Panpayak Jitmuangnon is ending his two-year hiatus from ONE Championship at ONE Friday Fights 83. On Friday, October 18, “The Angel Warrior” meets Silviu “Hitman” Vitez in a flyweight Muay Thai showdown. After many wars inside the ring, the 28-year-old stated he needed time away to recoup both mind and body.
“The main reason I decided to stop fighting was because I felt burned out and had no motivation anymore. I felt that I had been using my body for a long time, so I wanted to take a break and do something else,” Panpayak admitted to ONE.
Panpayak was honest that his motivation to return to action did not return until a major life change. The 28-year-old welcomed his daughter to the world, and her arrival sparked a newfound drive to compete. At ONE Friday Fights 83, he gets to step inside Lumpinee Stadium for the first time as a father.
“I always followed ONE during the past two years. I admit that I missed fighting a bit, but I didn’t have any motivation to come back to fight – until I had a child. I wanted to come back to fight again because I wanted to show my child how good a fighter I am. If I didn’t have a child, I might never come back,” the Thai athlete said.
“The Angel Warrior” is using his fatherhood as a motivation to push for a finish on October 18. The Thai star wants to add to his highlight reel for his daughter more than anything else. However, a big return would make an instant impact on the loaded flyweight division, announcing his return to form.
“My goal for this fight is to make an epic comeback by winning by knockout. I want to show my daughter and everyone that Panpayak is still a great fighter,” the 28-year-old commented.
The motivated Muay Thai master is taking his return seriously, so much so that he is diving deep into the film on Silviu. The Romanian has Panpayak’s full attention. The Thai athlete discussed what makes his opponent dangerous in his breakdown of the 30-year-old striker.
“Silviu’s fighting style is different from other foreign boxers who move in and out quickly. He almost stands still and trades one by one, like Thai fighters. His strengths are his endurance and his all-around weapons, so I plan to use my superior experience to fight against him,” Panpayak remarked.
“The Angel Warrior” wanted to make it clear what fans can expect in the flyweight showcase on Friday. He was adamant that he is returning with a new aggressive style, sure to excite the crowd inside Lumpinee Stadium. If everything goes as planned, Panpaypak’s return could sound the alarms for a red-hot flyweight chase in 2025.
“For this fight, I have worked hard on my punches. As for kicks, don’t worry, you guys will definitely see it in the ring. I will try to press forward as much as possible because I believe that many fans still think of me as a fighter who likes to back away. For this fight, I will show my fans that I am a new Panpayak who has changed his style to be more aggressive with no more retreating,” the flyweight said.
ONE Friday Fights 83 airs live from Lumpinee Stadium on Friday, October 18. The action begins at 8:30 a.m. ET/5:30 a.m. PT. The event airs free on ONE’s official YouTube channel.
