Montsayarm Haw Mahachai Turned Regional Success
Montsayarm Haw Mahachai challenged Yoko Gushiken for the WBA light flyweight championship in Japan on October 9, 1977. Gushiken retained the belt by fourth-round knockout against the Thai contender.
Career highlights
Born Suay Nasam and hailing from Ratchaburi, Montsayarm began his professional career in 1974. He won Thailand’s light flyweight championship that September before moving into regional competition.
On May 30, 1975, he defeated Filipino Phil Tagupa over twelve rounds to win the Oriental Boxing Federation light flyweight title. He made one successful defense before losing the belt on points to Jung Sang-il in June 1976.
The world-title challenge and later career
The Gushiken bout brought Montsayarm to the world championship stage after his national and regional successes. He continued boxing afterward, with later opponents including Frank Cedeño. His career ran through 1982 and finished with 26 wins, eight losses and one draw, including fifteen knockout victories.
His regional title defense came through a sixth-round knockout of Rabi Sithchansi in September 1975. Before challenging Gushiken, Montsayarm also defeated Japanese opponents Greater Sonoda and Yoshiharu Suga by stoppage. A later attempt to win Thailand’s flyweight title ended in a decision loss to Dan Pisalchai in October 1978, showing his continued pursuit of championships after the world-title opportunity in Japan.
