The Unforgiving Kicks Part 28 - WPKL Horror Drama 1998

Before jumping ahead to X’plosion III (2006) in Scandinavia, the Buakaw - Jomhod showdown, let us finish with the other memorable feats of the great kickers in the 90’s first.

The author’s idol in those epical years was Sakmongkol Sitchuchok, the Jade-face (Thai) Kicker of Prachinburi. Born 6 July, 1973, in a boxing-fervent family that enabled him start fight at 8 years of age, at less than 100 pounds. By 15. He was already a seasoned fighter, with magic in flashing kicks – his primary weaponry utilized with deadly precision, and in flawless concert with colorful combination of punches, elbows and theatrical flying knees. He was, indeed, a perfect model of the fighter-kicker example in the context of muaythai art.

He was such an adorable person, that the author, having seen his rise to eminence, riding on sensational wins after win, against such opponents as Ramon Dekkers, Charnchai S. Thamrangsi, Charry S. Vanit, and Namkhabuan Nongkipahuyut, could not help to admire him as a true warrior.

More than following, since the late 80’s, his progress via digital accounts, the author was at ringside to see his landmark fights against Ivan Hippolyte (Pattaya) and Perry Ubeda (Sanam Luang), and in more recent years, had called at the Fitness Gym where he was pursuing fame and glory in combat Karate. His commitment to fighting is a life-long endeavour, no doubt about that.

As the Ubeda match (1999) –labeled as Battle of the Arms by author – has been recounted before in this forum, I rather not replay the same story again. The Pattaya showdown (1996) was also monumental, where he, giving away some 8 pounds to the formidable Dutch dynamo, fired kick after kick to secure a hard-fought victory, and the WMC title. In the second heat, a record 44 kicks were fired at his foe, amidst which he had the man down for an 8-count, absolutely brilliant, but the heart of the Dutch fighting machine could only attract praise from all those watching the unforgettable conflict.

In 1998, the cool-looking kicker was in the Europe-based WPKL championship tournament, and was scheduled to meet the Roman Warrior, Hassan Kassrioui of Morocco (who had kayo’s several top Thai fighters) at 72 kg. The rules were kickboxing less elbows, at three 3-minute rounds.

In the first round, the audience was entertained to a beautiful theatre of martial ballet – leg fencing – performed by two of the world’s premier professionals in ring combat. Both were in peak condition, the dark-colored Sakmongkol versus the fair-skinned Hassan Kassrioui, made a sharp contrast inside the ring.

Either, for good reasons, appeared cagey, Sakmongkol, of the Moroccan KO power, and Hassan, like most Dutch fighters, certainly knew of the Thai’s fearless reputation. His compatriots Ramon Dekkers (68), Martel Marinovic (78) , Ryan Simpson (72), Leo de Snoo (79), Ivan Hippolyte (72) and fellow European Marino Deflorin (Swiss Strongman) had all tasted defeat at the feet of the remarkable Jade-face Kicker.

A right kick from Kassrioui was blocked and a counter right kick, phantom-like and executed in mid-range, caught the Dutch kickboxer flush on the chin, the impact sent the man flying two meters away, landing like a log, back of his head hitting the canvas with a thud. The Moroccan, bewildered, rose slowly to take the 8 count, but once fight resumed, was crashed to the ground by the Thai. Still wobbly, he probably hadn’t recovered from the shock of the first fall.

The high-kick tango went on, the Moroccan attempted two backspin kicks, both missed, where the Thai retaliated with left fliers.

The first counter grazed the Moroccan just behind the head (amidst his first kick), and on the latter missing the second wild spinner – Sakmongkol wasted no time to unleash a high left that landed, on the chest. As the man crashed backwards, the Thai darted in, sharp like a panther on the hunt, switching back to his southpaw stance by two paces, and drove a crunching left (a jab but enhanced to a straight by the body shift) onto the chin of his man. The impact instantly dropped its victim, his head hitting the floor hard the second time.

Fans and supporters screamed in the audience, as most at ringside stood up to watch the proceedings in awe...

The local hero was flat out, and remained unconscious for over five minutes, before medicals managed to revive him, to everyone’s relief.

In the astonishing incident, Kassrioui escaped a coma (permanent in worst scenario), but was never the same iron warrior again.

The term “Sia Muay” (broken fighter) is used in muaythai parlance, with reference to cases where a fighter is hurt so badly, either physically or mentally, that he could never fully recover. Sad to say that this was the misfortune resulting from this WPKL drama.

French Journalist Pascal Iglicki (R.I.P) from the Karate Bushido Magazine (Paris) wrote of his sighting of those fateful minutes :-

“A KO that could have been dramatic

Intractable, Sakmongkol launched a supersonic right hand that electrocuted the Dutch champion for longer than necessary. Fallen throughout his length in the ring, Kassrioui was inanimate for many minutes... after a while of fear, he could hardly recover, we had been very afraid...”

To the Thai, it was tremendous triumph, and immense joy (cannot blame him) over a toughest adversary, but to Kassrioui, a moment of sadness from a devastating blow and unforgettable humiliation.