Napa Kiatwanchai


Napa Kiatwanchai is the former Lineal and WBC strawweight champion from Nakorn Rachasima province, Thailand.

Career

He was born in a Thai-Chinese family in Nakhon Ratchasima and turned professional in 1987. He started training in Muay Thai as a child, he competed on the Bangkok circuit until the age of 20 under the ring name Chokchaichew Na Pattaya. He transitioned to boxing in 1987 and fought Hiroki Ioka a year later for the Lineal and WBC strawweight titles. The bout ended in a draw and in the rematch Kiatwanchai won the title by a twelve-round majority decision. He defended the title twice before losing to Jum-Hwan Choi on November 12, 1989. He beat future champion Rolando Pascua before challenging for the WBC title again, on June 8, 1990. He lost to champion Hideyuki Ohashi by a twelve-round unanimous decision. His final try at the title came in 1992, when Humberto González knocked him out in defense of González's WBC light flyweight title.
Napa stopped boxing in 1992 but made a comeback in 1996. He only won one fight during this comeback and retired for good in 2000.
Prior to the Ioka fight, Napa had only six professional fights and no amateur experience. He was expected merely to help extend the reign of champion Hiroki Ioka, so he was sent to Japan with only his trainer, Kunoi Withichai. It was just the two of them. Early in the fight, Napa was knocked down for an eight count, but he bounced back and kept fighting. By the halfway point of the 12th round, Ioka appeared close to being knocked out when the bell suddenly rang, seemingly to save the champion.
Before this fight, Napa fought under the name Chokchaichew. The name Napa Kiatwanchai had originally been reserved for Muangchai Kittikasem, a future IBF and WBC champion. However, Muangchai was not yet ready, so the manager substituted Chokchaichew in his place. From that point on, he fought under the name Napa Kiatwanchai.
According to Napa, after that fight, in which the decision was widely disputed, a group of Thais, including taxi drivers and tuk-tuk drivers, most of whom were from the Isan region, went so far as to stage a protest in front of the Japanese Embassy in Thailand, on Witthayu Road, opposite Lumphini Park.

After fighting

Life after fighting has been difficult for Napa. He had no savings due to lavish spending and a gambling addiction. These days, he makes a living by singing in nightclubs and restaurants. He also suffers from vision problems and was left permanently blind as a result of the fight against González in 1992.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
25Loss16–8–1Yoshiaki MatsukuraTKO6 28 Oct 2000Differ Ariake, Tokyo, Japan
24Loss16–7–1Koji FujiwaraTKO621 Oct 1999Osaka, Japan
23Loss16–6–1Katsushige KawashimaRTD5, 3:0028 Apr 1999Bunka Gym, Yokohama, Japan
22Loss16–5–1Tetsutora SenrimaUD1014 Dec 1997Sambo Hall, Kobe, Japan
21Win16–4–1UnknownPTS824 Oct 1996Temporary Outdoor Stadium, Sakon Nakhon, Thailand
20Loss15–4–1Ala VillamorKO220 Nov 1992Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, Tokyo, Japan
19Loss15–3–1Humberto GonzálezKO2, 2:4814 Sep 1992Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S.For WBC light flyweight title
18Win15–2–1Victor GestupaKO310 Jul 1992Bangkok, Thailand
17Win14–2–1Sugar Ray MikeTKO724 Dec 1991Bangkok, Thailand
16Win13–2–1Chon Pil ParkPTS105 Oct 1991Bangkok, Thailand
15Win12–2–1Jaime AliguinTKO627 Jul 1990Pattaya, Thailand
14Loss11–2–1Hideyuki OhashiUD128 Jun 1990Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, JapanFor WBC strawweight title
13Win11–1–1Rolando PascuaUD1030 Jan 1990Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand
12Loss10–1–1Choi Jum-hwanTKO12, 1:1812 Nov 1989World Trade Center Seoul, Seoul, South KoreaLost WBC strawweight title
11Win10–0–1Hiroki IokaTKO11, 1:1210 Jun 1989Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, JapanRetained WBC strawweight title
10Win9–0–1John AriefUD1211 Feb 1989Provincial Stadium, Nakhon Ratchasima, ThailandRetained WBC strawweight title
9Win8–0–1Hiroki IokaMD1213 Nov 1988Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium, Osaka, JapanWon WBC strawweight title
8Win7–0–1Thanjai DonjadeeTKO34 Sep 1988Bangkok, Thailand
7Draw6–0–1Hiroki IokaSD125 Jun 1988Kinki University Auditorium, Osaka, JapanFor WBC strawweight title
6Win6–0Gim SuryamanMD1216 Apr 1988Gajayana Stadium, Malang, IndonesiaRetained WBC International strawweight title
5Win5–0Nico ThomasSD1226 Jan 1988Stardust Discotheque, Jakarta, IndonesiaWon vacant WBC International strawweight title
4Win4–0Jomyuth SithseemokTKO521 Nov 1987Bangkok, Thailand
3Win3–0Sornchai KiatsonthayaTKO23 Nov 1987Bangkok, Thailand
2Win2–0Sukhum SithfakamronKO229 Sep 1987Bangkok, Thailand
1Win1–0Jompichit KiattawatchaiPTS67 Aug 1987Bangkok, Thailand