losing no other fight that year except his first title fight against Nungubon. Nungubon stated that his favorite memory from his career was winning the Lumpinee Mini Flyweight title (105 lbs) against Kompayak Singmanee in 1990. Nungubon has stated that the most difficult opponent he ever faced was "The Top Master" Karuhat Sor.Supawan.^[2]

While Nungubon excelled in kicking as can be seen in his fights, he also excelled in punching. He took advantage of his boxing skills to earn 15 victories out of 16 fights in boxing matches held by the Pan Asian Boxing Association. He earned the PABA Bantamweight title (118 lbs) and defended it twice.^[2]

Nungubon's Muay Thai career within Thailand was unusually long, as most fighters from his generation (fighters that rose to prominence in 1990 or late 1980s) such as Karuhat Sor.Supawan or Kaensak Sor.Ploenchit had stopped taking matchups from top Thai competition before the 2000s. Nungubon would continue to challenge elite fighters such as Fahsuchon Sit-O and Anuwat Kaewsamrit into the 2000s. The highest purse Nungubon received was 180,000 baht,^[2] which is 180% the usual purse of yodmuay (top fighters).^[7][8]

Post-retirement

After his fighting career Nungubon opened his own gym named Sit Nungubon in his native province of Ubon Ratchathani. The gym is one of two camps within the same building, the other camp being the Santi Ubon gym which also accepts fighters from the Sit Nungubon gym.^[9]

Muay Thai

• Lumpinee Stadium
  • 1990 Lumpinee Stadium 105 lbs Champion
  • 1991 Lumpinee Stadium 112 lbs Champion
  • 1995 Lumpinee Stadium 115 lbs Champion
  • 1996 Lumpinee Stadium Fight of the Year (vs Hansuk Prasathinpanomrung on July 26)
  • 1996 Lumpinee Stadium Fighter of the Year ^[10]
  • 1999 Lumpinee Stadium 118 lbs Champion

Boxing

• Pan Asian Boxing Association
  • 1996 PABA Super Flyweight Champion (2 defenses)