Sarawut PrapraipetchThai: สราวุธ ประไพเพชร; born September 5, 1984), known professionally as Kaew Fairtex (Thai: แก้ว แฟร์เท็กซ์; born September 5, 1984), is a Thai professional Muay Thai fighter and kickboxer. He is the former two-time K-1 Super Lightweight Champion, a three-time K-1 Super Lightweight World Grand Prix winner, and the two-division Lumpinee Stadium champion.
Combat Press ranked Kaew Fairtex as a top ten featherweight (-66 kg) kickboxer in the world for seven consecutive years, i.e. between December 2014 and July 2021.[1][2]
Kickboxing career
First K-1 title reign
First Super Lightweight Grand Prix
On September 5, 2014, it was announced that Kaew would be one of eight participants in the one-day K-1 Super Lightweight World Grand Prix, which was held on November 3, 2014, and would face the reigning Krush Lightweight titleholderHideaki Yamazaki in the tournament quarterfinals.[3] He won the fight by a narrow unanimous decision, with all three judges awarding him a 30–29 scorecard.[4] Kaew advanced to the semifinals, where he faced the two-time Krush Grand Prix winner and former welterweight champion Yuta Kubo. He floored Kubo with a right hook at the 1:52 minute mark of the second round, which left the Japanese fighter unable to rise from the canvas.[5] Kaew faced Yasuomi Soda in the tournament finals and was able to overcome him by majority decision, with scores of 30–28, 30–29 and 29–29.[6] Kaew dedicated his win to his father, who died a week before the tournament.[7][8]
After beating Zhang Chunyu by unanimous decision at Kunlun Fight 26 on June 7, 2015, Kaew was booked to face Yasuomi Soda in a rematch at K-1 World GP 2015 -70kg Championship Tournament on July 4, 2015. He was more successful than in their first meeting, as he won the fight by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the bout 30–26 in his favor. Kaew knocked his opponent down with a one-two near the end of the second round.[12]
Kaew was announced as one of eight participants in the 2016 one-night K-1 Super Lightweight World Grand Prix, which took place on June 24, 2016. He faced the inaugural Krush Super Lightweight champion Hiroya Kawabe in the quarterfinals.[18] Kaew needed just 36 seconds to knock Hiroya out with a well place left hook, which earned him a place in the semifinals opposite Masaaki Noiri.[19] He beat Noiri by unanimous decision, with two scorecards of 29–28 and one scorecard of 30–29.[20] Kaew faced Ilias Bulaid in the tournament finals, having already overcome the Enfusion champion by unanimous decision two months prior. He was even more convincing in the rematch, as he stopped Bulaid by technical knockout in the second round.[21]
Kaew made his fourth championship defense against Masaaki Noiri, who he had previously beaten by unanimous decision in the semifinals of the 2016 K-1 Super Lightweight World Grand Prix, at K-1 World GP 2017 Super Middleweight Championship Tournament on June 18, 2017. He lost the fight by a close and controversial split decision, after an extra fourth round was contested.[24]
Second K-1 title reign
Third Super Lightweight Grand Prix
After suffering his second K-1 loss, Kaew faced Liu Wei at Hero Legend 2017 on September 17, 2017. He won the fight by a second-round technical knockout.[25] Kaew returned to K-1 to face the 19-year old Ren Hiramoto at K-1 World GP 2018: K'FESTA.1 on March 21, 2018. He lost the fight by a second-round knockout,[26] Kaew's lost in his next appearance as well, as he suffered a unanimous decision loss at the hands of Qiu Jianliang at Glory of Heroes 31 on May 26, 2018.[27]
On September 4, 2018, it was revealed that Kaew would take part in the 2018 K-1 Super Lightweight World Grand Prix as well, which took place on November 3, 2018, and would face the K-1 WORLD MAX 2010 Lightweight Japan Tournament winner Tetsuya Yamato in the quarterfinals.[28] He stopped Yamato with a head kick, 92 seconds into the opening round.[29] Kaew advanced to the penultimate bout of the one-night tournament, where he faced Yasuomi Soda, who he had beaten twice already. He won the trilogy fight by unanimous decision, after an extra fourth round was contested.[30] Kaew captured his third Grand Prix title after he overcame Daizo Sasaki by unanimous decision in the finals, with two scorecards of 30–29 and one scorecard of 29–28.[31][32]
Title loss
Kaew made the first title defense of his second title reign against Rukiya Anpo, who entered the fight on a three-fight win streak, at K-1 World GP 2019: Super Bantamweight World Tournament on June 30, 2019.[33] Anpo initially missed weight by 150 grams at the official weigh-ins, although he was able to make the mark on his second attempt.[34] The fight was ruled a majority decision draw after the first three rounds, with two judge seeing the fight as a draw, while the third judge scored it 29–28 for Anpo. Kaew lost the fight by unanimous decision after the extension round was fought. He was deducted a point in the fourth round for pulling down on Anpo's head.[35] An immediate rematch took place at K-1 World GP 2019 Japan: ～Women's Flyweight Championship Tournament～ on December 28, 2019.[36] Anpo was once again declared the winner by unanimous decision, after an extra fourth round was fought.[37]
