Chatchai Sasakul: Trailblazer of Thai Boxing
Chatchai Sasakul is a Thai former boxer who held the WBC flyweight title from November 1997 until Manny Pacquiao stopped him in December 1998. He was born in Nakhon Ratchasima; his family moved to Bangkok’s Khlong Toei district when he was four.
From Muay Thai to the Olympics
Sasakul began in Muay Thai as a child and switched to amateur boxing at 15. He represented Thailand as a light flyweight at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, reaching the quarterfinals before losing a split decision to Hungary’s Róbert Isaszegi. He also won gold at the 1987 and 1989 Southeast Asian Games.
WBC flyweight champion
After turning professional in 1991, Sasakul first challenged Yuri Arbachakov for the WBC flyweight title in 1995 and lost by decision. He won their rematch by unanimous decision in Sapporo on November 12, 1997, taking the championship. Sasakul made two successful defenses before facing Pacquiao.
The Pacquiao fight
On December 4, 1998, Pacquiao knocked Sasakul out in the eighth round to win his first world title. The judges’ cards had Pacquiao trailing after seven rounds. Sasakul continued boxing for nearly another decade and announced his retirement after losing to Cristian Mijares in August 2008.
Coaching
After retiring, Sasakul worked as a trainer for Thai professionals, including former WBC flyweight champion Pongsaklek Wonjongkam. He opened his own Sasakul Boxing Gym in 2014.
Sources
- Boxing News: Chatchai Sasakul recalls his career
- BoxRec: Chatchai Sasakul profile and Olympic results
- BoxRec: Sasakul–Pacquiao result and scorecards
- World Boxing Council: Pacquiao wins his first world title
Tags
Boxing, Boxing History
