Nattawut Jantaweemol (, born 11 November 1968), later Muangchai Jantaweemol (), known professionally as Muangchai Kittikasem (), is a Thai former

professional boxer Professional boxing, or prizefighting, is regulated, sanctioned boxing. Professional boxing bouts are fought for a purse that is divided between the boxers as determined by contract. Most professional fights are supervised by a regulatory auth ...

who competed between 1988 and 1999. He is the first Thai to be a world champion in two weight classes, having held the

International Boxing Federation The International Boxing Federation (IBF) is one of four major organizations recognized by the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) which sanctions professional boxing bouts. The others are the World Boxing Association (WBA), World Boxing C ...

(IBF) junior-flyweight title from 1989 to 1990 and the

World Boxing Council The World Boxing Council (WBC) is an international professional boxing organization. It is among the four major organizations which sanction professional boxing bouts, alongside the World Boxing Association (WBA), International Boxing Federation ...

(WBC)

flyweight Flyweight is a weight class in combat sports. Boxing Flyweight is a class in boxing which includes fighters weighing up to and including 51 kg (112 lb) for a title fight. Professional boxing The flyweight division was the last of boxin ...

title from 1991 to 1992.

Muay Thai career

His experience of Muay Thai fighting began as a child when he went to a temple fair quite far from his home. Wanting the prize money of 150

baht The baht (; , ; currency sign, sign: ฿; ISO 4217, code: THB) is the official currency of Thailand. It is divided into 100 ''satang'' (, ). Prior to decimalisation, the baht was divided into eight ''fueang'' (, ), each of eight ''at'' (, ). The ...

for the winner and 100 baht for the loser, he and his friends signed up to fight, even though they had never trained before. However, he was able to defeat same age fighter who had about 10 fights. When he returned home the next morning, he gave the 150 baht prize money to his mother. His father, who himself had no experience as a trainer, began training him and his friends in a space behind their house. Incredible, he has won nine fights in a row. Kittikasem claims to have fought around one hundred Muay Thai fights, using the

ring name A ring name is a type of stage name or nickname used by an athlete such as a professional wrestler, mixed martial artist, or boxer whose real name is considered unattractive, dull, difficult to pronounce or spell, amusing for the wrong reasons ...

s Jinjok Sithphorum (), and Jingjok Uvichaiyont (), with Muangchai Singnonsuan (), respectively, both provincial and Bangkok circuits, but never won any championships. He changed to boxing when a promoter needed a short-term replacement on one of his cards. In professional boxing, he had three managers were Kitti Akkraseranee, Song Karnchanachoosak and Songchai Rattanasuban.

Professional boxing career

The relentless pressure fighter Kittikasem started to fight professionally in 1988. In only his 7th bout 1989 he won the IBF junior-flyweight title on points against Filipino Tacy Macalos and defended it against the same fighter by KO. After two defenses, he went to the United States to defend the crown against undefeated amateur star Michael Carbajal in 1990. In the bout, he was knocked down four times by the American and injured his chin during the 7th round. His chin became his major weakness since then. He went up in weight and won the WBC and lineal flyweight title by KO in a 6-round fight against his countryman

Sot Chitalada Sot Chitalada (, ), born as Chaovalit Wongcharoean (; ; 5 May 1962, in Chonburi, Thailand) is a Thai former boxer who was twice WBC and Lineal Flyweight Champion, having defended the title against nine boxers in total. Biography and career He ...

the very next year. Kittikasem KOd Jung Koo Chang and stopped Chitalada once again in the rematch. He lost another title to another amateur world champion, Russian

Yuri Arbachakov Yuri Yakovlevich Arbachakov (; born October 22, 1966) is a Russian former professional boxer who competed from 1990 to 1997. He held the WBC flyweight title from 1992 to 1997. Amateur career Yuri Arbachakov was born on October 22, 1966 ...

, in 1992. The fight took place in Japan, and ended in an explosive KO when Kittikasem ran right in a counter. In 1993, he was KO'd one more time by Arbachakov, this time in Thailand. He had a couple more fights but never contended again.

Retirement

After retiring from boxing, he ran a used car dealership in Thawi Watthana District, suburb

Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estim ...

until 2011 when it was flooded. These days he is a local politician in Bang Bon District under the

Pheu Thai Party The Pheu Thai Party (PT or PTP; , ) is a major conservative populist list of political parties in Thailand, political party in Thailand. It is the third incarnation of the Thai Rak Thai Party, a political party founded by former Prime Minister ...

, he had previously run for local elections in Bangkok twice but was not successful. In addition, He has also performed in some

movie A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are generally, sinc ...

s or

television drama In film and television show, television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or docudrama, semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humour, humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional te ...

s as a supporting actor, such as '' The Legend of Suriyothai'' in 2001 and ''Sin Sisters'' in 2002, etc.

Personal life

He is divorced and has two children. Kittikasem hailed Carbajal as the best opponent he had ever faced.

Professional boxing record

Muay Thai record

, - style="background:#cfc;" , 1988-04-29, , Win, , align=left, Seesod Sahakarnosot , , , ,

Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...

, , KO , , 2 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 1988-04-12, , Win, , align=left, Eddie Sitwatsiripong , , , ,

, , KO , , 2 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 1988-02-05, , Win, , align=left, Sittichai Monsongkram , , , ,

, , KO , , 2 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 1988-01-05, , Win, , align=left, Wanthongchai Sitdaothong , , , ,

, , KO , , 3 , , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 1987-10-06, , Win, , align=left, Yodsuwan Sityodtong , , , ,

, , Decision , , 5 , , 3:00 , - style="background:#cfc;" , 1987-09-08, , Win, , align=left, Sittichok Monsongkhram , , , ,

, , KO , , 3 , , , - style="background:#fbb;" , 1987-05-15, , Loss, , align=left, Kawnar Bualuangprakanphay, , , ,

, , Decision , , 5 , , 3:00 , - style="background:#cfc;" , 1987-05-15, , Win, , align=left, Sittichok Monsongkhram , , , ,

, , KO , , 3 , , , - style="background:#fbb;" , 1987-03-21, , Loss , , align=left, Khunpon Sor.Wattana , , , ,

, , Decision, , 5 , , 3:00 , - style="background:#cfc;" , 1987-01-06, , Win, , align=left, Superlek Chor.Sawat , , , ,

, , KO , , 2 , , , - , colspan=9 , ''Legend'':

References

External links

*
Muangchai Kittikasem - CBZ Profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kittikasem, Muangchai 1968 births Living people Muangchai Kittikasem Muangchai Kittikasem Muangchai Kittikasem Muangchai Kittikasem Flyweight boxers Light-flyweight boxers World flyweight boxing champions World light-flyweight boxing champions World Boxing Council champions International Boxing Federation champions Muangchai Kittikasem