The Unforgiving Kicks Part 24 - WORLD AT WAR 1990’s

Changpheuak Kiatsongrit TKO’d Rick Roufus (USA) in the 4th, in one most savage, gruesome battle in the history of combat sports. It sounds really offensive in the post=fight news reports. The American kickboxing superstar was hospitalized for his totally traumatized legs, and the Thai, for a fractured jaw…..

To do proper justice to these two centurial warriors, the author is obliged to review, not only their pedigree at the time of the epical showdown, but conduct an overview of their deeds after the event, so that we will realize the caliber of both men in the context of history.

Roufus, KICK world super middle champion and US PKC middle king, was 28-0 into the fight. Thai fighter Changpheuak was the LPN Stadium 140-pound title holder (1987/3), with about 90 fights under his belt, and wins over Rakchai, Krongsak, Payap, Mongkoldej, and Raktae (for title). He was arguably the best 140 pound fighter around ( only inferior to Krongsak-author).

Following the epic battle, the two went on separate ways. Roufus, after months of recuperation, re-emerged as the hottest fighting star in the western world. He will capture, successively, world Super-middle or Light-heavyweight titles of FFKA, ISKA, PKC, IKF (8 titles in all), plus K-1 champion of the United States, in an amazing career that stretched 25 years (1985-2010). A symbol of patriotism, kickboxing’s “Captain America,” has fought many grand battles, against the likes of Rob Kaman (Dutch Thai kickboxing legend), Marek Piotrowski (Punisher- 9 time world kickboxing champion), Ernesto Hoost (Dutch K-1 legend, Mr. Perfect), the “Black Boeing” Maurice Smith and Mr. KO, Mighty Mo (both USA legends). He was fast, extremely skillful and versatile, and his command of acrobatics in combat was simply rare. Indeed, he was the best talent, a beloved icon of American kickboxing from year 89 well into the new millennium.

Amongst the best of his defining moments, were a high-kick Kayo in the rematch with undefeated Polish wonder, Piotrowski, Chicago (1991/6), and his two titanic wars – absolutely historical – with Rob Kaman in Full-Contact. In the surprise kayo of the Dutch Adonis, in round two, Paris (1994/2), Roufus was using precisely the same shot which had put Changpheuak at instant peril in 1988 – a shifted left straight over a flexed left kick – but this time, the left straight was, on retraction, converted into a left hook that smashed onto the already shaken man’s jaw, in spit-second precision. His track record reflects that he is, without question, one of the greatest American kick-boxers of our time. Career record : 86 fights (64-9-3 ) with 43 wins coming by way of KO

Changpheuak, the Super Elephant, tells another story. Consequent to the bitter struggle, it took him a full year for the shocking injuries to heal, and his first comeback fight, was a strenuous five-round tangle with a 96 kg pro wrestler. Despite the handicap by 23 kg, he went through the no-risk match to register a mandatory draw. Then, on New Year’s eve (31 December, 1989), he spearheaded the Thai contingent in the hitherto biggest muaythai extravaganza in Paris, to outscore Rob Kaman, impressively, in five fiercely-contested rounds.

1990 was Changpheuak’s best year, fought ten times, in Amsterdam, Tokyo, Bangkok, Manchester City and Beijing, winning 8 times, with the two losses ( to Kaman and Smit) avenged. After beating “Hurricane” Peter Smit (79 kg.), and crowned IMF world light heavyweight champion, he was, per the Japanese fight media, the strongest fighter in the world…… he was called, affectionately, the “Golden Left”.

But not for long. The fights with the Dutch warriors were tough, and the Super Elephant just continued to do what he knew best – fighting in the ring – and managed to beat Kaman ( after a KO loss in Amsterdam) in Bangkok and Tokyo, victories which put him ahead of Krongsak, as the No. 1 heavyweight of Thailand.

On record, Changpheuak had altogether two meets with Krongsak. First they fought in Ubol, Krongsak lost on points. Then on 30 June, the same year, a rematch was billed at TV Channel 9 (colour), weight 145 pounds, with Krongsak admittedly in the dark (His plans to campaign in Europe was already in progress). So, the dubious fight thus never came off. When the rematch finally happened, in Ubol, Krongsak won by KO in 1 (30.10.1987).

It is rather interesting to compare the two protagonists. Changpheuak was the die-hard slugger, simplistic if not crude with his arsenal of weapons, mainstay artillery being his left kick, and boxing hands (he was in the national team for some time). He relied on persistency, ruggedness and heart, rather than versatility or the ability to adapt to the opponent. Against that, Krongsak, likewise a southpaw, was far most distinguished in mastery of techniques, as well as ring-craft hard to match, such being evidenced by his undefeated streak in Europe and Asia. In fact, he had matured considerably or transformed since fighting the big guys, by showing far more acrobatic moves and greater variety in choice of tactics.

Technically, Krongsak was superior, although, in fairness to Changpheuak who was battling heavyweights since admittance by the K-1 circuit in Japan, and from thereon, his record for wins began to wane, and kayo loss a more often occurrence. One pertinent point was Krongsak, except when fighting Kaman at 76.5 kg (he was only 68 ), he was matched in most cases at 70-72 kg, and was unbeatable throughout. However, Changpheuak chose to take his destiny – for money or otherwise - into the arena against over-90 kg monsters and, of course, paid his price for it.

Back to the Kaman-Krongsak ordeal (1988), it was a brilliant episode in the Thai’s career, and his performance on that fateful evening could never be faulted, from any angle. A lesser man would have been destroyed before the first round ended. It was, unprecedentedly in France, on full muaythai rules, with both sides permitted to use the complete arsenal of blows, as well as clinching. And it was only because of that, Krongsak could surmount the physical handicap in size and strength, to contain the dangerous Dutchman, who clearly failed to counter the clinching and sniper elbows mastered by the Thai. He had difficulties tangling with a smaller man (disclosed by Fred Royers the Gladiator, and his camp-mate), but, why was there not a rematch... Fans were tempted to implore ?

If the author were the manager for Krongsak, a “No” should be the only sensible answer. It was too much of a risk, and to be unscrupulously fair, had the match been of Kickboxing format, the winner would not have been the Thai. Krongsak had survived, and triumphed, in that epical contest, only because he had been empowered to do so, by virtual of the more liberal rules in place. The greater the freedom to change tactics, or vary the scopes of combat, the better the chance for the martial artist to prevail over his foe – or the least constraints the better - the author’s ground zero combat philosophy.