The Unforgiving Kicks Part XV

 

The Fight of a Life-time 1969

The 1967 Non-title fight , Apidej vs. Kim Ki Su, was witnessed by the King.

 

 

Come 1969, Kongdej Lukbangprasoi had his biggest show in April, when he subdued Dejrit in five gruesome rounds, to mark the beginning of his reign as Yodmuaythai. Meanwhile, the Great Kicker had returned to the spotlight having passed three tough trials without one defeat. He trained the hardest ever, before confronting Kongdej for revenge. It was the second most luminous fight of the year, and in this one, the great Apidej fought his 98Th fight and won like a hero. The gate return - 690,000 baht - was a record, and the publicity and post-fight acclaim, were both overwhelming. The purse each side 80,000 baht, was a royal prize by Thai standards. But what outshines everything else was Apidej’s ecstatic performance. Kongdej was the new king, younger (20), bigger at 148, and truly fearsome with the style of a terrific brawler, attacking without respite from long range using hard kicks, precision punch-elbow blitz, to swamp his victims. Few could last even half the time.

 

 

The Great Kicker, weighing 146, was cool and confident, promptly established control with stolid aggression right from the first round. His powerful right kicks stopped the 8-year younger southpaw on his tracks, as he evaded most of his (Kongdej) assaults at his body and legs. Dominated the second and third, Apidej, though floored once by Kongdej’s wild, destructive leg kicking, countered with strong slamming kicks to hold the ground. Kongdej in his raving mad advances in the second round, was hit by an ambush elbow, when blood gushed out like a fountain. Fans went hysterical… In a toe-to-toe exchange that ensued, Apidej stood his ground, and unleashed a picture-book high right to the face. Kongdej went down for eight count ! What a beautiful kick - one that epitomized the fierce and resolute brutality of the exchanges in the epical drama.

 

 

Yet, in top fighting form, Kongdej persevered with his demolition exercise, and, in close combat, managed to return the favor of a cut on Apidej’s forehead with an elbow. Likewise, blood flows down on Apidej’s side. It was an absolute war, with the former monarch emerging the winner in majestic fashion the remaining way, till the last gong, when he earned a hard-fought unanimous verdict. It was certainly one of the best classics ever, and will go down side by side with Kongdej-Dejrit I (which was an awesome brawl that crowned Kongdej king) in modern muaythai history, as being symbolic of true fighting heart.

Right kick working like a piston, Apidej keeping Kongdej at bay in their second encounter.

 

 

In the author’s opinion, while both fights were thrillers of the premier order, this triumphant episode of the Great Kicker was on a superior plane in terms of technical quality, and one that endorses the old adage that experience prevails over youth and energy. Like the old saying, “The years teach much which the days never know”, the veteran showed the world exactly that.

 

 

Twilight before darkness fell

Apidej knocked down Kongdej first before losing the match on KO.1968.

 

 

Apidej’s tangle with Kongdej did not end here. Three months later, they met for the third time, at Hua Mark Stadium. He put his young rival down in the first, but succumbed to the unrelenting onslaught of Kongdej in the second, losing on a KO. Still he came back to knock out Huasai Sittiboonlert, the Hammer Puncher, in early 1970. A fourth encounter with Kongdej then arose. As anticipated, It was a hell of a struggle, with Kongdej again going down in the first heat, but came back to battle the veteran until the end, to finish the winner by decision.

 

 

For Apidej, all these terrific battles began to take their toll on his physical heath, and after four more fights ( including one last victory over Dejrit and a highly controversial one-round KO by Huasai ), he decided to retire.

 

 

It was at the time of sundown in his career, that the author met him in Hong Kong. He had a major part in the movie “Blood Duel” and, besides training with him in our Thai boxing (the term muaythai was not in popular use until 1973 ) gym, I played escort to show him around the city. He was such a fine and kind-parted gentleman, totally unthinkable as to be related in any way to the terrorizing image and reputation associated with his fighter role. I spent considerable time studying his techniques, taking photos, and talking to him. His love for his family and dedication to friendship were exemplary.

 

 

On his second trip to Hong Kong, he was so kind as to present author with a 14” black and white photographic image of his great moment of kicking during the rematch with Adul Srisothorn (1962), when he reached the pinnacle of his career for the first time. It was such a priceless memento. The most uneasy part of his company was having to share, by courtesy, an occasional smoke – Lucky brand without filter – with the legend...