SAKMONGKOL SITCHUCHOK
INTERVIEW OF SAKMONGKOL SITCHUCHOK
by Serge TREFEU (2014)
Serge TREFEU: Hello Sakmongkol, how are you?
SAKMONGKOL SITCHUCHOK: Very well thank you!
How old are you?
I am 41 years old
You come of what region of the Thailand?
I was born in the region of Prachin Buri
You are married, do you have children?
Yes I am married and I have two girls!
THE FAMILY OF SAKMONGKOL ALL TOGETHER!
Do you have brothers which was also in the boxing?
Yes but they were not very strong…
You began the boxing at which age?
I began the boxing at the age of 6 years
6 years it’s very early, you fought at once?
No, I have make my first fight two years later, when I was 8 years old…
How you discovered the boxing?
My father was an enthusiast of boxing, it’s him who taught everything to me!
In what camp you began your formation?
At the beginning, it’s my father who trained me at home, then I went to a camp near my home in which there were many of the young fighters…
What was the name of this camp?
He was called Sitchuchok and was in the region of Trat in the village of Bo Rai…
You always stayed in this camp during your career?
Yes I have practically make all my career in Sitchuchok!
At what age you have make your first fight in the stadiums of Bangkok?
In 12 years, I have make my first fight in Bangkok!
THE YOUNG BOY SAKMONGKOL STARTED EARLY TO FIGHT IN BIG BANGKOK STADIUMS!
In what category you fought?
At first in 130 lbs, then in 135 lbs and 140 lbs and in 160 lbs
What are the titles which you gained?
I gained the belt of Lumpinee in 135 lbs in 1994 against Panomrunglek Chor Siwat, World champion WMTC’s belt in 160 lbs against the Dutch Ivan Hippolyte in 1996, World champion WPKL’s belt in 160 lbs against the Dutch Jerry Morris in 1998 and again World champion WPKL’s belt in 160 lbs against the Dutch Hassan Etakki in 1999, I defended my titles several times successfully!
WORLD CHAMPION OF THAI BOXING!
How much have you make of fights?
I have make 254 fights for 231 victories, 19 defeats and 4 draws!
You had which style of boxing?
I was rather a technical boxer…
What was your technique preferred in fight?
The middle with my left leg!
What was your hardest fight?
My hardest fights were against Jongsanan, we were in confrontation several times and every time it been very hard, Jongsanan is a great champion. So, my fight against Ramon Dekkers was very hard because I was young when I met him!
Your best memory of boxing?
My victory on Ramon Dekkers because in the time when I faced him in 1991 he was the strongest “Farang”!
What are the known Thai fighters that you faced?
There was a lot Somrak, Panomrunglek, Jongsanan, Sangtiennoi, Namkabuan, Orono, Cherry, Neungtoranee, Chanchai, Coban, Chaydet, Payrot, Methee, Nungubon, Nongmoon, Samransak, Kriengkrai, Chandej, Kongtoranee, Jomhod…
You beat most of them?
Yes I beat Sangtiennoi, Panomrunglek, Jongsanan, Namkabuan, Orono, Cherry, Chanchai, Coban, Neungtoranee, Payrot, Nungubon, Nongmoon!
And the big champions Somrak, Samransak, Kongtoranee and Jomhod?
Somrak beat me in points when I was very young, Samransak and Kongtoranee is of formidable puncheurs against whom I lost by KO, Jomhod I lost against him abroad because of my wound in the left shoulder…
This wound in your shoulder often hampered you at the end of your career, in particular during your matches in front of Dutch Ubeda?
Yes it’s true but I beat him all the same (Laughter)!
You often fought abroad?
Yes I fought a lot abroad, I have of to make about forty fights abroad, in Japan, in Holland, in Australia, in the United States, in England, in Italy, in France!
You know French fighters?
Yes I know several, Dany Bill, Stephan Nikiema…
SAKMONGOL WITH DANY BILL AND STEPHANE NIKIEMA !
Dany Bill you faced him?
Yes once in France I gained him!
What is according to you the best foreign fighter?
The best it was Ramon Dekkers!
And today?
I don’t know too much the fighters from now on. But since Ramon Dekkers, I don’t see of foreigner so strong as fighting him in Thailand…
And the best Thai fighter today, it’s who for you?
I don’t know but the fighters of today are not as well hardly as in past…
What was your promoter?
Songchai Ratanasuban
What was your purse in Thailand?
I touched of good purse, my biggest purse was 160 000 bahts for my fight against Namkabuan!
But when I fought abroad I gained even more important purse!
You made well your living thanks to Muay Thai?
Yes very well, I was able to buy my house for my family and also a beautiful car
Today you stopped your fighter’s career, which make you now?
I’m a trainer in Gym WKO to Pattaya, a fitness center to Pattaya, on Central Road…
KHRU SAKMONGKOL IN PAOS !
What is that there are many Thai fighters?
There are especially many Farangs (Laughter)!
Thank you for the interview and chookdee!
Thank you very much
In the 90s, Sakmongkol was considered by the fans of Muay Thai as one of the boxers possessing ” the most powerful left leg ” of the Thai circuit!
This great fighter always made memorable fights in front of better of his category, several of his Dantesque matches, as his confrontations against Jongsanan Fairtex, Orono Por Muang Ubon, Sangtiennoi Sor Rungroj, Namkabuan Nongkeepahuyut and Chanchai Sor Tamrangsee, are a member from now on of cult fights of the story of Muay Thai!
SAKMONGKOL AGAINST JONGSANAN FAIRTEX, THEY CLASHED SEVEN TIMES WITH THREE WINS FOR JONGSANAN AND FOUR VICTORIES FOR SAKMONGKOL!
SAKMONGKOL AGAINST ORONO POR MUANG UBON, GREAT CLASSIC, SAKMONGKOL BEAT FIVE TIMES ORONO, LOST ONCE AND THEY MADE A DRAW!
THE CONFRONTATION BETWEEN SAKMONGKOL AND ORONO ALWAYS HAVE BEEN TITANIC MATCHES, TWO CHAMPIONS HAVE RECEIVED TROPHY OF “FIGHT THE HARDEST OF THE YEAR TO LUMPINEE!”
ORONO POR MUANG UBON AND SAKMONGKOL SITCHUCHOK, TWO GREAT CHAMPIONS, TWO FORMER OPPONENTS WHO BECAME FRIENDS TODAY!
SAKMONGKOL AND SANGTIENNOI AND HAVE FACED FIVE TIMES, SAKMONGKOL BEAT FOUR TIMES “THE DEADLY KISSER!”
SAKMONGKOL AGAINST NAMKABUAN IS A ANOTHER GREAT CLASSIC 90 YEARS, TWO CHAMPIONS MET SIX TIMES WITH THREE WINS FOR SAKMONGKOL WHICH ONE VICTORY BY KO AND THREE VICTORIES FOR NAMKABUAN!
SAKMONGKOL BEAT TWICE THE GREAT CHAMPION CHANCHAI SOR TAMRANGSEE!
SAKMONGKOL AND NONGMOON FOUGHT ON TWO OCCASIONS WITH ONE WIN FOR SAKMONGKOL
After defeating many of his compatriots, Sakmongkol left challenging the foreign champions at their home, he beat the biggest fighters foreigner of moment such as the Dutch people Ramon Dekkers, Ivan Hippolyte, Gerold Mamadeus, Hassan Kassrioui, Jerry Morris, Ryan Simson, Hassan Ettaki, Perry Ubeda, Leo De Snoo, the French people Dany Bill, Mourad Sari, Joseph Yaucat Guendi, the Australian John Wayne Parr, Swiss Marino Delforin and the Brazilian Cosmo Alexandre!
IN 1991, THE MATCH BETWEEN SAKMONGKOL (17 YEARS) AND RAMON DEKKERS (22 YEARS) WAS ONE OF THE MOST BLOODY BATTLE OF LEGENDARY DUTCH!
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP WMTC OF MIDDLEWEIGHT IN 1996 AGAINST THE TERRIBLE DUTCH IVAN HIPPOLYTE, VICTORY OF SAKMONGKOL!
After his long career in Muay Thai, this tireless fighter exchanged his pair of shorts of Muay Thai for the sports gear of karateka’s Kimono. Since 2008, Sakmongkol fights in Karate, very often in Japan where he became World champion of Karate Kyokushin, the style of karate which is the hardest physically!
WORLD CHAMPION KARATE KYOKUSHIN!
Today Sakmongkol became coach at gym WKO (World Kumite Organization), a fitness center in Pattaya, on Central Road. Within this center, it teaches Karate, K1, MMA and Muay Thai!
WKO GYM IN PATTAYA !
SAKMONGKOL SITCHUCHOK WAS OFTEN IN NEWSPAPERS SPECIALTY OF THE TIME!
SAKMONGKOL SITCHUCHOK
Real Name: Kalek Mongkhon
Date of Birth: 6 July 1973
Weight: 70 Kg
Height: 1m75
Number of fight: 254. 231 Wins. 19 Losses. 4 draws
Title: Lumpinee Champion in 135 lbs (1994), World Champion WMTC 160 lbs (1996), World Champion WPKL 160 lbs (1998, 1999)
SAKMONGKOL SITCHUCHOK !