1.
GV American Lindsay Ferguson (wearing long trousers) vs. Jokey Sitkanpai (wearing shorts) of Thailand.
0.18

2.
SV Crowd watching on.
0.19

3.
GV Lindsay Ferguson kneed by Sitkanpai and then counted out by referee, who raises Sitkanpai's hand as winner.
0.40

4.
SV Crowd watching on.
0.43

5.
GV First round of second fight. Ernest Hart (long trousers) (USA)vs. Jitti Maungkhonkaen of Thailand. (2 shots)
1.26

6.
SV Crowd watching on.
1.28

7.
GV Maungkhonkaen kneeing Hart then fight stopped in fourth round, with referee announcing Maungkhonkaen winner.
1.57


The fights proved very punishing for the Americans. Both found it difficult to leave the ring unaided and were in considerable pain. Thai boxing is centuries old and is an inherent part of the country's history and culture. Rules in the sport are few but biting, choking, and spitting are forbidden.




Initials VS 15.00


SPORT: THAI BOXING/KARATE

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: In a strange blend of the martial arts, two American karate experts found themselves unable to overcome the fast-paced co?ination of kicking, elbowing, and kneeing, unique to the sport of Thai boxing. In two free for all bouts in Bangkok on Tuesday night (6 September), Thai boxers easily knocked out the Americans.

SYNOPSIS: A sellout crowd of ten thousand paid up to 56 pounds sterling (100 U.S. dollars) to watch the strange bouts. The only rule which applied to the contestants was that each followed the standard regulations of their own discipline. And the only thing they had in common was that both the Thais and the Americans wore boxing gloves. In this bout American karate expert Lindsay Ferguson, wearing the long trousers, quickly found he was no match for his Thai opponent Jokey Sitkanpai. He was brought down with a crushing right foot to the neck in the second round.

It was only slightly better for the other American, Ernest Hart, champion of the southern Japanese Karate Association in California. Hart, well over six feet tall (181 cms) had both a height and weight advantage over his Thai opponent Jitti Maungkhonkaen. And he did look impressive in the early part of the bout, dancing around and following up with side kicks and punches to the head.

But Jitti came back strongly with a heavy knee attack below the American's rib cage and thighs. By the fourth round, Hart retreated to his corner to receive a mandatory eight count when he was visibly hurt, but advanced to mid-ring to make a final gesture of lasting out the round. Jitti moved in for a mopping up session and after another furious knee-attack, Hart's corner threw in the towel ending the bout.