JEAN-CHARLES SKARBOWSKY CHONG
Jean-Charles Skarbowsky nicknamed “Chong” by the Thai is a real phenomenon in the world of Muay Thai. We can classify him among the European living legends of Muay Thai of the 90s as well as Dany Bill, Stephane Nikiema, Morad Sari, Rob Kaman or Ramon Dekkers who all possessed “the Fighting Spirit” for a long time!
With a terrible punch, he has blown away many of his opponents. Technically, he was formidable with his hand and foot combinations. But above all he had a very dangerous Boxing.
He has often been compared to the great Dutch champion Ramon Dekkers for his exceptional fighting spirit and extraordinary mentality. This incredible warrior mind, which drove him to fight constantly, was passed on to him by his parents. His mother who came to France from Romania at the age of 25 with nothing and who struggled to become a more than honorable person. Just like his father who died when Jean-Charles was 13 years old. His parents raised him the hard way, like a man and it was thanks to them that he always gave off that “rage” in the ring during his fights.
Jean-Charles Skarbowsky was born on March 10, 1975 in Paris in the 18th arrondissement of the capital. Around the age of 13, when he lost his dad, following this big psychological shock, he looked for himself during this difficult period, and found an answer in boxing to calm his emotions…
In 1991, Jean-Charles discovered boxing by pushing the door of the gym “Siam Boxing” which was in the 12th district in Paris. This famous gym belonged to big name in the Thai boxing world, Master Andre Zeitoun.
At 16, Jean-Charles took his first Muay Thai lesson, and he found this sport really too hard…
But the trainer Andre Zeitoun had lent him Thai boxing shorts. And, Jean-Charles, out of politeness to this trainer who had trusted him, came to give him back these shorts. So, eventually, he continued to train Muay Thai.
Andre Zeitoun will become his mentor and even his “spiritual father”. An indescribable bond will be born between this passionate trainer and this talented young boxer. They will come a long way together!
At 18, in 1993, Jean-Charles Skarbowsky left for Thailand and made 5 fights for 5 victories.
Back in France, he goes on to fight with speedy victories, and becomes number 1 challenger for the European title of – 63,500 Kg. The title is held by the experienced Belgian Yiguin Osman who also had the belts of Belgian champion of Muay Thai and Kick Boxing and the Full Contact World Champion Belt.
Jean-Charles Skarbowsky who only had 18 fights (15 wins, 2 losses, 1 draw) was not the favorite against the Belgian champion who had 96 fights.
The fight took place in Saint-Denis on May 27, 1995. The two boxers had a great match. Yiguin Osman came under terrible pressure from Jean-Charles Skarbowsky until the last round, he finished the match with a very marked face. The Belgian champion will later declare that he has never met a boxer who hits as hard as Jean-Charles Skarbowsky!
At 20, Jean-Charles Skarbowsky won the European Muay Thai Champion’s belt, a real feat for the time.
On January 19, 1996, Jean-Charles Skarbowsky defended his European title against the dangerous Lyon hitter Kader Marouf, author of many knockouts and who had lumberjack low kicks. At the Palais des sports de Levallois, live in front of the cameras of Canal + TV, Jean-Charles Skarbowsky won a magnificent victory by stoppage on injury from the Lyonnais, after a fight that will remain engraved in the annals of Muay Thai. This match was voted the most violent and the craziest of the year!
On December 5, 1999, in Bangkok, during the King’s Birthday, in front of 250,000 people, Jean-Charles Skarbowsky met the number seven of the Lumpinee stadium, the Thai Duen E-Sarn. In this match, Jean-Charles made a festival of purely Muay Thai technique and punished the rough Thai fighter who collapsed in the fourth round!
On July 6, 2000, famous promoter Sami Kebchi has organized a huge show in Las Vegas with superb fights such as Lebanner vs Jhonson, Roufus vs Diabate, Attachai vs Jemel and Skarbowsky vs Robert Kaennorasing. The show was broadcast live on Thai, French and American television channels.
Robert Kaennorasing is a living legend of Muay Thai, at 17, he had already won his first champion belt in the stadium of Radja!
Robert Kaennorasing (Radja Champion in 105 lbs, Radja Champion in 126 lbs, Radja Champion in 130 lbs, winner of the Isuzu Cup N ° 2 tournament) had more than 100 fights to his credit, he was widely favored for this match. From the first round, the two boxers challenged each other by sending small techniques and chaining middles kicks to you to me. Robert Kaennorasing taunted French a bit by lowering his guard and dodging these jabs. Then, after only two minutes of fighting Jean-Charles Skarbowsky cornered the Thai on the ropes and chained a thunderous series of seven blows to the face including a terrible left uppercut which knocked out the Thai champion. Jean-Charles Skarbowsky won his fiftieth fights and his 39th knockout, the French champion achieved a real performance by beating this legend of the rings!
The revenge took place five months later in Bangkok for the King’s Birthday, on December 5, in front of 18 million Thai viewers and broadcast by the French channel Canal +. The two champions had a great fight but Jean-Charles Skarbowsky lost the match on points. The two fighters subsequently became excellent friends.
After his fight against Robert Kaennorasing, Jean-Charles Skarbowsky settled in Thailand where he lived there for five years, he married a Thai woman, fought in the major stadiums of the country and prepared in the famous Jocky Gym in Bangkok alongside stars Saenchai, Lerdsila, Kaoklai, Wangwisep and Chaowarit.
Jean-Charles Skarbowsky faced all the Thai champions of the moment. Thanks to his formidable punch, he knocked out the best in his category, such as Kaoponglek Luksuratham (Lumpinee Champion, Best Boxer of the Year 1995), Orono Por Muang Ubon (Lumpinee Champion, Best Boxer of the Year 1994) ), Chokdee Pro Pramuk (Lumpinee Champion), Mangkong Kietsomkoum (Radja Champion), Nonthanon Por Pramuk (N° 1 of Lumpinee), Lamsongkram Chuwathana (Radja Champion), Robert Kaennorasing (Radja Champion), Khunsuk Petchsupapan (Lumpinee Champion, Radja champion) and beaten in points the great champions Suriya Sor Ploenchit (Lumpinee Champion), Rambo Two (N° 1 of Lumpinee, Winner of Mitsubushi tournament), Weera Chalunlape (N° 3 of Lumpinee)!
In 2003, Jean-Charles Skarbowsky became the first foreigner to be classified N° 1 in the mythical stadium of Radja following his victory by KO on the reigning champion of – 63 Kg (140 lbs), Mangkong Kietsomkoum!
On January 5, 2006, in the stadium of Radja, he beat by KO the terrible Lamsongkram (Reigning champion of Radja in – 72 Kg) and he was again N° 1 in the ranking of Radja, this time in category of 160 lbs!
Nicknamed “Namhon Morana” (The deadly perfume) by the Thais, Jean-Charles Skarbowsky made 97 fights for 75 victories including 50 by KO. Internationally, his fighter’s nickname was “Dragon Tattoo”. His ring name is known all over the world, this legend of the rings right from his fighter character in Japanese manga.
Jean-Charles Skarbowsky also faced the best foreign champions such as Mohamed Yamani (Victory by KO), Samir Gharbi (Victory by KO), Benoit Atayi (Victory by points), Eh Phutong (Defeat by TKO), Satoshi Kobayashi (Defeat by KO), John Wayne Parr (Loss by referee stoppage), Samir Mohamed (Loss on points), Masaaki Kato (Victory by KO), Shane Chapman (Loss on points), Chris Van Venrooij (Victory by KO), Jordan Tai (Loss by TKO), Farid Khider (Loss by stoppage of the referee), Paolo Balicha (Victory by points), Ole Laursen (Loss by points) as well as the great Thai champions Sakatpeth Sor Sakunpan (Loss by stoppage of the referee), Buakaw Por Pramuk (Loss on points), Wanlop Sitpholek (Loss on points), Big Ben Chor Praram 6 (Loss by referee stoppage)!
The fights of Jean-Charles Skarbowsky in Thailand marked the spirits so much that he became as famous as the legendary Dutchman Ramon Dekkers!
After a fantastic career, rich in grueling fights, Jean-Charles Skarbowsky took a well-deserved rest. Even if he has never had the belt of the stadium of Radja or the stadium of Lumpinee, he remains “THE CHAMPION”. Because he faced the champions at home, he beat the biggest names in Muay Thai and that for nearly ten years through the rings around the world. The important thing for him was not the titles but to master at the highest level his “Art” of Muay Thai!
Jean-Charles Skarbowsky left Thailand, his adopted country, to return to France and share his precious knowledge with future young nak muays. In the land of smiles, the name of the warrior Skarbowsky is now engraved in the memory of Thai people. Ask a taxi driver in Bangkok. He will immediately reply, “Oh Skarbowsky! Big Champion ”.
Today, Jean-Charles Skarbowsky has opened his own boxing gym in Bangkok, the Skarbowsky Gym (Formerly the Jocky Gym), as well as the Skarbowsky Gym in Paris in the 20th arrondissement and in the 18th arrondissement.
Jean-Charles Skarbowsky has also become one of the most important French promoters with the Best Of Siam shows that he has put on alongside his friend Hakim Didda and the great champion Krongsak Boranrat, events which have been very successful for several years in France and Thailand!
BY SERGE TREFEU