Somkid Kruewan (Thai: สมคิด เครือวัลย์; born August 29, 1970), known professionally as Therdkiat Sitthepitak (Thai: เทอดเกียรติ ศิษย์เทพพิทักษ์), is a Thai former professional Muay Thai fighter. He is a former four-time Lumpinee Stadium champion across two divisions who was famous in the 1980s and 1990s. He was known to be an "aggressive Muay Femur".
Biography and career
Early life
Kruewan was born in the Satuek district in Buriram province on August 29, 1970. His father, a former Muay Thai fighter, initiated him and all 3 of his brothers to Muay Thai. Under the ring nameKiatnarong Luksakaew, he had his first Muay Thai fight at 14-years-old where he won by a 2nd round knockout. Once he became a well-known fighter in Surin province, he changed his ring name to Therdkiat Sitphonphitak and started taking matchups in Buriram province for several years. Therdkiat lost for the first time after facing Kaewsawan Sitsathasan, by that point he had a record of around 25 fights with no losses. In mid 1986, he was scouted by Songchai Rattanasuban, the owner of the Onesongchai promotion. Around this time, Therdkiat was training Muay Thai by himself since he could not find training partners in his hometown, so Rattanasuban would send him Bangkok so that he could briefly train at various Muay Thai gyms before fights. Rattanasuban then gave him the ring name of Therdkiat Sitthepitak.[1][2]
Fighting in Bangkok
Rattanasuban set him up to begin fighting in Lumpinee Stadium from mid 1986 and onward. He won his first 3 Lumpinee fights. In 1987, he won the junior flyweight championship awarded by the Northeastern Professional Boxing Council of Thailand after beating "The Elbow Hunter of 100 Stitches" Yodkhunpon Sittraiphum in Roi Et province. At this time, his two older brothers, Wuttichai and Noomchingchai, as well as his father, Plian Kruewan, were his trainers at home.[1] 1989 was a significant year in Therdkiat's career as he would beat Samransak Muangsurin, Superlek Sorn E-Sarn, Kawnar Sor.Khetallingchan, among other yodmuay (elite fighters). Therdkiat won the Lumpinee Junior Featherweight title that year and later the Lumpinee Featherweight title in 1990.[2]
After losing to Jongsanan Fairtex in August 1992, the Onesongchai promotion had Therdkiat be recruited by the Nongkeepahuyuth gym in Bangkok due to his inconsistent performances since 1990. There, Therdkiat began training under Pramot Hoymook and became teammates with former opponents Namphon and Namkabuan Nongkeepahuyuth.[2][3]: 0:47 Afterwards, Therdkiat held a 5-win streak against 4 fighters who resided at the top of the featherweight division in October 1992 to March 1993, during which he knocked out Jongsanan with a head kick. In his first match against Oley Kiatoneway, Therdkiat was knocked down 3 times by punches in the first round, resulting in a TKO loss. They rematched 2 months later for the Lumpinee featherweight title where he was able to outscore Oley and win the belt for the 3rd time.[4]
He would be nicknamed "The King of Lumpinee," "The King of Kathina," and "The Disc Brake Kicker," the last alias being a reference to his ability to make opponents stop in place with his teep kicks. He was also named Jom Krathin ("The Acacia") since he preferred to eat Acacia leaves after training sessions in his hometown. In his first few Bangkok fights, Therdkiat would become exhausted in the later rounds, so a journalist joked that it was because he only ate Acacia leaves. He was noted for being an aggressive Muay Femur stylist (rope-a-dope fighter in Muay Thai)[5] similar to his teammate Namkabuan.[6] Therdkiat was noted to have unusually aggressive counters for a Muay Femur fighter.[2][3]
After losing the Lumpinee Featherweight title to Mathee Jadeepitak in 1994, Therdkiat began performing worse in the following years of his career. Despite this, he was still able to win against Orono Por.Muangubon, Pairot Wor.Walapon (KO), Rainbow Sor.Prantalay, Samkor Kiatmontep, etc. He fought infrequently until he retired in 2003.[4] In the final years of his Muay Thai career, he went by the ring name of Therdkiat Kiatrungroj.[7] He stayed with the Nongkeepahuyuth gym until the end of his fighting career.[5] His Muay Thai record consists of 107 wins, 30 losses and 3 draws.[2]
Personal life after Muay Thai career
His family consists of his wife Jintana Kruewan, their son, and their daughter Nongcheer. Nongcheer is also a Muay Thai fighter who has had around 20 fights as of August 2022. She also competed in a boxing match held by the Team Ellis promotion in Australia.[3]: 0:32 [8] She goes by the ring name of Nongcheer Sitthepitak.[9]
