Chartchai Laemfapha or birth name Naris Chionoi was a Thai professional boxer, WBC world champion and WBA world champion in the flyweight division.
23 Facts About Chartchai Chionoi
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Chartchai Chionoi took the WBC World Flyweight Championship two successive times and the WBA Championship one time before finally relinquishing it.
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Chartchai Chionoi was born into a poor family near Hua Lamphong quarter in Bangkok.
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Chartchai Chionoi was the second world boxing champion from Thailand, following his idol Pone Kingpetch.
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Unlike most Thai fighters, Chartchai was never involved in the Thai combat art Muay Thai.
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Chartchai Chionoi turned pro on March 27,1959, with a second-round knockout over Somsak Kritsanasuwan.
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Chartchai Chionoi avenged this loss five years later with a 10-round decision against Por Tor.
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Chartchai Chionoi traveled to Japan for his next 11 fights, going 8 and 3 in the process.
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On September 22,1962, in Quezon City, Philippines, Chartchai Chionoi met Primo Famiro for the vacant OPBF Flyweight Championship.
10.
Chartchai Chionoi decisioned Famiro over twelve rounds to capture the vacant title.
11.
On December 30,1966, Chartchai Chionoi challenged the World Flyweight Champion Walter McGowan.
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Chartchai Chionoi stopped McGowan in the 9th round to capture the vacant WBC Flyweight Title, his first world title.
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Chartchai Chionoi made four successful title defenses during this first reign as champion, including victories over McGowan in their rematch, and Efren Torres.
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On February 23,1969, Chartchai Chionoi lost his title to Efren Torres in a rematch.
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Chartchai Chionoi won two out of three fights to earn a rematch with Torres.
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In March 1970 in front of over 40,000 of his countrymen, Chartchai Chionoi won a 15-round unanimous decision over Torres in their rubber match, to claim the WBC Flyweight Championship.
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On January 2,1973, Chartchai Chionoi faced Ohba in a very memorable fight.
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Chartchai Chionoi put Ohba on the canvas early, but the champion rebounded and stopped Chartchai Chionoi in the 12th round.
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Chartchai Chionoi knocked out Chervet in the 5th round to capture his third World Flyweight Championship.
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Two successful defenses of his WBA Flyweight Championship followed, before Chartchai Chionoi lost it on the scales in October 1974.
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Chartchai Chionoi lived a comfortable life in retirement with his wife of over 45 years, spending as much time as possible with their four children.
22.
Chartchai Chionoi had lasting effects from Parkinson's disease, including come paralysis, a by-product of his boxing career.
23.
Chartchai Chionoi died on the evening of January 21,2018, at 75 years old.