At the age of 41, Buakaw Bankamek still regularly accepts international competition. His current achievement is 282 matches, including 242 wins, 24 defeats, 14 draws and 2 matches without recognition of results. It is the achievement in the playground of Muay, Kickboxing. Buakaw is not afraid to play boxing when it is proposed.
In mid -2023, Buakaw Bankamek had a press conference to announce information about him playing with Manny Pacquiao. This match was then canceled, according to information from the organizer. But Buakaw gave another information. He asserted that the two parties only postpone the match, not the intention to cancel.
“As far as I know, this pair is only temporarily postponed, not canceled. The contract signed between us has a provision showing that the match will definitely take place. I just don't know the exact time I will play,” Buakaw Bankamek affirmed and international media.
In the Kickboxing category, Buakaw will face Minoru Kimura, Japanese Brazilian boxer, at Rizin's event on March 23. Assessing the opponent, Buakaw did not hesitate to encourage Kimura by decrying the habit of using banned substances, causing this boxer to continuously receive a recent ban.
“I think the use of banned substances is definitely Kimura's style of play. This is definitely one of his strengths,” Buakaw said. The former champion K-1 added: “In my whole career, I have never used doping. I am proud of that, and come here to play to prove myself always right.”