Napa Kiatwanchai (born July 27, 1967) is the former Lineal and WBCstrawweight champion from Nakorn Rachasima (Korat) province, Thailand.
Career
He was born in a Thai-Chinese family in Nakhon Ratchasima and turned professional in 1987. He started training in Muay Thai as a child, he competed on the Bangkok circuit until the age of 20 under the ring name Chokchaichew Na Pattaya (โชคชัยจิ๋ว ณ พัทยา). He transitioned to boxing in 1987 and fought Hiroki Ioka a year later for the Lineal and WBC strawweight titles.[1] The bout ended in a draw and in the rematch Kiatwanchai won the title by a twelve-round majority decision. He defended the title twice before losing to Jum-Hwan Choi on November 12, 1989. He beat future champion Rolando Pascua before challenging for the WBC title again, on June 8, 1990. He lost to champion Hideyuki Ohashi by a twelve-round unanimous decision. His final try at the title came in 1992, when Humberto González knocked him out in defense of González's WBC light flyweight title.
Kiatwanchai stopped boxing in 1992 but made a comeback in 1996. He only won one fight during this comeback and retired for good in 2000.
Prior to the Ioka fight Napa had only 6 professional fights, and never had an amateur fight. Napa was expected to extend the age of the champ Hiroki Ioka, so, he was sent to Japan with his trainer Kunoi Withichai only 2 people.
Napa was sent to canvas for an 8 count earlier, but after that kept opposing and hitting until half way of the 12 round when the champ Ioka was going to be Ko'd the bell suddenly rung so as to save the champ.
Before the fight with Ioka, Napa's boxing name was Chokchaichew, the name Napa Kiatwanchai was reserved for future IBF and WBC champion Muangchai Kittikasem. Muangchai (or Napa at that time) was not ready to go so the manager put Chokchaichew in place of him, taking the name Napa Kiatwanchai since then.
After fighting
Life after fighting has been difficult for Napa. He had no savings because of lavish spending and a gambling addiction. He makes a living by singing at nightclubs and restaurants. He suffers from problems with his vision, being blinded permanently as a result of the González fight in 1992.[2]
