Chamroen Songkitrat (Thai: จำเริญ ทรงกิตรัตน์), born as Samroeng Srimadi, was a Thai boxer and

policeman A police officer (also called a policeman and, less commonly, a policewoman) is a warranted law employee of a police force. In most countries, "police officer" is a generic term not specifying a particular rank. In some, the use of the ...

. Songkitrat was a champion Muay Thai fighter in

Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is b ...

with over 50 fights before becoming an orthodox boxer. He made two unsuccessful attempts at the NBA World Bantamweight title to Jimmy Carruthers and Robert Cohen in May and September 1954, both to audiences over 60,000. He is considered the first Thai boxer to have the opportunity to challenge for a World Champion, his fight with Jimmy Carruthers on May 2, 1954 was also the first world-class professional boxing event that took place in Thailand.

Career

On December 30, 1949, Songkitrat debuted against Mok Kai Khoon in the Happy World Arena,

Singapore Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, bor ...

. The first time he challenged the World Champion was against Australian

Jimmy Carruthers James William Carruthers (5 July 1929 – 15 August 1990) was an Australian boxer, who became world champion in the bantamweight division. Jimmy was the 2009 Inductee for the Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame Veterans category. Amateur c ...

on May 2, 1954, at the National Stadium (Suphachalasai Stadium). More than 60,000 spectators attended, including King

Bhumibol Bhumibol Adulyadej ( th, ภูมิพลอดุลยเดช; ; ; (Sanskrit: ''bhūmi·bala atulya·teja'' - "might of the land, unparalleled brilliance"); 5 December 192713 October 2016), conferred with the title King Bhumibol the Great ...

and Queen

Sirikit Queen Sirikit ( th, สิริกิติ์; ; ); born ''Mom Rajawongse'' Sirikit Kitiyakara ( th, สิริกิติ์ กิติยากร; ; 12 August 1932) is the queen mother of Thailand. She was Queen of Thailand as the wif ...

of Thailand Songkitrat was sponsored partly by the Royal Thai Police Department. The stadium was open-roofed, and as it was monsoon season and raining, both competitors fought barefoot and were forced to dodge falling light globes as they exploded from gusts of wind. This is the first recorded match in modern world boxing history where boxers removed their boots. On September 19, 1954, Songkitrat challenged World Champion Robert Cohen at the National Stadium (Suphachalasai Stadium). His nose was broken during the seventh round, but he fought on, only to lose through points after 15 rounds. On March 9, 1955, he fought Raúl Macías at

Cow Palace The Cow Palace (originally the California State Livestock Pavilion) is an indoor arena located in Daly City, California, situated on the city's northern border with neighboring San Francisco. Because the border passes through the property, a por ...

, in

California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...

, and lost. After retiring from boxing, he continued to work as a police officer. Upon quitting the force, Songkitrat spent time working in

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

before returning to

Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estimated populati ...

. He opened a business in Chiang Mai, but after becoming paralyzed he returned to Bangkok. He died there on August 29, 2003, at the age of 74.ชายพจน์. มวยดังไทยแลนด์ในอดีต: "จิ้งเหลนไฟ" จำเริญ ทรงกิตรัตน์. นิตยสารมวยโลก. เล่มที่ 837. กันยายน 2543.

Professional boxing record

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Songkitrat, Chamroen Chamroen Songkitrat Chamroen Songkitrat Chamroen Songkitrat 1928 births 2003 deaths Bantamweight boxers Featherweight boxers Lightweight boxers Chamroen Songkitrat