Sot Chitalada (, ), born as Chaovalit Wongcharoean (; ; 5 May 1962, in

Chonburi Chonburi (, , IAST: , ) is the capital of Chonburi Province and, as part of the district Mueang Chonburi District, Mueang Chonburi, the List of municipalities in Thailand, seventh-largest city in Thailand. It is about 100 km southeast of Ba ...

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 ...

) 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 is the second child of a Thai-Muslim family of eight children in

, near Hat Bang Saen, a popular tourist destination. Before he took up

Muay Thai Muay Thai or Muaythai (, , ), sometimes referred to as Thai boxing, the Art of Eight Limbs or the Science of Eight Limbs, is a Thai martial art and full-contact combat sport that uses stand-up striking, sweeps, and various clinch fighting, cl ...

, his older brother had been a fighter. He started training in Muay Thai to strengthen his weak body since childhood. Chitalada built a reputation as a Muay Thai fighter under the name Chaovalit Sitphraphrom () before making the transition to professional boxing. He fought numerous times with Muay Thai legend

Samart Payakaroon Samart Popteeratham (, born ''Samart Thipthamai'', ; December 5, 1962), known professionally as Samart Payakaroon (), is a Thai former professional Muay Thai fighter, professional boxer, and entertainer. He is a former four-division Lumpinee Sta ...

. After winning his first four professional fights, he challenged WBC Light flyweight Champion Jung-Koo Chang on 31 March 1984, losing a twelve-round decision. His

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 ...

"Sot Chitalada" comes from the name of "Muns Sorchitpatana" (; ), another boxer under the same stable. When Sorchitpatana losing by the former WBC Light flyweight Champion Netrnoi Sor Vorasingh and likely to retire, but his name also in the ranking of the WBC. His manager was a subrogate Chaovalit Sitphraphrom to fight on behalf instead Muns Sorchitpatana. Later the rankings of the WBC was incorrect, Sorchitpatana became to Sot Chitlada eventually.

World Flyweight Championship

Undaunted by the Chang loss, he won two more fights and a little over six months later shocked WBC and Lineal Flyweight Champion Gabriel Bernal, winning the world championships in his home country at

Indoor Stadium Huamark Indoor Stadium Huamark (, , ) is an indoor arena, indoor sporting arena, located in Hua Mak Subdistrict, Bang Kapi District, Bang Kapi, Bangkok, Thailand. It is next to Rajamangala National Stadium and is a part of Hua Mak Sports Complex. The orig ...

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 ...

. Chitalada is perhaps best-remembered for his fights with Bernal. The two met again twice in Bangkok. On 22 June 1985, Bernal fought Chitalada to a twelve-round draw, Chitalada keeping the titles. Bernal made another attempt eighteen months later, but on 10 December 1986 he lost another twelve-round decision to Chitalada. This was Bernal's final attempt at the Flyweight titles. Chitalada brought stability to the WBC and Lineal Flyweight titles, the six title holders prior to Bernal all losing the belts in their first defences, and Bernal losing his second defence. Following the first Bernal fight, Chitalada made six title defences (and won several non-title fights). During this run he defeated former world champions Charlie Magri and Freddy Castillo. He lost the titles on 24 July 1988, travelling to

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the southern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders North Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone, with the Yellow Sea to the west and t ...

and losing a twelve-round decision to unbeaten (at that time)

Yong-Kang Kim Kim Yong-kang (, born January 3, 1965) is a South Korean former professional boxer who competed from 1985 to 1995. He is a two-time flyweight champion, having held the WBC and ''The Ring'' titles from 1988 to 1989 and the WBA title from 1991 t ...

. After winning three more fights, Chitalada lured Kim for a rematch in his home country of Thailand. This time, it was Chitalada who came out on top, winning a twelve-round decision. Chitalada made four more title defences after he regained the titles. In his third defence, he made his second fight in the Western Hemisphere, defeating Richard Clarke by an eleventh-round knockout in Kingston,

Jamaica Jamaica is an island country in the Caribbean Sea and the West Indies. At , it is the third-largest island—after Cuba and Hispaniola—of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean. Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, west of Hispaniola (the is ...

, thus retaining his titles. For his fourth defence, he travelled to

Seoul Seoul, officially Seoul Special Metropolitan City, is the capital city, capital and largest city of South Korea. The broader Seoul Metropolitan Area, encompassing Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, emerged as the world's List of cities b ...

to avenge the only other loss in his career, to Jung-Koo Chang. Following the Chang fight, on 15 February 1991 Chitalada defended his titles against fellow-countryman Muangchai Kittikasem. This fight ended Chitalada's reign as he suffered his first knockout, Kittikasem stopping him in Round 6 to take the titles. Chitalada won two more fights before challenging Kittikasem to a rematch, but the result was the same, this time it ended in a ninth-round stoppage. That fight would be the last of Chitalada's career, he retired and never attempted a comeback.

Post retirement

After retirement, he studied at the Faculty of Humanities,

University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) ( Thai: มหาวิทยาลัยหอการค้าไทย) is a private non-profit higher education institution in Bangkok, Thailand. The university's origin dates back to 19 ...

. He is the first Thai boxer who graduated a bachelor's degree. He worked in the Public Relations Department of the

Thai Airways Thai Airways International plc () is the flag carrier airline of Thailand. Formed in 1961 as a joint venture between Scandinavian Airlines, SAS and Thai Airways Company, the airline has its corporate headquarters in Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, Chat ...

already resigned. In terms of family life, his wife is an actress in a folk-style series on Channel 7. From 2006 to 2007, Chitalada taught Muay Thai at the Muay Thai Institute of Kunponli in Salt Lake City, Utah. He has since moved to teach martial arts in California and in Utah. While being in Utah he would visit the Thai Temple that was located in Layton, Utah. He was honored as many people would come to him for autographs. He spoke broken English but was very eager to teach his Muay Thai class in the early mornings at 6:00 a.m.. His style was different from the other teachers that were there. He definitely brought the world of Thailand to little Utah. One move that he was recognized for was the Jumping Air Kick. Most of his former Utah students miss him and wish him best of luck in his new location of training.

Professional boxing record

Muay Thai record

, - style="background:#cfc;" , 1983-09-28, , Win, , align=left, Phayanoi Sor Tassanee , , Rajadamnern Stadium , ,

, , Decision, , 5, , 3:00 , - style="background:#fbb;" , 1983-08-24, , Loss, , align=left, Langkrung Kiatkriangkrai , , Rajadamnern Stadium , ,

, , Decision , , 5, , 3:00 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 1983-06-17, , Win , , align=left, Rungchai Thairungruang , , Rajadamnern Stadium , ,

, , Decision, , 5, , 3:00 , - style="background:#fbb;" , 1983-05-12, , Loss, , align=left, Langkrung Kiatkriangkrai , , Rajadamnern Stadium , ,

, , Decision , , 5, , 3:00 , - ! style=background:white colspan=9 , , - style="background:#cfc;" , 1982-10-, , Win , , align=left, Palannoi Kiatanan, , Rajadamnern Stadium , ,

, , Decision, , 5, , 3:00 , - style="background:#FFBBBB;" , 1979-09-02, , Loss, , align=left,

, , Lumpinee Stadium , ,

, , Decision , , 5 , , 3:00 , - style="background:#;" , 1979-07-24, , , , align=left, Wisanupon Saksamut , , Lumpinee Stadium , ,

, , , , , , , - style="background:#fbb;" , 1979-01-01, , Loss, , align=left,

, , , , Sa Kaeo Province,

, , Decision , , 5 , , 3:00 , - , colspan=9 , ''Legend'':

References

External links

*
Sot Chitalada - CBZ Profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chitalada, Sot 1962 births Living people Sot Chitalada Sot Chitalada Light-flyweight boxers World flyweight boxing champions World Boxing Council champions The Ring (magazine) champions Sot Chitalada Muay Thai trainers Sot Chitalada Thai expatriate sportspeople in the United States