Huỳnh Hà Hữu Hiếu of Việt Nam (right) lands a punch on Pornthip Khamthongphanow of Thailand during their WBC Muay Thai International Title in July in HCM City. Hiếu takes a KO win and becomes No 1 player in WBC ranking. Photo of Shadow Entertainment

HÀ NỘI — Fighter Huỳnh Hà Hữu Hiếu has topped the World Boxing Council Muay Thai rankings, the highest ever place of a Vietnamese in history, which just has been announced.

Hiếu's milestone came after she knocked out Pornthip Khamthongphanow of Thailand to grab the WBC Muay Thai International Title last month in HCM City.

She jumped from fifth to first position, above European champion Elisabetta Solinas of Italy and many fighters from Thailand, home of Muay Thai, in the women's minimum weight (45.39kg) class.

The 24-year-old is the nation's best known Muay Thai fighter after winning the world title in 2019 and 2021, as well as many domestic and regional competitions.

The WBC No 1 spot makes Hiếu the highest-ranking pro Muay Thai artist of Việt Nam.

The International champion will have her WBC Muay Thai World Title match in the near future with the date still to be confirmed. Hiếu will face world champion Sylvie Von Duuglas-Ittu of the US, in the World Muay Thai Organisation mini flyweight and the International Federation of Muaythai Associations pinweight. VNS