One-handed Calgary fighter wins Muay Thai championship debut
Jake Peacock, who is missing right hand, victorious by decision in Bangkok
Calgary's Jake (The One) Peacock won his Muay Thai debut in One Championship on Friday, earning a unanimous decision over Japanese bantamweight Kohei (Samurai Warrior) Shinjo.
Peacock, who is missing his right hand, was the aggressor throughout the three-round fight at the storied Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok.
Shinjo (7-3-0) could never find the range and Peacock (13-1-0) kept coming at him, scoring with high kicks in the third round. The Japanese fighter was bloodied but game as the fight ended with Peacock smiling as Shinjo tried to engage.
The 30-year-old Peacock was born without a right hand. The amniotic band was wrapped around his arm in the early stages of development, which stopped it from growing.
"Look at me, guys," a jubilant Peacock said after the win. "Look at me. And I'm on the world stage whupping butt."
Peacock, who entered the ring Friday wearing a cowboy hat, fought his way onto the Bangkok card, winning the Road to One tournament to secure a $100,000 US, six-fight contract with One Championship.
One's Muay Thai bouts feature three three-minute rounds (five rounds for a title bout) with fighters wearing four-ounce mixed martial arts gloves. Knockouts can be scored via punch, kick, knee, elbow or legal throw.
Peacock, who weighed in at 144.5 pounds, only wears one glove but uses his right arm to deliver elbows and other strikes.
Ranked 14th in the WBC world rankings at welterweight, Peacock is the current WBC Canadian welterweight champion and North American super-welterweight champion and former European super-welterweight title-holder.
Sporting pedigree
Married with two kids, he is also the founder and head coach at Calgary's Dunamis Gym.
Peacock has a sporting pedigree.
His father Gavin Peacock was a professional soccer player for 18 years, playing for Queens Park Rangers, Chelsea and Newcastle United among other clubs.
Born and raised in London, England, Jake was enrolled in martial arts at the age of seven to learn discipline and self-defence. After moving to Canada at 14, Peacock transitioned to full contact Kyokushin Karate, eventually moving to Muay Thai and kickboxing.
Peacock has one MMA fight under his belt, losing to Skye Folsom in June 2016 on a Hard Knocks Fighting Championship card in Calgary.
