Payao Poontarat


Payao Poontarat was a Thai boxer who, at the age of 18, won the bronze medal in the men's Light flyweight category at the 1976 Summer Olympics. He was the first Thai athlete to win an Olympic medal in any sport.

1976 Olympic results

Below is the record of Payao Poontarat, a Thai light flyweight boxer who competed at the 1976 Montreal Olympics:

Boxing career

Born in the village of Bang Sapan, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Phayao Poontarat came from a poor family. As a child, he sold flowers in the resort city of Pattaya to help support his younger siblings. Like many poor boys in Thailand, he took up Muay Thai, and he proved to be a gifted boxer under the ring name "Petchpayao Sitkrutat". He switched to international boxing and won a place on the Thai Olympic team in 1976. Though he finished with a bronze medal, Phayao gained attention by defeating the 1972 Olympic gold medal winner, Gyogy Gedo, in the quarter-finals. He trained hard for the 1980 Moscow Olympics, but his hopes for a gold were ended by the United States led boycott over of the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan. Instead, he turned professional and on November 27, 1983 became WBC superflyweight world champion by defeating Rafael Orono of Venezuela in a split decision. In his first title defence, against Guty Espadas of Mexico, Phayao was behind on all the score cards, but saved his championship belt with a 10th-round knockout. Phayao was then challenged by Japan's Jiro Watanabe and agreed to meet him. When they met in Osaka on July 5, 1984 Phayao lost by a controversial 12-round decision. The World Boxing Council viewed the tape and ordered a rematch. It took place in November, with Phayao losing by a technical knockout in the 11th round.

Political career

Giving up boxing, Phayao Poontarat became a Thai policeman with the rank of captain. He joined the Democrat Party and in 2001 was elected as member of parliament for his home-province.

Personal life and death

In 2002, he began to suffer from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. The disease is incurable. In 2006, Phayao died at the age of 48 at Siriraj Hospital in Bangkok. He was survived by his wife and several children.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes
14Loss10–4Kongtoranee PayakaroonPTS10Apr 2, 1985Bangkok, Thailand
13Loss10–3Jiro WatanabeTKO11 Nov 29, 1984Prefectural Gymnasium, Kumamoto, Kumamoto, JapanFor WBC super flyweight title
12Loss10–2Jiro WatanabeSD12Jul 5, 1984Osaka-Jo Hall, Osaka, Osaka, JapanLost WBC super flyweight title
11Win10–1Guty EspadasTKO10 Mar 28, 1984Rajadamnern Stadium, Bangkok, ThailandRetained WBC super flyweight title
10Win9–1Tharhahin BoosethaTKO2 Feb 5, 1984Channel 7 Studios, Bangkok, Thailand
9Win8–1Rafael OronoSD12Nov 27, 1983Grand Palace Hotel, Pattaya, ThailandWon WBC super flyweight title
8Win7–1Ernesto GuevaraTKO5 Jul 6, 1983Rajadamnern Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand
7Win6–1Juan DiazPTS10Mar 24, 1983Bangkok, Thailand
6Win5–1Alonzo GonzalezPTS10Feb 10, 1983Bangkok, Thailand
5Win4–1Kwang Suk LeeKO5 Nov 28, 1982Bangkok, Thailand
4Win3–1Dan PisanchaiKO9 Oct 10, 1982Bangkok, Thailand
3Loss2–1Kwon Soon-chunPTS12May 7, 1982Changchung Gymnasium, Seoul, South KoreaFor OPBF super flyweight title
2Win2–0Jimmy BoyKO4 Mar 21, 1982Araneta Coliseum, Barangay Cubao, Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
1Win1–0Tito AbellaKO2 Oct 4, 1981Bangkok, Thailand