"I left with my shirt and my backpack": the XXL Thai challenge of Antibes' Arthur Klopp, who is fighting this Friday in Bangkok

Since his first professional fight in 2020, in Montélimar, Arthur Klopp from Antibes has come a long way. A multiple French kickboxing champion, Klopp has decided to make the big leap in August 2024. He's heading to Thailand, and the Phuket Fight Club, the training center on the Phuket peninsula. "I left with my shirt and my backpack," he notes.

Penniless but with his ideas already firmly in place. To carve out a destiny for himself on the royal lands of "Kick", a merciless jungle but a challenge worthy of the mental strength of this boy with astounding faith. It took a lot of hard work. Sweat, effort, again and again. Bedtime at 10 p.m., up at 6 a.m. every day, and a motto in English: "eat, train, sleep, repeat" (eat, train, sleep, repeat). Without the slightest deviation. "I didn't even celebrate Christmas or my birthday," says this native of January 20, 1997 in Cannes.

7 fights and 7 victories later in the rings of the country of Siam, the reward has fallen: Arthur Klopp has opened the doors to the Kickboxing Champions League: the ONE Championship, the biggest world circuit for kickboxing, MMA and Thai boxing.

"I had some pretty solid fights, which allowed me to get noticed," the Antibes native humbly says. To put it for him: he brought the house down.

A contract signed with ONE, therefore, and a first meeting expected as a huge challenge: it is this Friday, July 25, around 3 p.m. in France, that Arthur Klopp will enter the ring of the Maracana of Kickboxing, the Lumpinee stadium in Bangkok, a 5,000-seat arena, which replaced the ancient Lumpinee of 1956 in 2015.

Opposite, in under 66kg: the Japanese Ryota Nakano, star in the Land of the Rising Sun, champion of RISE, one of the biggest Japanese organizations.

"It inspires respect"

Not even scared. Far from it: it was in the humid heat of Phuket that the Antibes native prepared for the big day. "I'm ready," Arthur Klopp said.

Sharp as a blade, with astonishing speed of execution, the boy earned everything on merit and found in Thailand a place of fulfillment.

"This country has taught me certain values and provided me with support. Here, being a boxer inspires respect. There are even police officers who have asked me to take pictures with them."

His Antibes coach, Samir Saïdi, will make the special trip to Bangkok to be in his protégé's corner at Lumpinee.

At the family home in Antibes, we'll be holding our breath this Friday in front of the TV. Papa Pascal is hosting all his friends... Arthur is already arousing admiration.

"Leaving Thailand like that all by yourself was a gamble that wasn't at all obvious," says the father. "Whatever happens this Friday, he amazes us every day." Keep going, Arthur!