| Just as Ramon was developing that attitude of kicking like
a Thai, he introduced the Thais to the punches of western boxing with that
devastating knockout over Cherry. Dekkers had done it again – done it his
way – done it with that left hook at the tail end of a punishing combination
borrowed from one legend and used by the legend himself. And the hometown
crowd roared its appreciation. People were expecting him to be a kicker but
then he proved once again he was very much a puncher as well. The Thais had
not seen these kinds of punches before. They were used to the knees. They
were used to the elbows. They were used to the high kicks. But it was with
that ice cold blooded efficiency that he set up those punches that he had
been so well schooled in under the tutelage of Cor Hemmers. And he
devastated the Thai champion with that final hook uppercut. Dekkers was now
becoming a legend around the world and the Thais wanted him beaten badly. As
he went to pay his respects to the fallen champion, Dekkers was as always
the consummate sportsman. He had nothing personal against the Thais, but the
country of Thailand wanted a bit of payback. |
