Napa Kiatwanchai: WBC Strawweight Champion
Thai boxer Napa Kiatwanchai held the WBC strawweight (minimumweight) world title from November 1988 to November 1989. Jum Hwan Choi ended his reign with a 12th-round technical knockout in Seoul on November 12, 1989. The World Boxing Council lists Kiatwanchai among its strawweight champions, and BoxRec records the title fight. WBC · BoxRec title history.
The three-fight series with Hiroki Ioka
Kiatwanchai first challenged Ioka in Osaka on June 5, 1988. Their twelve-round draw allowed Ioka to retain the WBC championship. A rematch on November 13 produced a majority-decision victory for Kiatwanchai, beginning his world title reign.
He defended the belt against Indonesia’s John Arief in February 1989, winning a unanimous decision in Thailand. Ioka then challenged him again in June, but Kiatwanchai stopped the former champion in the eleventh round. Their series therefore ended with two victories and a draw for the Thai southpaw.
His place in minimumweight history
BoxRec identifies Kiatwanchai with Nakhon Ratchasima and records his southpaw stance. It also lists a WBC International minimumweight title in January 1988, preceding the full world championship he won later that year. Those belts represent separate achievements.
The loss to Choi ended a reign containing two successful defenses. Later defeats against other world titleholders, including Hideyuki Ohashi and Humberto Gonzalez, belong to the subsequent stages of his career. The Ioka trilogy remains central to understanding the championship period: an initial draw, a title-winning rematch and a successful defense against the same opponent.
Further career results
An earlier international victory came against Indonesia’s Nico Thomas in Jakarta on January 26, 1988. Kiatwanchai won a split decision, months before his first meeting with Ioka. Thomas subsequently became an IBF minimumweight champion himself. BoxRec also records a Kiatwanchai victory over Rolando Pascua, another boxer who later held a major world title. Those wins add other notable opponents to a career often remembered chiefly through the Ioka trilogy.
Kiatwanchai also appeared under the name Suwit Sae-Tang.
Sources
Additional sources: https://boxerlist.com/fr/boxer/nico-thomas/4407; https://boxrec.com/wiki/index.php/Napa_Kiatwanchai
- World Boxing Council: Strawweight champions
- BoxRec: WBC minimumweight title fights
- BoxRec: Napa Kiatwanchai profile
