Disabled son of Premier League star in Muay Thai ring goal

The disabled son of a former Premier League football star is poised to shake the ropes and rattle traditions while taking a bow at the home of Muay Thai in Thailand on Friday.

Jake Peacock, son of former Newcastle United and Chelsea captain Gavin, gets into the ring on Friday, April 5, for ONE Friday Fights 58 in Thailand against Kohei Shinjo in a bantamweight Muay Thai clash.

The 30 year old Newcastle-born boxer declared he always knew he’d be a professional fighter – despite coming from a footballing family dynasty. Both his father and grandfather, Keith Peacock, played in the top flight of English football. His grandfather, Keith, was the very first footballer to come on as a substitute in the English football league for Charlton Athletic in 1965.

Jake, however, has no plans to play second fiddle in the ring as the British fighter defied the odds, after being born without his right hand, to reach the pinnacle of his sport.

Having spent his formative years in his homeland of England, Peacock, embarked on a life-changing journey to Canada in 2008. This transition was catalysed by his father’s decision to pursue a three-year master’s programme in divinity at Ambrose Seminary, with aspirations of becoming a pastor.

Having previously claimed titles as the Canadian welterweight and North American super welterweight champion, Peacock (12-1) is poised to make his debut on the esteemed stage of combat sports. He candidly discusses his distinctive approach to fighting, influenced by his unique circumstance of having one hand.

“I have to think outside the box [as] I can’t do conventional combinations. So, I really do have to be tricky [and] work with my range in my distance and timing. Everything’s slightly different when it comes to my style”.

Peacock has previously shared his experiences of being bullied and enduring the stares of countless passersby on the streets. He candidly discussed the challenges he faced in overcoming the constant scrutiny and learning to disregard the opinions of others.

“Man, it took a while. And when I was a child, it was hard to deal with, even into my teen years. It’s very frustrating. But that all changed when I became a Christian [at] like 18, 19 years old. I knew that my identity wasn’t how I looked. It was with God. And that changed everything for me.”

Although he is the son of a former Premier League midfielder, Peacock acknowledged that his father was unflinchingly honest about his prospects of following in his footsteps as a second-generation footballer.

“I played [football] but my my dad kept it real with me, he said I wouldn’t make it pro, and, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

“My dad just shot straight, and, I still played Sunday League and for my school, but, I knew that I was never good enough, but I was always encouraged to pursue combat sports because I did gravitate towards it and I was doing well in it.”

As a father of two, he shares the same Christian faith as his father, reflecting on how embracing religion transformed his life for the better, reported the Daily Star.

“[It] changed the trajectory of my life completely, not only did [it] change my values and my morals and how I conduct myself, [it] changed my outlook on life and even so much as my career, you know, I became a better fighter because of my trust and faith in God.

“Now, I wasn’t, you know, fighting for myself. I was fighting for a bigger purpose. And that purpose would be to glorify God, and let him use me to inspire other people as well.”