Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym
A relentless Thai power-puncher who stormed to world titles in two weight classes, defending his crown with formidable consistency.
Born 1980 (age 46)·Thai boxer·Birthday: November 20·Generation X
Biography
Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym, born Chalermwong Udomna, was a fighter who embodied the classic Thai boxing ethos: tough, technically sound, and ferociously aggressive. Fighting under the name of the famous energy drink brand, he carved a path through the bantamweight and super bantamweight divisions with a high-pressure, come-forward style. His breakthrough came when he captured the WBA bantamweight title, a victory that announced him on the world stage. He wasn't a flashy superstar but a workmanlike champion who successfully defended his title multiple times before moving up to win another world belt. His career stands as a testament to the deep pool of talent in Thailand's boxing scene, producing champions who dominate for years with little fanfare outside their home country.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Poonsawat was born in 1980, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Poonsawat Was Born
The biggest hits of 1980
#1 Movie
The Empire Strikes Back
Best Picture
Ordinary People
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Poonsawat's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1980Born
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1985Started school
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1993Became a teenager
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1996Could drive
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1998Could vote
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Turned 21
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2010Turned 30
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 40
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 46 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the WBA World Bantamweight champion in 2005 and made four successful title defenses.
- Won the WBA World Super Bantamweight title in 2009 by stopping champion Bernard Dunne in the first round.
- Held the PABA regional championship in both the bantamweight and super bantamweight divisions early in his career.
- Finished his professional career with a record of 48 wins, with 33 coming by way of knockout.
Did You Know?
His ring name, 'Kratingdaenggym', is the Thai name for the Red Bull energy drink brand.
He avenged an early career loss to Somsak Sithchatchawal, who later also became a world champion.
He retired in 2012 after a knockout loss to then-unbeaten Guillermo Rigondeaux.
“My fists wrote the story; the belt is just the cover.”
