Saigon's God of Kicks defeated many world martial artists

Defeating many martial artists from France, India, Thailand... Mr. Sau Cuong with his extraordinary skills was known as "Unrivaled God of Kicks" in the old South.

In the 1930s and 1940s, a trend emerged in Saigon and the six provinces of the South, learning martial arts and competing in ring matches. Martial artists were highly respected, so many young men chose to follow this path.

Boxing masters from France, Cambodia, India, Thailand, etc. also came to compete. Thanks to their tall and professional physique, they defeated many Vietnamese boxers and quickly dominated the boxing rings.

A boxing match in old Saigon. Photo: Document.

The character Sau Cuong from Tra Vinh appeared. In the match in Can Tho organized for the French boxer of Indian origin to show his talent, Sau Cuong stood up to challenge.

The French boxer, who uses a combination of boxing and Indian martial arts, won 10 matches in Southeast Asia. However, when facing Sau Cuong, he was knocked out in the second round by a double kick.

Three months later, Sau Cuong continued to fight a Thai boxer named Anthuong Chay in Saigon. This boxer had competed in many countries in Europe, won 30 matches, and had never tasted defeat. He was very good at a martial art called Muay Thai but was still knocked out by Sau Cuong.

At that time, Sau Cuong became a legend of the martial arts community in Saigon and the six provinces of the South with an undefeated record. He was known as the "god of kicks" with his powerful series of kicks. Martial arts veterans said that Sau Cuong was strong in kicks because he was blessed with two unusually large feet.

In his memoir From U Minh to Can Tho, writer Son Nam expressed his admiration for the famous boxer Sau Cuong of that time. During his travels, he directly witnessed the boxing match between Sau Cuong and a black boxer named Kid Chocolat.

In that match, the foreign boxer tried to get close, throwing powerful hooks to the jaw, but Sau Cuong used a thousand-pound kick, defending from afar. Chocolat was kicked and fell, but quickly got up and rushed forward to hook. In the end, Sau Cuong was awarded the victory by points by the referee, and he immediately threw a beautiful punch to thank him.

"Cuong is tall, has long arms and legs, and sometimes jumps high like an eagle. Watching him fight, I and many other spectators feel proud of our nation," writer Son Nam described.

Boxing advertisement in old newspaper. Photo: Archive.

The reputation of the kicking god became even more famous after defeating the boxer Hong Son who was protecting the pure Vietnamese soap brand of Truong Van Ben. After this match, "kicking god" Sau Cuong quickly gathered hundreds of followers, protecting a large area of ​​bus stations, theaters, casinos...

One of the most ideal places to make a living at that time was An Dong bus station (Le Hong Phong street area, district 10). Thanks to his unstoppable combo kicks, Sau Cuong won the challenge and took over the protection of the bus station. He and his followers then gradually took over many other lucrative business locations.

After many social upheavals and growing old, Sau Cuong returned to Tra Vinh to live. He also accepted several challenges from domestic boxers and won despite his declining health. In his last fight, he lost to a boxer from Hanoi and retired.

After 1945, Sau Cuong joined the revolution and became a thorn in the side of the French authorities. Because of his prestige and respect, the government was very afraid of his influence on the opposition movement at that time.

The French organized forces to surround and capture him many times, but Sau Cuong, with his skills, always escaped. When he was informed by secret agents, he could not escape the siege and was arrested. Sau Cuong was executed by the French in Tra Vinh after several months of solitary confinement.

According to VNE