Sot Chitalada
Encyclopedia
Sot Chitalada in Chonburi
, Thailand
, was formerly twice WBC
Flyweight
Champion.
Chitalada built a reputation as a Muay Thai
in name Chaovalit Sithphrabrahma champion in Thailand before making the transition to professional boxing. After winning his first four professional fights, he challenged WBC Light flyweight
Champion Jung-Koo Chang on 31 March 1984, losing a twelve-round decision.
Undaunted by the Chang loss, he won two more fights and a little over six months later shocked WBC and The Ring Flyweight Champion Gabriel Bernal
, winning the world championships in his home country at 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 The Ring 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 (and won several non-title fights). During this run he defeated former world champions Charlie Magri
and Freddy Castillo
. He lost the titles on 24 July 1988, travelling to South Korea
and losing a twelve-round decision to 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 first and only 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.
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.
Chonburi Province
Chonburi is a province of Thailand. Neighboring provinces are Chachoengsao, Chanthaburi and Rayong. To the west is the Gulf of Thailand. The eastern seaboard is heavily industrialized and underpinned by shipping, transportation, tourism, and manufacturing industries, and second to only Bangkok...
, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, was formerly twice WBC
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
Flyweight
Flyweight
Flyweight is a class in boxing which includes fighters weighing less than 112 lb but above 108 lb .-Professional boxing:...
Champion.
Chitalada built a reputation as a Muay Thai
Muay Thai
Muay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese kickboxing systems, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and muay Lao from Laos...
in name Chaovalit Sithphrabrahma champion in Thailand before making the transition to professional boxing. After winning his first four professional fights, he challenged WBC Light flyweight
Light flyweight
- Professional boxing :The weight limit at light flyweight in professional boxing is 108 pounds . When New York legalized boxing in 1920, the law stipulated a "junior flyweight" class, with a weight limit of 99 pounds. When the National Boxing Association was formed in 1921, it also recognized this...
Champion Jung-Koo Chang on 31 March 1984, losing a twelve-round decision.
Undaunted by the Chang loss, he won two more fights and a little over six months later shocked WBC and The Ring Flyweight Champion Gabriel Bernal
Gabriel Bernal
Gabriel Bernal was a retired WBC Flyweight Champion. He held the title for 6 months in 1984.-Pro career:...
, winning the world championships in his home country at Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
.
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 The Ring 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 (and won several non-title fights). During this run he defeated former world champions Charlie Magri
Charlie Magri
Charlie Magri is a former English flyweight boxer. He is from a Maltese family that settled in Stepney, London where he grew up...
and Freddy Castillo
Freddy Castillo
Freddy Castillo is a Mexican former world boxing champion.- Pro career :Known as "Chato Loco", Castillo turned pro in 1971 and won the WBC light flyweight title with a TKO win over Luis Estaba in 1978. He lost the belt in his first defense later that year to Netrnoi Sor Vorasingh by split decision...
. He lost the titles on 24 July 1988, travelling to South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
and losing a twelve-round decision to Yong-Kang Kim
Yong-Kang Kim
Yong-Kang Kim is a former professional boxer in the flyweight division.- Pro career :...
.
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 first and only fight in the Western Hemisphere, defeating Richard Clarke by an eleventh-round knockout in Kingston
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
, Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
, thus retaining his titles. For his fourth defence, he travelled to Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
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
Muangchai Kittikasem
Muangchai Kittikasem is a former boxer from Thailand. He was world champion in two weightclasses.He claims to have fought fought around forty to fifty Muay Thai in fights in ring name Jingjok Uvichaiyont but never won any championships...
. 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.
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.