Napa Kiatwanchai (born July 27, 1967) is the former Lineal and WBC strawweight champion from Nakorn Rachasima (Korat) province, Thailand.

Boxing career

He was born in a Thai-Chinese family in Thailand and turned professional in 1987. The next year he fought

Hiroki Ioka is a Japanese former professional boxer who competed from 1986 to 1999. He has held world championships in two weight class (boxing), weight classes, having held the World Boxing Council, WBC mini-flyweight title from 1987 to 1988, and the World ...

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 Rolando Pascua (born Rolando Tomongtong; November 19, 1965) is a Filipino former professional boxer. He held the World Boxing Council, WBC light-flyweight title from 1990 to 1991 and challenged for the IBF super-flyweight title in 1993. Profess ...

before challenging for the WBC title again, on June 8, 1990. He lost to champion

Hideyuki Ohashi is a Japanese former professional boxer and two-time minimumweight world champion. Professional career Ohashi dropped out of college to begin a professional boxing career, and made his debut in February, 1985, with the Yonekura Boxing Gym. ...

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 Light flyweight, also known as junior flyweight or super strawweight, is a weight class in boxing. Professional boxing The weight limit at light flyweight in professional boxing is 108 pounds (49 kilograms). When New York legalized boxing in 1920, ...

title. Kiatwanchai stopped boxing in 1992 but made a comeback in 1996. He only won one fight during this comeback and retired for good in 2000. Here are some facts before Napa's first title contending match with Ioka:- Napa had only 6 professional fights, and never had an amateur fight before. Napa was expected to extend the age of the champ Hiroki Ioka, so, he was sent to Japan with his trainer Kunoi Withichai only 2 people. Napa was sent to canvas for an 8 count earlier, but after that kept opposing and hitting until half way of the 12 round when the champ Ioka was going to be Ko'd the bell suddenly rung so as to save the champ. Before the fight with Ioka, Napa's boxing name was Chokchaichew Na Pattaya (his Muay Thai name), and the real Napa Kiatwanchai was actually another future IBF and WBC champion Muangchai Kittikasem, but Muangchai (or Napa at that time) was not ready to go, so, the manager put Chokchaichew in place of him, and since then he became Napa Kiatwanchai. After retirement his life has been difficult. He did not save any money because of lavish spending and gambling addiction. He now earns his living by singing along nightclub and restaurant. And he has problems with his vision, being blinded permanently as a result of the knocked by González in 1992.

References

External links

*
Napa Kiatwanchai - CBZ Profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kiatwanchai, Napa 1967 births Living people World Boxing Council champions Mini-flyweight boxers World mini-flyweight boxing champions Napa Kiatwanchai Napa Kiatwanchai Napa Kiatwanchai Napa Kiatwanchai

Boxing career

See also

References

External links