Sot Chitalada


Sot Chitalada, born as Chaovalit Wongcharoean 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 with eight children, living in Chonburi near Hat Bang Saen, a popular tourist destination. Before he started Muay Thai, his older brother had already been a fighter. He began training in Muay Thai from childhood to strengthen his naturally weak body.
Chitalada first built his reputation as a Muay Thai fighter under the name Chaovalit Sitphraphrom before transitioning to professional boxing. He fought many times against Muay Thai legend Samart Payakaroon. After winning his first four professional boxing matches, he challenged the WBC Light Flyweight Champion Jung-Koo Chang on 31 March 1984 but lost by a twelve-round decision.
His ring name, "Sot Chitalada," originated from another boxer in the same stable named "Muns Sorchitpatana". When Sorchitpatana lost to former WBC Light Flyweight Champion Netrnoi Sor Vorasingh and was likely to retire, his name was still ranked by the WBC. His manager decided to substitute Chaovalit Sitphraphrom to fight in place of Muns Sorchitpatana. Later, due to a mistake in the WBC rankings, the name Sorchitpatana was replaced by Sot Chitalada, which eventually became his official ring name.

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, Bangkok.
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. During this run he defeated former world champion Charlie Magri, Freddy Castillo and Hideaki Kamishiro. He lost the titles on 24 July 1988, travelling to South Korea and losing a twelve-round decision to unbeaten Yong-Kang Kim.
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, thus retaining his titles. For his fourth defence, he travelled to Seoul 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 retiring from boxing, he studied at the Faculty of Humanities, University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, becoming the first Thai boxer to earn a bachelor's degree. Before joining Thai Airways, he opened a restaurant called "Krua Sot", but the business was not successful. He later joined Thai Airways' Public Relations Department, though he has since resigned.
He was also active in politics, once serving as a Bangkok Metropolitan Council member representing the Khlong Toei district under the Democrat Party.
In his personal life, his wife is an actress known for her roles in traditional-style dramas 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. He then returned to Thailand where he works as a security guard and occasionally teaches Muay Thai at his home.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
31Loss26–4–1Muangchai KittikasemTKO9 Feb 28, 1992Crocodile Farm, Samut Prakan, ThailandFor WBC flyweight title
30Win26–3–1Sugar Ray HynesUD10Oct 5, 1991Bangkok, Thailand
29Win25–3–1Jerry TaronaKO5 Aug 28, 1991Bangkok, Thailand
28Win24–3–1Chan-Woo ParkKO6 Jul 6, 1991Bangkok, Thailand
27Loss23–3–1Muangchai KittikasemTKO6 Feb 15, 1991Central Stadium, Ayutthaya, ThailandLost WBC flyweight title
26Win23–2–1Chang Jung-kooMD12Nov 24, 1990Olympic Park Gymnasium, Seoul, South KoreaRetained WBC flyweight title
25Win22–2–1Richard ClarkeTKO11 Sep 7, 1990National Arena, Kingston, JamaicaRetained WBC flyweight title
24Win21–2–1Ric SiodoraUD12May 1, 1990Army Sports Stadium, Bangkok, ThailandRetained WBC flyweight title
23Win20–2–1Ric SiodoraUD12Jan 30, 1990Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, Bangkok, ThailandRetained WBC flyweight title
22Win19–2–1Welgie LeonoraPTS10Sep 27, 1989Bangkok, Thailand
21Win18–2–1Kim Yong-kangSD12Jun 3, 1989Municipal Stadium, Trang, ThailandWon WBC flyweight title
20Win17–2–1Boy SeldaKO6 Feb 28, 1989Bangkok, Thailand
19Win16–2–1Nelson Harada CabigKO9 Dec 30, 1988Bangkok, Thailand
18Win15–2–1Ronnie BelaroRTD6 Nov 9, 1988Rajadamnern Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand
17Loss14–2–1Kim Yong-kangUD12Jul 24, 1988Pohang Indoor Gymnasium, Pohang, South KoreaLost WBC and The Ring flyweight titles
16Win14–1–1Hideaki KamishiroRTD7 Jan 31, 1988Osaka-jō Hall, Osaka, JapanRetained WBC and The Ring flyweight titles
15Win13–1–1Rae Ki AhnKO4 Sep 5, 1987Hua Mark Indoor Stadium, Bangkok, ThailandRetained WBC and The Ring flyweight titles
14Win12–1–1Gabriel BernalUD12Dec 10, 1986Hua Mark Indoor Stadium, Bangkok, ThailandRetained WBC and The Ring flyweight titles
13Win11–1–1Nakarat KiatsonthayaKO2 Oct 12, 1986Bangkok, Thailand
12Win10–1–1Moon Jin ChoiTKO9 Aug 30, 1986Siam Park, Bangkok, Thailand
11Win9–1–1Freddy CastilloUD12Feb 22, 1986El Sabah Al Salem Stadium, Kuwait City, KuwaitRetained WBC and The Ring flyweight titles
10Draw8–1–1Gabriel BernalMD12Jun 22, 1985National Stadium Gymnasium, Bangkok, ThailandRetained WBC and The Ring flyweight titles
9Win8–1Charlie MagriRTD4 Feb 20, 1985Alexandra Palace, London, England, U.K.Retained WBC and The Ring flyweight titles
8Win7–1Gabriel BernalSD12Oct 8, 1984National Stadium Gymnasium, Bangkok, ThailandWon WBC and The Ring flyweight titles
7Win6–1Rudi PalicuaTKO7 Jul 6, 1984Bangkok, Thailand
6Win5–1Wick TengamTKO6 May 6, 1984Bangkok, Thailand
5Loss4–1Chang Jung-kooUD12Mar 31, 1984Kooduk Gymnasium, Busan, South KoreaFor WBC light flyweight
4Win4–0Chaonainoi ChomcataKO2 Dec 30, 1983Bangkok, Thailand
3Win3–0Niponyut SakadamKO3 Nov 18, 1983Bangkok, Thailand
2Win2–0Suriya PatumwadeePTS6Aug 23, 1983Bangkok, Thailand
1Win1–0Srithunya SithsanaeKO4 May 5, 1983Bangkok, Thailand