Muangchai Kittikasem


Nattawut Jantaweemol, later Muangchai Jantaweemol, known professionally as Muangchai Kittikasem, is a Thai former professional boxer 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 junior-flyweight title from 1989 to 1990 and the World Boxing Council flyweight title from 1991 to 1992.

Muay Thai career

His experience with Muay Thai began when he was just a boy. He and his friends had gone to a temple fair held some distance from their hometown, where a small prize was offered: 150 baht for the winner, 100 for the loser. Drawn in by the chance to earn a bit of money, they signed up for the bouts—despite having no training or prior experience.
Amazingly, he managed to defeat an opponent who had already fought around 10 times. He returned home the next morning and handed the 150 baht prize to his mother. When his father heard the story, he began training the boys in an empty space behind their house—even though he himself had no experience or background as a trainer.
Incredibly, when the boy stepped into the ring again, he went on to win nine fights in a row.
Kittikasem reportedly fought in around 100 Muay Thai matches, using a series of ring names — Jinjok Sithphorum, Jingjok Uvichaiyont, and Muangchai Singnonsuan, respectively. His career took him through both rural and Bangkok arenas, though he never secured a championship title.
He changed to boxing when a promoter needed a short-term replacement on one of his cards. In professional boxing, he has had three managers in total: 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 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, 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 permanently from boxing, he worked as a used car dealer in Thawi Watthana district, a western suburb of Bangkok, up until the major flood of 2011. He was also active in local politics as a member of the Pheu Thai Party and was considered a close associate of Wan Yubamrung, son of Chalerm Yubamrung. He ran twice for a seat on the Bangkok Metropolitan Council in the Bang Bon district, but was unsuccessful both times.
In addition, he had some involvement in the showbiz, appearing in supporting roles in several television dramas and films — such as The Legend of Suriyothai in 2001, Sin Sisters in 2002.

Personal life

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

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
29Loss25–4Shigeru NakazatoRTD4 22 Feb 1999Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
28Win25–3Joey Boy GaabonKO3 11 May 1996Rajawong Pier, Bangkok, Thailand
27Win24–3Jun LansaderasKO1 10 Jun 1995Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
26Win23–3Rocky MarcialKO3 6 Apr 1995The Capital City Discotheque, Bangkok, Thailand
25Loss22–3Yuri ArbachakovTKO9, 1:4420 Mar 1993Lop Buri Community Park, Lop Buri, ThailandFor WBC flyweight title
24Win22–2Park Chan-wooTKO3 17 Dec 1992Bangkok, Thailand
23Win21–2Kim Ki-jungKO6 4 Oct 1992Bangkok, Thailand
22Loss20–2Yuri ArbachakovKO8, 2:5923 Jun 1992Kokugikan, Tokyo, JapanLost WBC flyweight title
21Win20–1Tarman GarzimPTS1027 May 1992Pathum Thani, Thailand
20Win19–1Eddy PermasugiPTS104 Apr 1992Sakon Nakhon, Thailand
19Win18–1Sot ChitaladaTKO9, 1:3028 Feb 1992Crocodile Farm, Samut Prakan, ThailandRetained WBC flyweight title
18Win17–1Alberto JimenezMD1225 Oct 1991Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, Bangkok, ThailandRetained WBC flyweight title
17Win16–1Lito GonzagaPTS106 Aug 1991Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand
16Win15–1Chang Jung-kooTKO12, 2:3618 May 1991Olympic Gymnastics Arena, Seoul, South KoreaRetained WBC flyweight title
15Win14–1Sot ChitaladaTKO6, 1:1015 Feb 1991Central Stadium, Ayutthaya, ThailandWon WBC flyweight title
14Win13–1Welgie LeonoraKO3 4 Jan 1991Bangkok, Thailand
13Win12–1Vic GalmeKO1 25 Sep 1990Bangkok, Thailand
12Loss11–1Michael CarbajalTKO7, 0:1429 Jul 1990Veteran's Memorial Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona, U.SLost IBF junior-flyweight title
11Win11–0Abdi PohanUD1210 Apr 1990Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, Bangkok, ThailandRetained IBF junior-flyweight title
10Win10–0Jeung-Jae LeeTKO3, 0:5219 Jan 1990Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, Bangkok, ThailandRetained IBF junior-flyweight title
9Win9–0Ippo GalaUD1028 Nov 1989Bangkok, Thailand
8Win8–0Tacy MacalosTKO7, 1:566 Oct 1989Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, Bangkok, ThailandRetained IBF junior-flyweight title
7Win7–0Tacy MacalosSD122 May 1989Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, Bangkok, ThailandWon IBF junior-flyweight title
6Win6–0Nongberd NaphatayaTKO5 8 Apr 1989Samut Sakhon, Thailand
5Win5–0Eddie BagunavaKO4 3 Feb 1989Bangkok, Thailand
4Win4–0Kwanjai SorpengpitTKO5 27 Dec 1988Bangkok, Thailand
3Win3–0Seung Yub KangTKO3 18 Nov 1988Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand
2Win2–0Hisao NayukiKO1 6 Sep 1988Bangkok, Thailand
1Win1–0Udin BaharudinPTS1010 Jun 1988Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand