The Unforgiving Kicks Part XIV - Long Live the King

Redemption and Apotheosis

Downfall of Apidej 1966 - when he was paralyzed by two kicks to his foreleg (inside to the knee joint and on the exterior muscles). He had all six of his muaythai and national boxing titles forfeited by the Thailand Boxing Commissioner for penalty.

The tragic kayo by “White Tiger” Danchai, accusation of collusion, and resultant penalty dealt a devastating blow to the Great Kicker. It was like an angel banished by God, taking an abrupt fall from the heavenly palace of Zeus at the top of the Mount Olympus into the dark valleys of the underworld. The humble rural young man, then a household name, has been disgraced. What next awaits me in the future, he wondered? (Thai critics tended to believe Apidej had taken a huge sum for the loss)

Japan's Musashi Nakano jumps high in elation as OBF welterweight king Apidej was stopped by the referee in round 3 after a very suspect knockdown. The Thai was ready to continue, yet the counting proceeded to the full.

Soon enough in 1967, in his second OBF title defence in Japan, he went down upon being hit a left-right hook flurry, from local favorite Musashi Nakano 武藏‧中野 (riding on 9 straight Kayo streak); though hit again while squatting against the ropes, he was up instantly, but the referee just counted him out. The media reports and fight footage showed quite convincingly it was a “Quick count”… There goes the legend’s last title.

While the once national idol was widely condemned these events, the man made an open apology to fans for his ill-fortune. It was a touching scene. The Bangkok Post sports columnist wrote, in “Fight will decide once and for all” (1968)(when Apidej was about to make an all-out bid to reclaim the welterweight crown from current holder Dejrit Ittianuchai): At one time he held six (actually seven) belts, but today, he has not a single to boast of. Life could not have taken a more painful turn. The humiliation could have destroyed any lesser man.

The road to glory and supremacy has been a hazardous one, and now, after the dramatic fall from grace, he has to redeem the lost prestige. Conceivably, the path to redemption was even longer, harder for being full of obstacles and new threats. Still, he forged his way ahead…

Apidej vs. Ravee, the Airforce Rocket.

Left, Ravee stopped in mid-air in a lunging attack. He was KO'ed in One.
Right, Ravee exchanging blows with the Great Kicker, who won on a KO in Four, 1967.

Twice he challenged Dejrit, his arch-rival, and was mercilessly cut down, yet he came back to kayo Ravee Dechachai (top fighter 1966 – the one who had destroyed karate master Kurosaki), and captured the LPN welter crown via beating Payap Sakulsuek. Then, two boxing trials against Koreans – a sensational KO over OBF Jr. middleweight champion Ansano Lee, but a points loss to his compatriot world champion Kim Ki Su (fight set at 161 pounds), an outsized opponent superior in both ability and experience. Finally, after the impressive kayo of Ravee in December, he was set to meet Dejrit again, for a historical eighth time… for the RDN welterweight crown and the Yodmuaythai honour.

The two Korean champions who fought against Apidej in 1967.

15 January, 1968, was one of Apidej’s greatest days, as he waded in to destroy “Deva Guardian” Dejrit in less than two rounds. Regaining his old form, his shuddered the tough Dejrit, repeatedly, with his viper-like left kick to the neck, and finished him off with a deadly fistic combination. It was the Lion-hearted warriors‘ first knockout defeat in his illustrious career. Fifteen months from his banishment, the king has regained his throne.

Apidej lands his famous left kick on the jaw of Dejrit, before scoring a dramatic knockout in Two - 8th encounter of the two ring legends of Thailand.

His rule continued, again showing his usual flair, in beating Dejrit one more time, and demolishing the insidious elbow-sniper, “White Dragon” Monsawan Laemfapha. But by year-end, he was stopped by Dejrit, in only 40 seconds, thereby losing the RDN title – in a monumental 10-title programme headed by the Chartchai-Villacampo (Philippines) WBA world boxing title defense, staged at Charusathiara Stadium. A further misfortune occurred when he met the rising Kongdej (Savage Shark), and in that battle, he actually scored a knockdown first, but the young 19-year old retaliated fiercely to catch him with a wicked elbow in the second.

So, the will of destiny had the king in exile again. The question is: was this the end of the Great Kicker, or will he rise again from ashes to ride a new tide of marvel?

Worst defeat : Apidej kayoed by Dejrit at 0:40 of round One. IT was a record quick KO in a muaythai title match.