1972

1972 AMERICAN KICKBOXING IN LIMBO During 1972 and 1973 American Kickboxing was dead in North America. Kung Fu and Bruce Lee were the big craze at the time. The fantasy world of the movies (taking out multitudes of opponents with one blow) appealed to the general population. It was easier to believe that a Martial Artist was so deadly, he practised by never hitting someone, because if he did, he would kill someone (truthfully, it encouraged people to train without ever having to strike someone who could strike back resulting in pain)! A few people tried to teach the sport but to small numbers of students. One of the more successful during this period in time was a Joe Lewis student by the name of Jerry Smith. Smith played a stronger role in the sport during the resurgence that was to come in 1974. Though the sport was quiet in North America several Americans had made names for themselves while serving in the military and stationed in the Orient during the Vietnam War.

THE WORLD KICKBOXING CHAMPIONSHIPS In Bangkok, Japan's Mitsuo Shima, Featherweight Kickboxing Champion was the big surprise at the Thai-Style Boxing World Championships held at Kittikachorn Stadium. The Japanese stylist outpointed the Thai Champ and won the crown for Japan. During these championships South Korea, Taiwan, Philippines, Hong Kong, Burma, Laos and Cambodia were invited to compete. They all declined the offer. A French Savate Team declined the invitation at the last moment because the rules were too great a difference in style.

In the 1st bout, Thai Flyweight Champ Detsupan Hollywood met his Japanese rival Toshiro Harukawa. The Thai won the bout with a left punch with a 2nd round KO of the Japanese.

In the 2nd bout, Thai Lightweight Champion Saenchai Srisompop met Toshio Fujiwara, Japanese title holder of the same division. The Thai dropped the Japanese in the first round with an elbow to the face. In the second round, Fujiwara was again hit by an elbow that opened a gash on his right eyebrow. The 3rd round had Fujiwara continuing with a vicious assault of leg kicks at the Thai who in turn slowed down considerably. In the 4th round and behind on points, Saenchai came alive high kicks and elbow smashes opened the Japanese fighters forehead into a mess. The ring doctor stopped the fight and this bout was viewed as the most vicious on the event.

Japanese Champ Mammoth Okada battled Thai Champion Yodsingh Sawpayathai. In the first 2 rounds the Japanese used his fists to easily win these rounds despite getting a cut eyebrow. Toward the end of round 3, the Thai started a series of knees followed by a left kick to the neck and a right kick to the solar plexus. The Japanese athlete went down and the Thai won by KO.

A mismatch took place between Thailand's Junior Lightweight Champion Taweechai Lurdchon and Japan's Flying Jaguar. For 3 rounds the Thai skillfully placed his kicks anywhere he wanted on the Japanese athletes body. In the 4th round the Thai became tired of playing and he dropped the Japanese athlete 3 times with powerful kicks to the neck. The 3 knockdown rule was in effect and the Thai won by TKO.

In a junior welterweight bout Japan's Go Yokoyama met his former stable mate Sornnakrob Kiatvayupak. In 1970, the Japanese athlete was 1 of 11 boxers from Japan who came to Thailand to learn the art. He joined the Muangsurin Camp and learned everything from assistant instructor Sornnakrob. 2 years and 22 fights later, Go was the Japanese Champion. Sornnakrob had become the Thai Champion in the same division. He was awarded the 'King's Cup' as the 'Fighter of the Year'. For 3 rounds the Japanese athlete tried unsuccessfully to match his teachers techniques. In the 4th round the Thai dropped Go 3 times, and in round five 9 times with well placed kicks. The Thai won by a comfortable points margin.

In the Middleweight division Thailand's number 1 welterweight contender took on American Ray Elder. Elder had fought in Thailand before and was ranked no. 5 in the middleweight class at the time. The 1st 2 rounds had both athletes overly cautious and even in the scoring department. In the 3rd round Elder dropped the Thai with a well placed left roundhouse to the neck. In round 4, Songkiat Kiatpracharat changed from low kicks to high kicks. Elder was caught on the right side of the neck and he went down for an 8 count. Stumbling and still stunned Elder took 2 more kicks on the same spot. Elder then received a 4th kick and was unconscious before hitting the canvas.

Champions Daenthai Kiatvayupaka and Noboru Osawa fought for the bantamweight crown in a boring match. The Japanese was floored by a kick to the neck for a count of 9 in the opening round. He came back to give the Thai a hard time with body punches but Daenthai eventually won the bout by decision.

The final and highlight bout of the event was Samyan Singsornthong against Japan's Mitsuo Shima. The Japanese used great punches for the first round and a half. Late in round 2 he floored the Thai who took an 8 count. The Thai was staggered again by Shima's right but was saved by the bell. In the 3rd round, the Thai became more aggressive. He put the Japanese on the defensive for the rest of the round with powerful kicks. In the 4th round the Japanese used elbows and knees bringing applause and support from the crowd. By the end of the round the Thai had an egg sized lump under his right eye and the Japanese had a bleeding nose. The final round was uneventful. The decision went to Shima. In 21 encounters in 1972, Shima's win marked only the 2nd time a Japanese Kickboxer had beaten a Muay Thai athlete.

LEGENDARY 'JAPANESE KICKBOXING' PIONEER: (Above photo) Toshio Fujiwara : A non-Thai athlete who became Japan's Legendary Kickboxer by defeating many top Thai athletes. He was the first high profile non-Thai athlete to become respected by the Thai's in Muay Thai competition. Retains legendary status in Japan to this day.

JAPANESE KICKBOXING DEFEATS MUAY THAI BY FIXING THE FIGHTS? In an effort to defend Muay Thai, Thailand's national sport, The Thai embassy had pointed a finger at unscrupulous Japanese Kickboxing Promoters who allegedly import inferior Thai boxers to fight against Japanese new found Kickboxing heroes. The controversy started when a reader to the Japan Times accused Thailand of exporting "undernourished, poorly exercised, unqualified, untrained so called boxers" to Tokyo to boost Thailand's sagging economy. In rebuttal, Thailand's Chamnong Phahulrat, counsellor of the embassy suggested in order to boost the image of the Japanese Kickboxers, the promoters were putting 2nd rate Thai boxers against popular Japanese athletes but were 'fixing' the fights as well, forcing the Thai’s to take a dive.

NOGUCHI, KICKBOXING AND THAILAND Muay Thai historians will let you know that the first accepted use of the term 'Kickboxing' was by the Japanese after they adapted new rules to Muay Thai for their own benefit. During this time, the result was ill feelings and frustration from the Thai's that still exist towards the Japanese today. In the early 1970's, frequent visits by 'Japanese Kickboxers' for special training under Thai teachers resulted in the establishment of the Noguchi Kickboxing Gym, a modern training center in a coffee shop in Bangkok. Tokyo promoter Osamu Noguchi figured the gym would be a good business move. People could eat and drink in an air conditioned environment while watching Japanese fighters going through their workouts. It even appealed to the local Thai fight community, until Noguchi made a large mistake. He declared in public that he was the originator of 'Kickboxing', neglecting to make it clear that he was talking about the Japanese version. Many Thai's fumed with indignation and during October 1972, the gym was closed with Noguchi heading back to Tokyo for safety. Because of death and violent abuse threats aimed at Noguchi, the gym closed in less than a month after it opened.

The Japanese Kickboxing Gym which opened in Bangkok, Thailand By Osamu Noguchi ends up with the promoter ordered out of Thailand. The trouble arises when Noguchi tells local promoters that he was the originator of Kickboxing. Noguchi claims he took the 2000 year old art of Savate, added headbutting and judo throws and introduced the style in Japan as Kickboxing. Noguchi also said, that while his athletes were in Thailand they would train and fight under Muay Thai rules. The Thai’s were furious and several days later Noguchi received a letter accusing him of stealing the Thai national art. The letter demanded that the name of the gym be changed from Kickboxing to Thai Boxing. Noguchi admitted to having made an erroneous statement to the press and promised to change the name of the school in 10 days. The next night $600 damage was caused to the facility (shots were fired as well). The next day 600 students carrying signs saying "Noguchi go home" protested in front of the facility. In the evening bottles and rocks were thrown as well. The 'kick' was finally changed but it did not matter as Noguchi was ordered to leave the country by the authorities for "having engaged in unauthorized business".

NOGUCHI'S KICKBOXING GYM IN BANGKOK, THAILAND: (Left photo) Spectators sit, eat, drink and relax while watching Japanese athletes in training. / (Middle photo) The outside entrance into the controversial "Kickboxing" facility. It closed in less than a month after it opened. / (Right Photo) Athletes working out in the controversial gym in Thailand.

PANKRATION SPECIALIST DEFENDS KICKBOXING Greek born Jim Arvanitis speaks up for Kickboxing stating it has both physical and philosophical aspects. Arvanitis claims he started as a boxer at an early age. He claims to have later taken up Savate. Arvanitis makes some news headlines about being the American who has brought the lost art of Greek Pankration back to life. He takes the art a step further and becomes the founder of his own style Mu Tau. In 2 decades he will complain about the misuse of the term of Pankration in the NHB competitions.

THE MUAY THAI-KICKBOXING DEBATE CONTINUES In Bangkok, Thailand Japanese Kickboxers and Thai boxers met in a local boxing arena of a television station to decide once and for all who is the best. The Japanese fielded their top fighters and were convinced of victory, while the Thai’s smiled in anticipation of the opposite result. Thailand chose its team after a careful study of the Japanese Kickboxers. The Thai's did not pick one Thai champion and curiously picked lower rated athletes to show the superiority of Muay Thai.

The first of six bouts had Thailand's Charndet Veerapon (top challenger for the bantamweight title) outkicking Japan's Noboru Osawa. The Thai battered his opponent at will but could not knock his tough opponent out. The Thai won by decision.

In the second bout, Thailand’s Mongkondet Pitakchai (10th rated lightweight) battled against Mitsuo Shima. Shima used fast kicks to give the Thai a hard fight, but he lost on points to the experienced Mongkondet.

In the 3rd fight, Thaveechai Lurdchon (5th ranked junior lightweight) made short work of Japan's Minoru Ota. For 2 rounds, the Japanese athlete absorbed Thaveechai's murderous elbows before hitting the canvas for a count of ten.

In the 4th bout unrated but popular lightweight Rungnapa Sitsomsak fought an even battle with Japan's Toshio Fujiwara. In the third round the Thai dropped his hands and tried to humiliate the Japanese by laughing off Toshio's punches. The crowd jeered which seemed to incite the Thai to further nonsense. The referee stopped the bout and disqualified the Thai.

The most interesting match of the event was between 8th rated junior lightweight Saenchai Srisompop and Japan's Kunimiso Okano. The Thai landed vicious kicks to the necks and elbow strikes to the face but the Japanese athlete kept coming back. Bleeding from the nose and cuts on the face the Japanese athlete battled right through and into the 5th round. In the final round he went down twice from blows and received 2 standing eight counts. He staggered into a series of knees from the Thai and he went down for the final time. The referee stopped the fight saving the Japanese athlete from further possible serious injuries.

The final bout had Yordsingh S. Payathai (3rd rated welterweight) battling with Japan's Takashi Watanabe. Takashi went down twice in the 4th round and was saved by the bell. In the final round the Thai attacked with all his weapons but finally connected with a knee to the Japanese fighters face and put him down for the count. The Thai's were satisfied with 5 wins and 1 disqualification. They did not rejoice because to them it was a reaffirmation that Muay Thai is superior in the ring sports. The Japanese appeared to be ahead in the use of the hand while the Thai's were ahead in the use of the foot. The Thai's made the Japanese look incompetent in the use of the short range weapons of the elbow and the knee.

MARTIAL ART MAGAZINE FROM THE 1990'S FEATURING KICKBOXING: (Above photo) Kickboxing Ring Report Magazine (January 1998): Russell Shawney's highly touted Kickboxing and Muay Thai News Magazine from the USA. His web site was one of the hottest news sites on the internet. He too (like many other publishers) has stopped the publication for several years now.

IS AMERICAN KICKBOXING FULL OF 'PHONIES' Kickboxing in the USA is full of phonies and is in a state of chaos even before it begins. Lee Faulkner promotes a tournament between Joe Lewis and Greg Baines and calls himself 'the founder of US Kickboxing'. Has Mr. Faulkner forgotten about Count Dante, Ray Scarica and Maung Gyi, the real pioneers of Kickboxing? Dante and Scarica had tournaments back in 1962. Faulkner wants to control all Kickboxing in the US, when Maung Gyi in Ohio is the leading expert and president of the US Bando Association. Gyi ought to be the leader, what are Faulkner’s credentials? Then there is Aaron Banks, the world greatest promoter of world championships, who gives Joe Lewis the title of ‘World Heavyweight Kickboxer' for beating a few inexperienced fighters of little repute. Who gave Banks the right to give anyone a 'World Championship' in Karate or Kickboxing in the first place. Kickboxing is a beautiful and highly ritualistic art. If the promoters want American fighters, why not have Maung Gyi's students fight? The US should have true Kickboxing, not a poor imitation. - Ken Terry

FAULKNER CLARIFIES GOALS United States Kickboxing Association clarifies its goals:
1) To organize American Kickboxers so that we can all work together to make Kickboxing a major sport in the United States.
2) To act as a governing body for Kickboxing to control its titles, rules, and regulations.
3) To assist in the actual promotion of Kickboxing.
4) To obtain medical insurance and workman's compensation for the fighters.
5) To maintain high safety standards for Kickboxers.
6) To obtain sponsorship from major companies for Kickboxing and to use Kickboxers in commercials for their products.
7) To protect Kickboxers from dishonest promoters.
8) To control promotional publicity for Kickboxing, maintaining the standards of high ranking sports, and avoiding the use of wrestling promotion techniques.
9) To regulate titles to make them more meaningful.
10) To work with Oriental organizations toward world wide promotion of Kickboxing. The United States Kickboxing Association does not want to monopolize the sport. We are willing to work with other groups as long as they agree to maintain the same standards. We must work together to accomplish our goals. We must attract the attention of sportscasters and sportwriters. We must avoid the problems Karate is facing today, poor national coverage by the major news media, conflicting titles, and organizations working against each other.
Lee Faulkner USKBA Commissioner - Manhattan Beach, California

AMERICAN 'JAPANESE KICKBOXER': (Above photo) Raymond Elder : A n American athlete who gained recognition in Japan as a top 'Kickboxing' athlete.

AN AMERICAN JAPANESE 'KICKBOXER' A top ranked athlete in Japanese Kickboxing during the late 1960's/early 1970's was American Raymond Elder. Elder was the reigning Middleweight Champion in Japan. He won the All Japan Kickboxing Federation's National Middleweight Championship in 1973 (the same year Fujiwara won the Lightweight Title). During the late 1960's, Elder was the only non-Thai ever rated in the Bangkok ratings. On the strength of earlier bouts which were fought in Thailand, he had occupied fifth place in the Middleweight division. On August 13th to 20th, 1972 in Thailand as part of the "World Thai-Style Boxing Championships", seven countries were invited to bring teams to compete in these championships (Burma, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Japan, the Philippines, South Korea and Taiwan). Only Japan sent a team to the event. Elder fought for a title representing Japan at this event and was knocked out in round four by the Thai stylist.

THE DEBATE GETS HOTTER While Kickboxing in the US has been met with a less than tumultuous reception, Muay Thai is currently the topic of a sizzling controversy in the Orient. The people of Thailand who invented Kickboxing 3 or 4 centuries before, claim they have had their honor insulted by the Japanese as of late with their Kickboxing sport.

The controversy has been raging for some months and as yet has to be resolved. Reports from Tokyo and confessions from Thai athletes who have admitted into being bribed into losing against their Japanese opponents in Japan. The bouts were taped and then later shown on American television. Reportedly, thousands of American Thais were shocked by the poor showing of their countrymen and they insisted the Foreign Ministry in Bangkok do something about Thai boxers entering international contests.

The issue got so hot that it even made the Thai cabinet. Thai Boxing officials were even more incensed when the Japanese claimed their victories represented nothing less than world championships. In 1971 there were reports that the dispute was nearing a pugilistic showdown. A grudge match event between Japan and Thailand in (would you believe) Las Vegas. It obviouly never happened.

A Japanese promoter named Nakamura offered to send a team of 8 Japanese Kickboxers to Thailand. Colonel Thongterm Pebsukh (vice director of Lumpini Stadium) is said to have accepted the offer on the following terms:
1) Thai rules would be used. 2) The purse would be the same that is normally paid to the Thai fighters. 3) The visitors pay their own expenses. The dispute goes much deeper than phony fights because a high ranking Thai Government Official stated, "The Japanese have amended our rules and modified our style. We accepted Judo and Karate without any reform, and we must wonder why the Japanese don't do the same with our art. Why, they even wrestle in the ring!" Japan's Ray Elder responds: The bouts in Japan shown on American TV were taped by a Japanese promoter, therefore it is highly likely that the tapes were sent to the US with a Japanese point of view. Elder states that there is only one one authentic Kickboxing Commission in Japan and it is the AJKC (All Japan Kick-Boxing Commission). The commissioner is Japanese senator Shintaro Ishihara. The Japan TV Channel TBS claims to have its own TV Champions but he sheds disbelief on their authenticity. Bouts under the AJKC are authentic, but he does not say the same for the TBS-6 bouts. Elder points the finger at one fighter on the channel who is known for having notoriously known fixed fights. Elder states about the wrestling issue, that the AJKC follows the same rules and regulations as Thailand, except that Japanese Kickboxers do not do the Ram Muay. "The Bangkok politician should have directed his fury at TBS-6 and not the Japanese," states Elder. Elder suggest that, "The Thai people accept that any athlete having the potential to box professionally in international boxing, regardless of nationality, also has the potential to fight in Muay Thai, providing they train in the Thai style." Elder suggest that Kickboxing in Japan fall under the control of the Japan Boxing Commission, who will have the power to take relative, punitive measures. He also states that the Thai Boxing Commission only allow licensed professional Thai style boxers into Kickboxing contests in Japan. Elder states that he feels the Thai’s are better than the Japanese Kickboxers, especially in the lighter weights, and this is supported by the fact that Japanese Kickboxing gyms send their athletes to Thailand to train and that Thai trainers are also being imported into Japan.

MARTIAL ART MAGAZINE FROM THE 1990'S FEATURING KICKBOXING: (Above photo) Chinese Fight Magazine Chinese fight magazine that is no longer being published.

NO CRIES OF 'PHONIES' HERE In Thomastown, Georgia there were no cries of 'fake' at Atlas Jesse King's 4th Georgia Kick-boxing Classic. The audience was awed by the strong combination of Karate kicks and Boxing punches displayed by black belt winner Virgil Brown.

Continued on the Next Page! - 1973 -