Worapon On Bangkok's Role In His Fighting Career

ONE Championship bantamweight Worapon Lukjaoporongtom says relocating to Bangkok as a teenager changed the trajectory of his fighting career.

Worapon faces Lenny Blasi in the main event of The Inner Circle 28 on Friday at Lumpinee Stadium with a $100,000 contract on the line. The Buriram native grew up training locally after his father pulled him from boarding school to focus on Muay Thai full-time by age nine or ten. He fought in Bangkok occasionally as a teenager but ran his first ONE camp out of his hometown in 2023 and lost a narrow decision in his promotional debut.

Bangkok Training Transformed Worapon's Approach

The permanent move to Sor Dechapan gym in the capital marked a turning point. "It was my first time living in Bangkok, so everything felt exciting and brand new," Worapon told BJ Penn.com. "The training system here is completely different... it's highly structured and disciplined, with specialized training that helped me continuously elevate my skills."

Three straight decision losses followed, coinciding with the death of his younger sibling. Worapon has since rebuilt with a 7-1 run overall, including three consecutive wins in 2026 that positioned him for Friday's six-figure contract opportunity. He said the losing streak hit hard because he was battling internal factors while dealing with grief that deeply affected his mental state.

The bantamweight Muay Thai contest streams live from Bangkok on Friday, August 28.

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• BJPenn — Country boy Worapon speaks on Bangkok’s influence on his early fighting career: ‘Everything felt exciting and brand new’