JOCKY SITKANPAI THE JOCKEY OF MUAY THAI (Career 1970-1980)
JOCKY SITKANPAI THE JOCKEY OF MUAY THAI
by Serge TREFEU (2016)
Jocky of his born name Putha Naree was born in 1948 in the village of Nong Tako in the district of Kranuan situated in the region of Khon Kaen at the heart of Isaan (Northeast). He begins the boxing with his older brother named Sayane Singsayane who teaches him the Art of Muay Thai. The young boy Putha makes his first fight for the age of 12 years in a village feast where he gains the 30-baht sum.
THE YOUNG PUTHA NAREE IN 1965
For his first fights, he fights under the name of Phutsaksit Singsayane of the name of the camp in which his older brother trained. Then, he integrates the famous Sitkanpai camp and takes fighter’s name of Jocky Sitkanpai. His name of fighter “Jocky” wants to say The Jockey “because his nickname on the boxing ring is now” Khun Khao Palang Maa “(The blow of knee in the power of horse). Putha is as a Jockey which tames his horse to send powerful blow of knee to his opponents. Putha was also a big fan of racehorses.
JOCKY SITKANPAI “KHUN KHAO PALANG MAA”
Jocky fight for the first time to Bangkok in 17 years in the stadium of Ratchadamnoen. At the age of 19, he made a name by beating several big fighters, he obtains good purses between 50 000 and 60 000 bahts for each of his fights.
At the beginning of the 70s, Jocky takes away the belt of Ratchadamnoen in 118 lbs in front of champion Sitwatnang. A belt which he’s going to defend from numerous times successfully. Jocky is also going to gain the belt of Lumpinee in 118 lbs. Then, he will fight in 126 lbs then in 130 lbs during the end of his career. Jocky becomes a star in Thailand, fans of Muay Thai adore his fluid and technical style. This exceptional boxer is a member from now on of the biggest fighters of the 70s.
Jockey face all the top names in his category such as Narongnoi, Pud Pad Noi, Wichanoï, Seksan, Youssop, Bandit, Padejsuk, Singsamliyam, Nongkay, Reungsak, Phosaï, Khunponoy, Denthorraneenoi, Sagat, Suraphon. He beat the legends of the rings Pud Pad Noi Worawut, Padejsuk Pitsanuchai, Nongkay Sor Prapason, Narongnoi Kiaetbandit, Khunponoy Kietsuriya, Denthorraneenoi Leadtaksin, Sagat Petchyindee !
JOCKY SITKANPAI AGAINST PUD PAD NOI WORAWOOT (BEST BOXER OF THE YEAR 1975)
JOCKY SITKANPAI AGAINST PADEJSUK PITSANUCHAÏ (BEST BOXER OF THE YEAR 1979)
This great boxer was one of the first Thai champions to fight against foreign fighters. He beat in particular the formidable American karateka Lindsay Ferguson in the stadium of Lumpinee and faced two Japanese champions in Japan with a victory and a defeat.
Jocky ended his career in 1980. During this year, he faced N°1 of Lumpinee and Ratchadamnoen of time, Youssop Sor Thanikul (Today trainer in France) which had ten years less than Jocky. The match it’s unwound in the stadium of Lumpinee, in sold out, the same day as the star fight between both superstars Dieselnoi Chor Thanasukarn and Weecharnoi Porntawee. The stadium was crowded, lack of place, spectators have of sit down on the ground, it was the only time in the history of Muay Thai that people find themselves seated on the ground in the stadium of Lumpinee. Youssop beat in points Jocky after a terrible battle, both protagonists received the trophy of the “most violent fight” of the evening!
Then, the great champion Jocky made his last fight against the young rising star of the time Samart Prasarmit who beat him by points…
JOCKY WITH HIS FAMILY AFTER A FIGHT IN THE STADIUM RATCHADAMOEN IN 1971
FAKEO SURAKOSANG, SOMCHAI PISARUNCHAN, JOCKY SITKANPAI, WANDEE SAKJAROEN IN 1974
When he was in Bangkok, Jocky fought for the promoter Somat Hong Sakoun. Somat Hong Sakoun had his own camp which opened in 1974, the camp was called Sofoyo Gym. A few years after its opening Master Somat changed the name of his camp in homage to one of his best fighters who was Jocky Sitkanpai. He named simply his camp “Jocky Gym”. A name which has brought luck to this camp because it became a factory to champions which gathered in 27 belts of Lumpinee and Radja. The most renowned champions of Muay Thai represented this camp during decades such as Somrak Kamsing, Saenchai Sor Kingstar, Lerdsila Chumpairtour, Kaoklai Kaennorasing, Silapathai Jockygym, Robert Kaennorasing, Rolek Kaeonnorasing, Wangvisep Kaennorasing, Chaowarit Jockygym, Yotchai Kaennorasing, Sonkom Jockygym, Patong Jockygym, Chadet Ponsaknoisiichang, Noree, Sinnoi, Pornsak!
THE JOCKY GYM WAS A CAMP “OLD SCHOOL” (PHOTOS 1998)
THE PROMOTER AND OWNER OF JOCKY GYM MR. SOMAT HONG SAKOUN WITH TWO CHAMPIONS OF HIS BEST SILAPATHAI JOCKYGYM (RADJA CHAMPION) AND WANGVISEP KAENNORASING (RADJA CHAMPION)
So, legendary French champion Philippe Cantamessi, Stephane Nikiema, Dany Bill and Jean-Charles Skarbowsky trained during several years and fought for the colors of Jocky Gym.
This mythical camp in the story of Muay Thai is still opened today but his name is now “Skarbowsky Gym”. The former great foreign champion Jean-Charles Skarbowsky who represented this camp during several years took back the management in 2016 of this camp in the historic past.
THE SKARBOWSKY GYM (PHOTOS 2016)
After his boxer’s career, Jocky Sitkanpai got married and has they three children. With his wife, they cultivated fields of sugar cane on the native land of the champion to Nong Tako. To have an additional income, Jocky invested in “Rot Songtheou” (Taxi with two seats for several people). The Naree family always lives in the region of Khon Kaen, an earth which produced immense champions as Pud Pad Noi Worawut, Somrack Khamsing, Krongsak Boranrat, Cherry Sor Wanich, Karuhat Sor Supawan, Lom Isaan Sor Thanikul, Kaoklai Kaennorasing, Robert Kaennorasing, Wangviset Kaennorasing, Sangmanee Sor Tienpo and Jocky Sitkanpai !
PUTHA NAREE ALIAS JOCKY DID NOT FORGET WHERE FROM HE COMES, HE ALWAYS PARTICIPATES IN THE HARVEST OF THE RICE IN HIS NATIVE REGION
JOCKY SITKANPAI A 68-YEAR STILL LIVES KHON KAEN
