“Coming to Thailand changed my life. It pushed me over my limits and taught me that nothing is granted, that everything can change at any moment.
But, most of all, being a Muay Thai fighter in Thailand made me happier and taught me to live life to the fullest.”
These are the words of Richi Alvarez, an ordinary person who ended up doing extraordinary things. The usual guy next door, who one day decided to go beyond his limits and become a Muay Thai fighter in Thailand. That was his dream. His goal. And you can say he succeeded in his dream of becoming a professional fighter just by checking his stats. He already participated as a professional fighter in eight Max Muay Thai fights, and he went inside the ring in Lumpinee three times already. With a successful record of 16 fights won, five draws, and five losses, Richi is on a path to becoming the greatest fighter in Thailand.
Why Train Muay Thai?
“I used to plan everything—to have a roadmap for every part of my life—but it was worthless.
It’s like being in a fight; you get hit once, and everything changes.”
For Richi, moving to Thailand and becoming a fighter was never part of the plan. He grew up in Madrid, Spain, and as a teenager, he set goals for everything. Life was meant to follow a structure—until it didn’t.
Back then, his dream was to be a football player. But one day, something shifted. He decided to walk into a Muay Thai gym in Madrid. “I saw a lot of tough people—kicking bags, sparring—and I thought, maybe this isn’t for me.” But he came back the next day. And the day after that. Slowly, he began to fall in love with the grind.
“I was just 16 when I started Muay Thai,” he recalls. “But I got hooked fast. I’d stay up watching replays of professional fights, studying every move. Thai boxing became my biggest passion.” Not long after, he was stepping into the ring for his first fight. Within a few years, he turned professional.
All the while, Richi was juggling his training with school. “I was trying to decide what to study at university,” he says. “And then it hit me—why not Physical Education? Muay Thai was my passion, and that degree could help me become a better fighter.”
Time passed quickly as Richi balanced university with his growing career in Muay Thai. He was making progress, building a name for himself in Spain—but deep down, something didn’t feel right.
“In one way, Muay Thai in Spain made me tougher than I ever thought possible,” he says. “But I didn’t feel like I truly belonged. I wanted something more.”
The challenge was primarily physical. Though not short, Richi weighed only 56 kilograms—a lightweight in a scene dominated by fighters between 60 and 70 kilos. That left him with few opportunities. “It wasn’t fair. I never got matched with strong opponents, and it felt like nobody believed in me. I started to feel invisible.”
But he never stopped believing in himself. And then, a thought came to him. “What if I tried my luck in Thailand?”
From that moment, Richi set his sights on the biggest goal of his life: to train and live as a fighter in the homeland of Muay Thai.
The Road To Becoming a Muay Thai Fighter in Thailand
Richi had to wait until he finished his degree in Physical Education. Upon graduation, he took a flight to Pattaya and started to train in a gym.
“It helped me a lot to know the limits of my body and how to achieve what I was aiming for. I’m glad I studied something related to my passion.”
“I was only 22 years old when I arrived in Pattaya, and my goal was to get myself a worthy fight”. Initially, he expected to face a group of professional fighters with strict routines and meal plans, a standard expectation for aspiring Muay Thai Fighters in Thailand. However, it wasn’t like that.
“I had to go to Thailand to see for myself that this is not a place for just a few elite fighters. Everyone can come here, no matter your level.”
The fight came sooner than expected. After a month of training, Richi got his first fight. But it was a defeat.
“My first opponent used so many tricks and won that fight, so I went for a second fight.”
After three months, Richi had to go back to Spain. But that was just the beginning.
A Life in Thailand Doing What You Love
After his first experience in Thailand, Richi knew his purpose in life was to become a full-time Muay Thai fighter. But to become the greatest fighter of all time, he knew he needed to move away from the comfort of his home in Spain.
“Buakaw and Saenchai became the greatest from training in Thailand. I will do the same.”
After getting in touch with a personal trainer in Khongsittha, he took all his savings and moved to Bangkok.
Today, Richi trains five to six days a week. In the mornings, he focuses on endurance and physical conditioning. In the afternoons, he hones his techniques in the art of Muay Thai. Once a week, he will have his relaxation day by going to the spa and then having a BIG cheat meal.
“As I said, you get hit and everything changes. I learned to adapt to every change and to accept everything better that comes into my life.”
Richi always says that Thailand makes him follow an intense life that he loves. But, what about those who don’t want to be a fighter and prefer to feel the excitement of Muay Thai instead?
“Everyone can come here and live this experience. Beginners and pros are welcome.
But I’ll tell you something: you will never know if you can do it unless you try.
If you want to fight, train to fight. If you want to lose weight, train to lose weight.
No matter your goal, if you set your mindset towards it, you can achieve it.”
