Mike Miles (6th from left) and a fighting trim "Cruncher" Coban (8th from left) at the Muangsurin Camp. (1992)
Teger, Shelley, Coban, Mike and Misha-Leigh. Seeing each other again in New York. (2005)
This article came about as a surprise to me. I received a phone call from Acharn Vut Kamnark who told me Coban was in North America and that he wanted to see me. I was ecstatic because I had first met and then trained with Coban at the prestigious Muangsurin Camp in Bangkok years back. Coban was now a free agent and he had come to America on a visa for a short period of time. He was also getting ready for an upcoming bout in the US. While in Bangkok, I had told him that I wanted to arrange for him to come to Canada for a visit. With him now in North America, I immediately resumed this task and started working on bringing him up to Canada at a later date to host a Muay Thai seminar. Unfortunately, this task has been frustrating because there is so much red tape to cut when dealing with visa's and passports. However, through the assistance of Clara Kongkriangkai and Acharn Surapuk Jamjuntr, I went to Los Angeles (to watch Coban's bout against France's Guillaume Kerner) to say hello to my friend and to interview him. As soon as we made eye contact, Coban grinned from ear to ear and he came over and gave me a big hug. It was great to see him again. MIKE MILES
Mike Miles: How old were you when you first started training in Muay Thai?
Coban: I was eleven years old. Now I am twenty nine years of age.
Mike Miles: Why did you start training in Muay Thai?
Coban: The biggest reason was the fact that I really liked the sport. I like to fight (in the ring). The other factor was the fact that my family is very poor. I wanted to and more importantly, needed to make money from fighting.
Mike Miles: Which part (province) of Thailand are you from?
Coban: I am from the northeast part of Thailand (Esarn).
Mike Miles: I am just trying to get a little background on you that might help the readers understand you better. Did you do any other sports besides Muay Thai?
Coban: I liked to play a little takraw (2 teams consisting of 3 members each playing a game that resembles volleyball played with the feet over a net) and football (soccer).
Mike Miles: How old were you when you had your first bout?
Coban: I had it when I was eleven in the same year that I started training.
Mike Miles: What was the outcome of the bout?
Coban: (laughter) It was a draw!
Mike Miles: What is your present fight record right now?
Coban: I can not remember right now. However, I can tell you I have won more than I have lost. (For information sake his record is 68 wins, 8 losses and 0 draws with 46 wins by KO. He also states he has had over 150 bouts.)
Mike Miles: What are some of the titles you have won and achieved?
Coban: I was a two time Lightweight Champion of Lumphini Stadium. It was four years ago.
Mike Miles: Which of your fights do you think shows or illustrates the best performance you ever had in the ring?
Coban: Against a Thai or a foreign fighter?
Mike Miles: It does not matter. Which fight do you think the audience best remembers you for?
Coban: I think it was when I fought for the Championship Belt. His name was Nongmul Chomhuthong.
Mike Miles: Who do you think was the toughest opponent you ever had in the ring? It does not matter if it was a foreign fighter or a Thai.
Coban: Sakmongkol Sitchuchote.
Mike Miles: What made him much tougher than everybody else?
Coban: He was far too tall for me. The second thing was that he was much more heavy than I. The third thing is that he was a good combination fighter and he tied all his weapons together very well.
Mike Miles: You have fought Ramon Dekker four times. You have both won by kncokout as well as by points. Do you think you will ever fight him again?
Coban: I do not think so. However, it will depend on the promoter and how much they decide to pay me. However, neither Ramon or I want to fight each other again. Our bouts are very painful (laughter).
Mike Miles: What do you think of Ramon Dekker?
Coban: We are both now like friends.
Mike Miles: Which if any, foreign fighters do you think are good at Muay Thai in your weight division?
Coban: Danny Bille.
Mike Miles: He seems to be the hottest European Muay Thai fighter. What was the outcome with him?
Coban: I won by points. In the fourth round I gave him a heavy punch and he received a standing eight count. In the fifth round I ran out of gas (laughter)! I really believe right now that the best foreign Muay Thai fighter is Danny Bille. He is good at all of the techniques.
Mike Miles: Compare him to Ramon Dekker since you have fought them both. Would Danny Bille beat Ramon Dekker?
Coban: Yes! I believe he is better at Muay Thai all around compared to Ramon.
Mike Miles: Do you think there is any fighters in North America that are good?
Coban: I thought you were good when you were at the Muangsurin Camp. But I have not seen many other fighters from North America so I can not really answer this question. I think North America has few notable fighters because it (Muay Thai) is a new sport over here.
Mike Miles: I was really surprised you knocked Hector Pena out. I saw the tape of the bout and he was very disrespectful to you. Many people were glad when you knocked him out. What do you think of Hector as a fighter?
Coban: I can not really tell you (laughter). The bout was over too quickly. I knocked him out in the second round with a punch.
Mike Miles: I heard some information from Rueben Urquidez that he wanted you to fight Hector Pena again this month. Is it going to happen?
Coban: Anything can happen. As long as the money is there, I will fight. (The bout never took place).
Mike Miles: Which country do you think has the best Muay Thai fighters next to Thailand?
Coban: I think now it is close between France and Holland. France has really improved. Japan was the first country to copy Muay Thai, but they are no longer a real Muay Thai force.
Mike Miles: Who is the best fighter from Holland in your opinion?
Coban: I think it is Rob Kaman or Ramon Dekker.
Mike Miles: How about from France?
Coban: Danny Bille, Stephane (Nikiema) and Dida (Diafat). I fought Dida two times and I won them both, once by knockout and once by points. I also beat Joe Prestia and I punched him also and hurt him in the fourth. However, I only won on points.
Mike Miles: Any other countries that you think are good?
Coban: Not really? Well, England has Ronnie Green
Mike Miles: Have you ever fought Ronnie Green?
Coban: Yes. Again I won the fight.
Mike Miles: What do you think of Muay Thai in the USA?
Coban: It is not complete Muay Thai because there is no use of the elbow. I know some cards will allow the use of the knee but not allow clinching. This is even a more 'handicapped' style of Muay Thai. When kneeing, clinching is important!
Mike Miles: How do you feel about fighting not using your elbows? Does that bother you?
Coban: No, when I fight Muay Thai I rarely use the elbow anyways. I am a heavy puncher and I like to punch my opponent's head (laughter). I think I could fight (under) Kickboxing (rules) because I do not really feel I need the elbows or the knees.
Mike Miles: When I wa sat the Muangsurin Camp, you were training hard while you had a broken foot! You were even running. On one hand I thought you were crazy, but on the other hand my respect for your determination and pain threshold increased immensely.
Coban: Well, I wanted to fight because I was going to fight a foreigner and the money was good. Money is important. I won the fight as well.
Mike Miles: Yeah, that was incredible. How long have you trained at the Muangsurin Camp?
Coban: I trained at the camp for about 3 years. Before that, I trained at the same camp as Wongjan-noi. I was eighteen years old when I first came to Bangkok to fight and train.
Mike Miles: Your name is very famous in the Orient, Europe and Australia. Does it not frustrate you that you are not a big name yet in North America?
Coban: This is because I have not been brought over to fight. I have not been able to promote my name over here. I beat Hector Pena but that was still a very small card and it was not televised.
Mike Miles: Hector is quite unknown in North America except by real Kickboxing fans. Changing the subject, what is your favorite fighting technique?
Coban: I like the punch. I like both hooks and straight punches. I am known in Thailand for my punches as well as my low kicks.
Mike Miles: I have heard two nicknames for you. The first is "Cruncher". The second one Ramon Dekker told me he calls you "Buffalo Head".
Coban: (Laughter) Buffalo head? Really? Well I guess we will have to fight again (laughter).
Mike Miles: Who is you own personal favorite fighter, old or new?
Coban: Gairoong Lookchaomaesithong. He fought about twenty years ago.
Mike Miles: Many Muay Thai pundits believe that Muay Thai is not as good as it used to be, say in the 1960's. The best fighters were thirty years ago. What do you think about this?
Coban: Things are a lot different between before and now. The problem now is that gambling is more prevalent than in the earlier days. I believe this has affected decisions on some fights that go the distance. I think the fighters of today would beat the older fighters. I think we are better fighters now. I think fighters are now stronger, especially in clinching. The older fighters I think were better in the use of combinations though.
Mike Miles: Is there anybody in the USA that you would like to fight?
Coban: When I am in the USA, I make thousands of dollars for my fights. I do not care who I fight as long as I get paid to do it.
Mike Miles: How long do you hope to continue fighting?
Coban: I hope to fight for only a few more years.
Mike Miles: Are you happy with everything you have accomplished in your career as a Muay Thai boxer?
Coban: The main thing to me has been money. I have been good with my money and I have saved it well. I have also won several belts which means my name will go down in history.
Mike Miles: When was your last fight and what was the outcome?
Coban: I fought Tony "The Tiger" Reed in Fresno in April of this year. I won by a second round punch KO.
Mike Miles: Tomorrow, you are fighting Guillaume Kerner. He is not a big name, even in Europe though he is trained by Muay Thai Legened Pudparnoi Worawoot. What do you think will happen with the fight? Will you knock him out?
Coban: I did not train very hard for this fight. I have a feeling that I made a mistake by having this attitude for this bout. Usually, foreigners are much easier to fight than the Thai's.
Mike Miles: When was the last time you lost? How long ago?
Coban: I lost to Numphon Nongkeepahuyuth by points around a year ago in Thailand.
Mike Miles: Do you have any other fights planned after you take on Kerner and possibly Pena?
Coban: I have a match signed for Fresno, California on August 5th. There is talk of a rematch with a European fighter I beat on points and talk of a bout with a boxer of yours this year.
Mike Miles: Who has been the most important person in your life?
Coban: My father. Even now the house I am building is very close to my father in Esarn. It is about an hour drive away. He gave me life and I respect him for his perseverance through the hard life he has had.
Mike Miles: Is there anything you would like to add to this interview?
Coban: I want Canada and the USA to learn more about Muay Thai and have bigger promotions. I want people to know what real Muay Thai is. When I retire from the ring, I hope I can become a teacher and give other children my experience and knowledge.
ALL OF A SUDDEN OUR HOST JUMPS INTO THE CONVERSATION... Surapuk Jamjuntr: You want to teach Muay Thai? You punch differently than any other Muay Thai stylist (teasing and laughing).
Coban: Yes, but as short as the punches are, I knock my opponents out!
THE MUAY THAI WORLD CAN VOUCH FOR THAT. THE BLOWS OF COBAN ARE DEADLY AND EFFECTIVE. SPEAKING FOR ALL MUAY THAI FANS, IT IS A GREAT TREAT TO WATCH COBAN BATTLE. HOPEFULLY NORTH AMERICA WILL CATCH ON AND WATCH THIS GREAT FIGHTER DO HIS BUSINESS BEFORE HE RETIRES FROM THE RING OR RETURNS TO THAILAND.