The sport of boxing has grown explosively since the earliest recorded instances of combat sports in areas such as Ancient Greece and the bare-knuckle boxing bouts of London in centuries past. Today, the sport proudly calls fighters from all over the globe champions. Avid boxing fans can usually find themselves represented in the ring, no matter what country they call home. For boxing fans who can trace their ancestry to the Southeast Asian country of Laos, the name of Lao international boxing star Walter Sarnoi likely rings a bell.
Long before winning his amateur titles and WBC Latino Silver Featherweight championship belt, Walter Sarnoi Oupathana was the son of Thai and Lao immigrants who grew up in a predominantly Mexican neighborhood in Monterey Park, California. Boxing was in his blood, as his father was a fighter with a respectable record who had taken on foes such as boxing trailblazer Masahiko “Fighting” Harada, who went on to become a world champion in two weight classes.
While growing up, Sarnoi learned what it meant to be a truly multicultural athlete, as he was raised with the support of a Mexican-American family after his parents separated. He went on to develop an appreciation for many different cultures, becoming fluent in English, Lao, Thai, and Mandarin. Early on, he decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and began competing in boxing in 1999. Balancing his studies with his burgeoning amateur career, he went on to win silver medals at the 2003 US Under-19 National Championships and the 2005 US National Golden Gloves Tournament. Faced with the dilemma of prioritizing his athletic career and his studies, he soon received the perfect opportunity to pursue both after the US Olympic Committee awarded him a scholarship to study finance at Northern Michigan University.
After turning pro in 2008, he went undefeated for his first 13 bouts. Later in his career, his win against Geovani Sanchez Plasencia awarded him the vacant WBC Super Featherweight title. His fifth-round TKO of Luis Carlos Lugo also resulted in him being crowned the WBC Latino Featherweight Champion. He went on to compile a professional record of 25 wins and 4 losses, with 16 of his wins by way of knockout.
Sarnoi also grew into his role as a global representative of Laos by representing Laos at the Asian Boxing Championships in Dubai and the AIBA World Boxing Championships in Belgrade, Serbia. He also fought for Laos in the 2021 Southeast Asian Games and the 2022 Asian Games.
“It’s not just about winning fights; it’s about inspiring others, especially underrepresented communities, to believe in their potential and break barriers,” he said when asked about his experiences representing Laos on the global stage. “I aim to show that with hard work, dedication, and resilience, it’s possible to excel both inside and outside the ring.”
Since retiring from the sport, Sarnoi has found other ways to contribute to his community. As someone who knows the struggles and challenges that young athletes face, he has served as a mentor to promising young boxers. He has also become a pillar of his community through his work as a licensed firefighter and paramedic. Sarnoi also continued his education after earning his bachelor’s degree from Northern Michigan University, going on to earn a master’s degree in finance from Azusa Pacific University.
Today, Walter Sarnoi stands as a shining example of perseverance, character, and excellence in the ring. Through his dedication to his goals and his care for his community, he has set himself apart as the ideal role model for young athletes striving to represent their communities on a global stage.
Walter Sarnoi can be found on social media at:
http://Www.Facebook.com/sarnoi
http://Www.Facebook.com/waltersarnoi
http://Www.Instagram.com/waltersarnoi
Published by Tom W.
