Chatchai Sasakul


Chatchai Sasakul is a Thai former Muay Thai fighter and professional boxer who competed in boxing between 1991 and 2008. He held the WBC flyweight title from May 1997 to December 1998. Aside from being a professional boxer, he is also a practitioner in snooker. In addition to Chatchai Sasakul, his other ring names include Chatchai Elite Gym, Chatchai Kratingdaenggym, Chatchai 3-K Battery, Chatchai Dutch Boy Gym, Chatchai Singwangcha depending on the sponsors for each occasion.

Early life

He was born in Nakhon Ratchasima Province, but his family moved to Khlong Toei District in Bangkok when he was young, settling in Zone 9 of the Khlong Toei slum. Growing up in poverty, he was forced by his father to take up boxing as a child, starting with Muay Thai.

Muay Thai and amateur boxing career

Sasakul's martial arts journey began with Muay Thai. He initially fought in the Bangkok circuit under the name Nuengthoranee Lukbangli, before changing to Nuengthoranee Petchyindee after joining the Petchyindee Boxing Promotions stable. Under the patronage of Virat Vachirarattanawong, the owner of Petchyindee, he attended high school at Bhadungsit Pittaya School in Bang Sue; the school is known for its strong amateur boxing program at the youth level. He later transitioned to Western boxing and rose to become one of Thailand's top amateur boxing stars. He had an amateur record of 85 fights, winning 78 of them, he won the 1989 and 1990 editions of the King's Cup where he received the Best Boxer of the competition award.
During his time as an amateur boxer, he was regarded as the favorite of Klaew Thanikhul, a well-known mafia figure who was highly influential in the Thai boxing industry at the time. Thanikhul took him to nightclubs and massage parlours around Bangkok at night, and even brought him to a casino in Las Vegas, even though he was only in the eleventh grade.

Olympic career

He represented Thailand as a Light Flyweight at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games. The results of his fights were:
Sasakul turned pro in 1991 and captured the WBC and lineal flyweight titles with a win over Yuri Arbachakov in 1997, having previously challenged him in 1995 in his first career loss. He defended the titles twice before losing to Manny Pacquiao by knockout in 1998 to earn Pacquiao his first championship title.
On March 31, 2007, Sasakul knocked out Lito Sisnorio, a Filipino boxer. Sisnorio reportedly sustained brain injuries during the fight. The next day, following unsuccessful brain surgery, Sisnorio was pronounced dead at Piyamin Hospital in Thailand at 9:15 PM. The controversy over the match arose from the fact that Sisnorio's role in the fight was not officially sanctioned by the Philippine Games and Amusement Board. His death prompted the Board to ban all fights involving Filipino boxers in Thailand starting April 2007.
On August 30, 2008, Sasakul challenged Cristian Mijares, the WBA and WBC unified super flyweight champion. However, he stopped in three rounds. According to a doctor who provided him medication after the match, this was the Thai boxer's last career fight. What might have become a disadvantage for Sasakul was that he had to go to a second flight to Mexico through Germany after having problems with the first flight which tried to go through Hong Kong. By the time he got to Mexico, the fight was only three days away and that he experienced jet lag.

After retirement

After retirement, he briefly opened a mu kratha night restaurant, but it was unsuccessful. Later, Sasakul opened his own boxing gym, Sasakul Muay Thai, in Bangkok, focusing primarily on boxing with the goal of nurturing a new generation of Thai world boxing champions. He is also a trainer to Superbon Banchamek and to fighters from his former team, Petchyindee Boxing Promotions, such as Pongsaklek Wonjongkam, Kompayak Porpramook, Panomroonglek Kratingdaenggym, Yodmongkol Vor Saengthep, Knockout CP Freshmart, Noknoi Sitthiprasert.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes
68WinChaiwirat RongthaisongKO5 Nov 25, 2008Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand
67Loss62–4–1Cristian MijaresTKO3 Aug 30, 2008Arena Monterrey, Monterrey, Nuevo León, MexicoFor WBA and WBC super-flyweight titles
66Win62–3–1Anis CeunfinTKO2 Dec 4, 2007Bungboraphet, Nakhon Sawan, Thailand
65Win61–3–1Marvin TampusUD8Oct 24, 2007Bang Phli, Thailand
64Win60–3–1Jonrae VeranoUD6Aug 24, 2007Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand
63Win59–3–1Roger MonsertoUD8Jul 18, 2007Bangkok, Thailand
62Win58–3–1Masanori MurataUD6May 25, 2007Por Kungpao, Udomsuk, Bangkok, Thailand
61Win57–3–1Lito SisnorioKO4 Mar 30, 2007Mathayom Wat Sing Schoo, Samut Prakan, ThailandSisnorio died from injuries sustained in this fight, he had no license or approval to box
60Win56–3–1Alfred NagalUD6Jan 26, 2007City Hall, Tak, Thailand
59Win55–3–1Roger BerlozaTKO4 Dec 29, 2006Samut Songkhram, Thailand
58Win54–3–1Yuki MuraiUD12Sep 7, 2006Samut Songkhram, ThailandRetained interim WBC Asian super-flyweight title
57Win53–3–1Katsumi MakiyamaTKO5 Jul 28, 2006City Hall, Sara Buri, ThailandWon vacant interim WBC Asian super-flyweight title
56Win52–3–1Dodong DiscadoKO2 Apr 28, 2006Taikek Market, Sara Buri, Thailand
55Loss51–3–1Kuniyuki AizawaUD10Dec 12, 2005Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
54Win51–2–1Nathan BarcelonaUD8Oct 28, 2005Chokchai 4 Center, Bangkok, Thailand
53Win50–2–1Tata PolinarKO6 Sep 30, 2005Bangkok, ThailandRetained interim WBC Asian bantamweight title
52Win49–2–1Anucha RassameeyanUD6Jun 24, 2005Por Kungpao, Pinklao Branch, Bangkok, Thailand
51Win48–2–1Al TarazonaKO2 Jan 29, 2005Channel 7 Studios, Bangkok, Thailand
50Win47–2–1Thuwachit BoongomeTKO2 Dec 31, 2004Por Kungpao Restaurant, Bangkok, Thailand
49Win46–2–1Rolly MandahinogUD10Aug 27, 2004Khukhan, Thailand
48Win45–2–1Jun MagsipocTKO8 Jun 25, 2004Wapeepatum, Maha Sarakham, ThailandRetained interim WBC Asian bantamweight title
47Win44–2–1Allan FuentesUD12Apr 30, 2004Nakhon Ratchasima, ThailandRetained interim WBC Asian bantamweight title
46Win43–2–1Sunao UnoSD10Mar 7, 2004Industrial Hall, Gifu, Gifu, Japan
45Win42–2–1Anthony VillamorTKO4 Jan 3, 2004Channel 7 Studios, Bangkok, Thailand
44Win41–2–1Rey LlagasUD12Sep 5, 2003Pradit Manootham Sports Arena, Klongtan, ThailandWon vacant interim WBC Asian bantamweight title
43Win40–2–1Edgar TahadKO2 Jul 25, 2003City Hall, Chaiyaphum, Thailand
42Win39–2–1Arman PedemonteUD10Sep 22, 2000Sara Buri, Thailand
41Win38–2–1Ricky ProtacioKO5 Jun 23, 2000Bangkok, Thailand
40Win37–2–1Nathan BarcelonaTKO8 May 19, 2000Srimnang Outdoor Arena, Udon Thani, Thailand
39Win36–2–1Marlon TeradoKO4 Oct 17, 1999Bangkok, Thailand
38Win35–2–1Rey LlagasPTS8Sep 17, 1999Pakpanag Metropolitan Stadium, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
37Win34–2–1Nathan BarcelonaUD10Aug 29, 1999Bangkok, Thailand
36Win33–2–1Rico MacaubosPTS8Mar 6, 1999Buddamonton, Thailand
35Loss32–2–1Manny PacquiaoKO8 Dec 4, 1998Tonsuk College Ground, Phuttamonthon, ThailandLost WBC flyweight title
34Win32–1–1Young Soon JangKO5 May 1, 1998Kanchanaburi Stadium, Kanchanaburi, ThailandRetained WBC flyweight title
33Win31–1–1Young Jin KimUD12Feb 27, 1998Specially Built Arena, Ko Samui, ThailandRetained WBC flyweight title
32Win30–1–1Yuri ArbachakovUD12Nov 12, 1997Tsukisamu Green Dome, Sapporo, Hokkaido, JapanWon WBC flyweight title
31Win29–1–1Juan Domingo CórdobaRTD7 Aug 1, 1997Prince Palace Hotel, Bangkok, ThailandRetained WBC interim flyweight title
30Win28–1–1Ysaias ZamudioUD12May 9, 1997Prince Palace Hotel, Bangkok, ThailandWon vacant WBC interim flyweight title
29Win27–1–1Ramil GeveroKO5 Jan 30, 1997Provincial Stadium, Chumphon, Thailand
28Draw26–1–1Allan MorreTD2 Nov 8, 1996Villa Café, Phraram 9, Bangkok, Thailand
27Win26–1Ricky OcoyTKO6 Aug 23, 1996Provincial Stadium, Surat Thani, Thailand
26Win25–1Jimmy AguirreTKO4 Jul 31, 1996The Grand, Bangkae, Bangkok, Thailand
25Win24–1Texas GomezTKO4 May 24, 1996Vichean Buri, Petchaboon, Thailand
24Win23–1Pablo TiznadoTKO9 Apr 15, 1996Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.
23Win22–1Joel NiceKO3 Jan 27, 1996Bansaen Stadium, Chonburi, Thailand
22Win21–1Ledion CenizaPTS8Nov 5, 1995Sara Buri, Thailand
21Loss20–1Yuri ArbachakovUD12Sep 25, 1995 Nippon Budokan, Tokyo, Japan For WBC flyweight title
20Win20–0Joseph PadenKO3 Apr 27, 1995Bangkok, Thailand
19Win19–0Mauro SauceloKO2 Feb 19, 1995Thansettakit Building, Bangkok, Thailand
18Win18–0Edwin ProjoKO5 Dec 21, 1994Thansettakit Building, Bangkok, Thailand
17Win17–0Chang-Il MoonKO3 Oct 24, 1994Elite Gym Spa Complex, Bangkok, Thailand
16Win16–0Nolito CabatoPTS10Aug 1, 1994Bangkok, Thailand
15Win15–0Jack SiahayaTKO5 May 2, 1994Elite Gym Spa Complex, Bangkok, Thailand
14Win14–0Oscar JimenezKO2 Mar 13, 1994Elite Gym Spa Complex, Bangkok, Thailand
13Win13–0Benjie DuranKO3 Dec 18, 1993Bangkok, Thailand
12Win12–0Rolando ProtacioTKO3 Oct 30, 1993Bangkok, Thailand
11Win11–0Reynante JamiliKO2 Jul 16, 1993Bangkok, Thailand
10Win10–0Rolando PascuaUD12Apr 28, 1993Bangkok, ThailandRetained WBC International flyweight title
9Win9–0Alexander MakhmutovUD12Feb 25, 1993Bangkok, ThailandRetained WBC International flyweight title
8Win8–0Norikazu KawanaTKO3 Dec 25, 1992Bangkok, Thailand
7Win7–0Jon PenalosaKO2 Oct 4, 1992Bangkok, Thailand
6Win6–0Tarman GarzimUD10Jul 5, 1992Bangkok, Thailand
5Win5–0Jess MacaPTS10May 29, 1992Bangkok, Thailand
4Win4–0Ric MagramoTKO8 Mar 20, 1992Bangkok, ThailandWon vacant WBC International flyweight title
3Win3–0Ric SiodoraTKO2 Dec 27, 1991Bangkok, Thailand
2Win2–0Ji-Chun ShimTKO5 Sep 17, 1991Bangkok, Thailand
1Win1–0Bert RefugioTKO1 Aug 1, 1991Bangkok, Thailand