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Muangchai Kittikasem
Thai boxer (born 1968) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Nattawut Jantaweemol (Thai: ณัฐวุฒิ จันทรวิมล, born 11 November 1968), later Muangchai Jantaweemol (Thai: เมืองชัย จันทรวิมล), known professionally as Muangchai Kittikasem (Thai: เมืองชัย กิตติเกษม), is a Thai former professional boxer who competed between 1988 and 1999. He is the first Thai to be a world champion in two weight classes, having held the International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior-flyweight title from 1989 to 1990 and the World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight title from 1991 to 1992.
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Muay Thai career
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His experience with Muay Thai began when he was just a boy. He and his friends had gone to a temple fair held some distance from their hometown, where a small prize was offered: 150 baht for the winner, 100 for the loser. Drawn in by the chance to earn a bit of money, they signed up for the bouts—despite having no training or prior experience.
Amazingly, he managed to defeat an opponent who had already fought around 10 times. He returned home the next morning and handed the 150 baht prize to his mother. When his father heard the story, he began training the boys in an empty space behind their house—even though he himself had no experience or background as a trainer.
Incredibly, when the boy stepped into the ring again, he went on to win nine fights in a row.
Kittikasem reportedly fought in around 100 Muay Thai matches, using a series of ring names — Jinjok Sithphorum (Thai: จิ้งจก ศิษย์พ่ออ่ำ), Jingjok Uvichaiyont (Thai: จิ้งจก อู่วิชัยยนต์), and Muangchai Singnonsuan (Thai: เมืองชัย สิงห์โนนสวน), respectively. His career took him through both rural and Bangkok arenas, though he never secured a championship title.
He changed to boxing when a promoter needed a short-term replacement on one of his cards. In professional boxing, he has had three managers in total: Kitti Akkraseranee, Song Karnchanachoosak and Songchai Rattanasuban.
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Professional boxing career
The relentless pressure fighter Kittikasem started to fight professionally in 1988. In only his 7th bout 1989 he won the IBF junior-flyweight title on points against Filipino Tacy Macalos and defended it against the same fighter by KO. After two defenses, he went to the United States to defend the crown against undefeated amateur star Michael Carbajal in 1990. In the bout, he was knocked down four times by the American and injured his chin during the 7th round.[1] His chin became his major weakness since then.
He went up in weight and won the WBC and lineal flyweight title by KO in a 6-round fight against his countryman Sot Chitalada the very next year. Kittikasem KOd Jung Koo Chang and stopped Chitalada once again in the rematch.
He lost another title to another amateur world champion, Russian Yuri Arbachakov, in 1992. The fight took place in Japan, and ended in an explosive KO when Kittikasem ran right in a counter. In 1993, he was KO'd one more time by Arbachakov, this time in Thailand.[2]
He had a couple more fights but never contended again.
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Retirement
After retiring permanently from boxing, he worked as a used car dealer in Thawi Watthana district, a western suburb of Bangkok, up until the major flood of 2011. He was also active in local politics as a member of the Pheu Thai Party and was considered a close associate of Wan Yubamrung, son of Chalerm Yubamrung. He ran twice for a seat on the Bangkok Metropolitan Council (BMC) in the Bang Bon district, but was unsuccessful both times.
In addition, he had some involvement in the showbiz, appearing in supporting roles in several television dramas and films — such as The Legend of Suriyothai in 2001, Sin Sisters in 2002, etc.
Personal life
He is divorced and has two children. Kittikasem hailed Carbajal as the best opponent he had ever faced.[3]
Professional boxing record
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Muay Thai record
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See also
References
External links
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