Muay Thai Trainer/WMC World Champion

Phanuwat “Coke” Chunhawat

WMC World Champion "Sugar Cane" Coke is the Muay Thai trainer at Pacific Ring Sports. Michael met Coke several years ago in Thailand when they were roommates at the Fairtex Training Camp in Bangkok.  Coke began his fighting career at the age of 13.  His first trainer was the legendary Jongsanan “Wooden Man” Fairtex.  Coke fought his way to the top, fighting in numerous television stadiums in Thailand and eventually the world renowned Lumpini and Ratchadamnoen Stadiums, where he consistently ranked at the top 10 in various weight classes ranging from 112 to 120 pounds.  He has fought and beat legendary names such as Onepichai Sohomsing, Sankang Solrelygoon, Detkalong Salsumari, Natow, and Omnipon.  He even defeated Buakaw “Por Pramuk,” now the 3-time K-1 MAX World Champion.  Coke has fought professionally for over 14 years and has over 250 fights, an extraordinary number when compared to top western fighters (for example, the legendary Muhammad Ali fought about 60 fights in his professional career).

Coke continues to fight even as he has moved into the realm of trainer.  He is a very humble, patient, motivating, and technical trainer, imparting his years of experience and patience into any willing student who displays a commitment and passion for the art.

Coke’s Bio:

Phanuwat “Coke” Chunhawat was born in a small town two hours outside of Bangkok, Thailand. At a very young age he went to live with his grandparents, but they could not afford to take care of him as he got older. Around the age of 12 he went to live at a Buddhist monastery. The monks there took care of him and allowed him to fight his first Muay Thai match at a New Year’s festival in the upcountry. He won that fight with no training and began thinking about a career as a fighter. As a young man of 13 in Bangkok, Coke had no money and could not find much work.

A friend of his approached him and asked if he wanted to train at the Fairtex Muay Thai camp in Bangkok. He decided to go – a decision that would change his life forever. With a little luck, years of hard training, and a great inner will to succeed, Coke became one of Thailand’s top fighters, competing in numerous television stadiums in Thailand, and eventually the famous Ratchadamnoen and Lumpini stadiums, amassing an astounding 250+ fights with the majority of them at Lumpini, where only the best are allowed to fight. At his best Coke was ranked #2 and had already defeated many legendary champions, but because Muay Thai in Thailand is sometimes political, he was never given a shot at the title. Coke visited the US to teach Muay Thai in 2005. In 2007, he became a permanent resident of Oakland and continued to teach and fight.  In 2010, Coke captured the WMC World Championship Title.