BoxRec

WBC minimumweight champion Wanheng Menayothin (54-0, 18 KOs) shocked his local fans when he took to social media to announce his retirement from the sport of boxing.

Menayothin, who is 34-years-old, made his professional debut in 2007. Given his age it's extremely rare that he was able to remain in boxing's smallest weight class for his entire career.

The boxer was promoted in the United States by Golden Boy Promotions.

He was scheduled to make his U.S. debut for the promotional company earlier this year as part of a show in Los Angeles, but the event was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Menayothin spent his entire career in Thailand.

The Thai boxer began to make noise and get worldwide attention when his pro record began to inch close to the undefeated 50-0 streak of Floyd Mayweather, who himself retired back in 2017.

He officially surpassed Mayweather's record in August of 2018, when he reached 51-0 by winning a twelve round decision over Pedro Taduran.

He's also remained close to the World Boxing Council for his entire career.

Menayothin won the WBC's Youth title, the WBC interim-International title, and the WBC's International silver title. He finally won the WBC's full minimumweight championship in 2014 when he stopped Oswaldo Novoa in nine rounds.

After capturing the WBC title, he made twelve defenses against a who's who in the rankings.

Menayothin's last fight took place back in October 2019, when he won a twelve round unanimous decision over Simiwe Konkco.

"I have decided that it's good to stop boxing. My parents, siblings have never been in boxing. I'm decide everything for myself. I know how I feel. No one knows my body as much as I do. Everyone needs money. But I would like to heal my body. Congratulations to everyone who supports me. Thank you for all the strength that you have always given me," Menayothin stated.

At An Incredible 54-0 Is He Hall Of Fame Material? - By James Slater

As fans may have read, Thai fighter Wanheng Menayothin announced his retirement yesterday. The announcement came as something as a surprise seeing how Menayothin was set to finally fight outside of his home country, in America (before the coronavirus struck). Also, at age 34, though this is pretty advanced for a lower weight, reflex-reliant fighter, it was thought the long-reigning WBC minimumweight champ would fight for a little while longer.

But now, 5’2” Menayothin has apparently made up his mind:

“I have decided that it’s good to stop boxing,” he wrote on social media. “My parents, siblings have never been in boxing. I’m decide everything for myself. I know how I feel. No-one knows my body as much as I do. Everybody needs money, but I would like to heal my body. Thank you for all the strength you have always given me.”

Although Menayothin is largely unknown outside of Thailand, the minimumweight warrior has an incredible record at 54-0 (18). Menayothin fought at the same weight his entire career. A WBC champ since 2014, he made an impressive 12 retentions of the belt. After going 49-0, fans began talking about Menayothin topping superstar Floyd Mayweather’s unbeaten record, which he eventually did, by four fights/wins.

Fans were wondering how far Menayothin could get, yet he is now done after 54 straight victories; this an amazing achievement. So, is Menayothin Hall of Fame material? His incredible numbers/perfect pro record/length of reign would suggest yes, but what about Menayothin’s quality of opposition? Often fighting guys with distinctly average, even losing records, Menayothin never defeated anything approaching a great fighter.

It’s a tough one, though, due to those astonishing numbers. If Menayothin had been a fighter at a higher weight, say a heavyweight, he would be looked at as something very special indeed at 54-0, after such a long time as champion. No matter his quality of opposition.

As it is, Hall of Fame or not, let’s wish Wanheng a happy retirement. A pro since January of 2007, Menayothin served his sport well for a very long time.

TBE

Wanheng AKA Chayaphon Moonsri was supposed to fight on Kovalev's undercard against Barrera back in May, after signing for Golden Boy.

I remember some saying, he's being prep'd for his first loss. It would have been his first ever fight outside of Thailand.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑22 Jun 2020, 05:07 Wanheng AKA Chayaphon Moonsri was supposed to fight on Kovalev's undercard against Barrera back in May, after signing for Golden Boy.

I remember some saying, he's being prep'd for his first loss. It would have been his first ever fight outside of Thailand.

Wanheng signed with Golden Boy on the 23rd July 2019, but only competed once (in Thailand) during the eleven months between that date and his retirement announcement.

And I'm pretty sure Golden Boy even subcontracted the promotion of that event to one of their partners, so they never really promoted the man (though via contractual technicalities, they did, but you get the point).

It seemed very weird of Golden Boy to sign a fighter and not really make any sort of attempt whatsoever to do anything with him.

54 tried. 54 failed. There is no blueprint.

#TBE#MoneyMenayothin

The mothafukin greatest

I suppose he'd be considered one of the greats at Strawweight, which is about like being considered one of the great Green Party candidates.

Not many people will ever be aware of him, but 54 wins without a loss is impressive.

Curious.. doesn't even make Top 25 All-time 105ers on BoxRec. Seems hard to believe.

Almost as impressive as 54-0... he never had a split or majority decision as far as I can tell.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑22 Jun 2020, 11:40 I suppose he'd be considered one of the greats at Strawweight, which is about like being considered one of the great Green Party candidates.

It's pretty remarkable how historically weak the division is when you consider that just 3 pounds north there's been at least 3 times more depth.

Bujia wrote: ↑22 Jun 2020, 12:33

gilgamesh wrote: ↑22 Jun 2020, 11:40 I suppose he'd be considered one of the greats at Strawweight, which is about like being considered one of the great Green Party candidates.

It's pretty remarkable how historically weak the division is when you consider that just 3 pounds north there's been at least 3 times more depth.

Yep, and there'd be more depth to weight classes like this if 108 wasn't an option, and everybody either had to be Strawweight or Flyweight.

Sh*t like that would make a lot of weight classes deeper if you just eliminated all these Middleman weight classes, that ultimately just bog down the sport, but that's a different conversation.

Such a legend. I wish him well in his glorious retirement

Tbe retires on top. 54 tried and 54 failed

How many of these little guys could a giant like Fury or AJ take at once?

gilgamesh wrote: ↑22 Jun 2020, 11:40 I suppose he'd be considered one of the greats at Strawweight, which is about like being considered one of the great Green Party candidates.

Not many people will ever be aware of him, but 54 wins without a loss is impressive.

Every serious boxing fan knows him at least bruh, he's the 54-0 guy, the tbe, the guy whose historic record always gets brought up

Verdi wrote: ↑22 Jun 2020, 16:04 How many of these little guys could a giant like Fury or AJ take at once?

If one of them was willing to get DQ'd for the team, and just go low blow crazy I'd say 4 of 'em could get it done

Aaaaaand he's back! Let's see if he still has it after that long layoff.

https://www.badlefthook.com/2020/6/22/2 ... l-fighting

Bujia wrote: ↑22 Jun 2020, 17:04 Aaaaaand he's back! Let's see if he still has it after that long layoff.

https://www.badlefthook.com/2020/6/22/2 ... l-fighting

I pretty well assumed that was gonna happen. There's no way any Strawweight boxer makes that much money, and unless he finds some other kinda career I can't imagine much else would give him the kinda revenue Boxing would. It's not retirement money, but it's solid money compared to other work I'm sure.

Five-Star Grilled Chicken???

Not a HOFer or anything close to it. Who were his big wins? Osvaldo Novoa and Saul Juarez? Not impressive.

Lol come on bruh, he had better wins than those, if his record's so crap no need to be dishonest is there. He's got a historical record, he's part of boxing lore and legend

Are you talking to me? If so, then no, he didn't have better wins than those. Saul Juarez is undoubtedly the biggest name on his record. Novoa I put as his 2nd biggest win just because it's what got him a title, but Novoa was never very good.