Mexico’s Laura Burgos has been crowned the new World Muaythai Council (WMC) Super Bantamweight world champion after defeating Thailand’s Janchira Parunai by unanimous decision in Greece.
The victory sees Burgos claim one of professional Muaythai’s most prestigious titles, with the WMC operating under Royal Patronage and widely regarded as one of the sport’s leading governing bodies.
The championship bout featured two accomplished athletes. Burgos entered the contest with an impressive résumé that includes multiple IFMA World Championship titles, gold at The World Games, the WMC Pan American Championship, a medal at the World Combat Games and recognition as a finalist for The World Games Athlete of the Year award. Parunai, a Thai national champion and member of Thailand’s national team, stepped up a weight class to challenge for the world title.
The event began with the traditional Wai Kru ceremony, accompanied by a live Pi Muay orchestra from Thailand, highlighting the cultural traditions and values of Muaythai, including respect, honour, humility and gratitude.
Following an intense contest, Burgos secured a unanimous-decision victory to become the new WMC world champion.
Her triumph also marked another milestone for women’s Muaythai, reflecting the continued commitment of both the WMC and the International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA) to promoting equality and inclusion. For more than 30 years, both organisations have championed the principle of “One World, One Muaythai”, ensuring female athletes compete under the same rules and receive the same recognition as their male counterparts.
The event attracted several prominent figures from the sporting world, including former boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr., kickboxing legend Mike Zambidis and wrestler Dauren Kurugliev, underscoring Muaythai’s growing international profile.
Organisers also praised Greece’s role as an emerging host of major international Muaythai events. Greek official Ioannis Papadopoulos described the championship as another important step in the sport’s development, highlighting the country’s commitment to hosting future international competitions while promoting equality and inclusion.
WMC President Dr. Sakchye Tapsuwan congratulated Burgos on her victory and commended both finalists for displaying the highest standards of sportsmanship and fair play. IFMA Secretary General Stephan Fox presented Burgos with the WMC championship belt following the bout.
The growth of the sport was further reflected by the recently concluded IFMA Senior World Championships in Malaysia, which brought together competitors from across the globe. The tournament served as the first official IFMA World Ranking event of 2026, with valuable qualification points on offer for the 2027 World Combat Games.
The championships also highlighted Muaythai’s expanding international reach, with medal-winning athletes representing all five continents. Recognised by the International Olympic Committee, IFMA described the event as another significant step in the sport’s continued global development and long-term Olympic ambitions.
