Walter Sarnoi Oupathana is a true Renaissance man, known for his many talents and his unwavering determination in the face of adversity. Born in Monterey Park, California to a Thai father and a Laotian mother, he was raised by his mother and a Mexican family from Ciudad Juarez.
At the young age of 12, Walter began learning the sweet science of boxing in East Los Angeles at the Eddie Heredia Boxing Club. He threw himself into the sport, dedicating countless hours to practicing and training and boxed for the (USOEC) United States Olympic Education Center at Northern Michigan University. Under the tutelage of 1996 U.S. Olympic Boxing Team head coach, Al Mitchell, Olympic Gold Medalist David Reid, and US National champion, Larry Nicholson, Walter developed his love for the sport.
Walter Sarnoi Oupathana started his amateur boxing journey in 1999 and quickly gained recognition, earning silver medals at both the US U19 National Championships and the 2005 US National Golden Gloves Tournament. In 2008, he transitioned to professional boxing and accomplished his goal of winning a World Boxing Council (WBC) title. On October 19, 2018, he secured the Green Belt by defeating Luis Lugo at the Coliseo Luis Donaldo Colosio in Jalisco, Mexico. In addition, on October 11, 2019, Walter won his second World Boxing Council Title (WBC) by knocking out Geovani Plascencia in the sixth round, at the Gimnasio de Usos in Ocotlan, Jalisco, Mexico.
Walter Sarnoi Oupathana has a professional boxing record of 25 wins and 4 losses in 29 fights, with a remarkable 16 wins by knockout. Despite two decades in the sport, he remains driven to achieve excellence and has set his sights on competing in the 2024 Olympic games in Paris. To keep in top physical form, he trains tirelessly and consistently displays his impressive skills in the ring.
In addition to his talents in the ring, Sarnoi is also a polyglot, fluent in five languages: English, Lao, Thai, Spanish, and Mandarin. Oupathana has not had an easy journey. He has faced many setbacks and challenges along the way, but he has never let failure define him. Instead, he has used each setback as an opportunity to grow and become even stronger.
Through his many talents and his unwavering determination, Walter Sarnoi Oupathana is a true inspiration to us all. He is a testament to the power of hard work, perseverance, and the human spirit.
