Napa Kiatwanchai

Napa Kiatwanchai (born July 27, 1967) is the former Lineal and WBC strawweight champion from Nakorn Rachasima (Korat) 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 (โชคชัยจิ๋ว ณ พัทยา). 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 (or "Napa", as he was intended to be) 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. Many years later, his life began to improve when he became a Muay Thai and professional boxing trainer at a gym on Rattanathibet Road, which is affiliated with a Japanese boxing gym. He gave up his singing career, and his health gradually improved, although his eyesight remained a concern. Nevertheless, he continued to take medication regularly to manage his condition. As for his personal life, he had been married several times before eventually deciding not to pursue another relationship.

Professional boxing record

Muay Thai record