Prominent Thai Boxing Champion's Favorite Meal Consists Of Grilled Rat, Red Ant Eggs

Thailand’s Srisaket Sor Rungvisai was at one point considered one of the top super flyweight boxers in the world.

Srisaket shocked the world when he defeated Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzales in 2017 to become the WBC super flyweight champion.

In the rematch, the Thai pugilist showed that the initial win over “Chocolatito” was no fluke as he stopped the Nicaraguan by TKO in the fourth round to retain the WBC’s 115-pound title.

Srisaket went on to defend the title against Juan Francisco Estrada, Young Gil Bae and Iran Diaz. He lost the title to Estrada in a rematch in 2019.

After the loss to Estrada, Srisaket has bounced back by recording back-to-back wins against former champion Amnat Ruenroeng and Jomar Francisco. The 34-year old is currently looking to get back at the top of the super flyweight ranks.

When Rungvisai isn’t dominating inside the ring, however, he’s usually feasting on Thailand’s tasty delicacies.

Known for its culinary treasures, Thailand has become a go-to for food finds in Southeast Asia. Srisaket, a native of the Sisaket Province, has an interesting choice of comfort food.

The two-time super flyweight world champion’s favorite meal consists of grilled Bandicoot rat and fried pigeon with spicy red ant eggs and sticky rice.

“It’s my favorite since I was a kid. It reminds me of my childhood,” Rungvisai shared in an interview. “My parents always prepare these goodies every time they pick me up at the airport from a trip abroad for a fight or after the fight here in Thailand. It’s my victory meal,” he shared.

As unusual as it sounds for most other cultures, grilled Bandicoot rat has become a popular treat in many Thai provinces, while red ant eggs are common in the country’s northeastern parts. It has also been used as a common ingredient in authentic local dishes.