Chartchai Chionoi

Chartchai Chionoi (Thai: ชาติชาย เชี่ยวน้อย; rtgs: Chatchai Chiao-noi) a.k.a. Chartchai Laemfapha (Thai: ชาติชาย แหลมฟ้าผ่า; rtgs: Chatchai Laemfapha) or birth name Naris Chionoi (Thai: นริศ เชี่ยวน้อย; rtgs: Narit Chiao-noi; born October 10, 1942 near Hua Lamphong Station, Pathum Wan District, Bangkok) is a former professional Thai boxer, WBC World champion & WBA World champion in the flyweight division. Chionoi would take the WBC World Flyweight Title two successive times and the WBA Title one successive times before finally relinquishing it.

Chartchai Chionoi was the second world boxing champion from Thailand, following his Idol Pone Kingpetch. Unlike most Thai fighters, Chartchai was never involved in the Thai combat art Muay Thai.

Chartchai Chionoi turned pro on March 27, 1959 with a second-round knockout over Somsak Kritsanasuwan. He would go 7-0-1 in his first 8 pro fights, with a 6-round draw against Sala Kampuch the only blemish. In his 9th professional fight, Chionoi lost a 6-round decision to Singtong Por Tor. He avenged this loss five years later with a 10-round decision against Por Tor.

Chartchai traveled to Japan for his next 11 fights, going 8 and 3 in the process. All three of his losses were by 10 round decisions, including a loss at the hands of the reigning OPBF Jr. Featherweight Champion Haruo Sakamoto. The other two fighters that defeated Chionoi during this time, Mitsunori Seki and Akira Oguchi, would go on to lose rematches with him.

After fighting in Japan for a year, Chionoi returned to his native Thailand for his next 4 fights, his only loss to Ernesto Miranda, whom he would later defeat in a rematch.

On September 22, 1962 in Quezon City in the Philippines, Chionoi met Primo Famiro for the vacant OPBF Flyweight Title. Chionoi decisioned Famiro over 12 rounds to capture the vacant title. In July of the following year, Chionoi lost his first defense of the OPBF Flyweight Title in a decision to Tsuyoshi Nakamura in Osaka, Japan. Nakamura would go on to make 10 successful defenses of the OPBF Title, before finally losing it in October 1969.

Chartchai Chionoi would go 19-2-1 over the next three years to earn his first world title shot. During that stretch Chionoi won a 10-round decision over former WBA & WBC Flyweight Champion Salvatore Burruni. Burruni had captured his world titles by defeating Chionoi's predecessor, Pone Kingpetch, in April 1965.

On December 30, 1966 Chartchai Chionoi challenged Lineal Flyweight Champion Walter McGowan. Chionoi would stop McGowan in the 9th round to capture his first world title. Chionoi would make four successful title defenses during this first reign as champion, including victories over McGowan in their rematch, and Efren Torres.

On November 10, 1968 Chionoi defeated Bernabe Villacampo to capture the vacant WBC title.

On February 23, 1969 Chionoi would lose his title to Efren Torres in a rematch. The fight was stopped in the 8th round because Chionoi's left eye had swollen shut. Chionoi would win two out of three fights to earn a rematch with Efren Torres.

In March 1970 in front of over 40,000 of his countrymen, Chionoi would win a 15-round unanimous decision over Torres in their rubber match, to once again claim the WBC Flyweight Title. Chionoi won by scores of 148-142, 147-144 and 145-141. The second title reign of Chartchai Chionoi would be short lived.

In his first title defense Chionoi would be knocked out by Erbito Salavarria in the second round. Salavarria would go on to make several successful title defenses before losing the WBC Flyweight Title, he would later reign as WBA Flyweight Champion as well.

Undeterred by losing the WBC Flyweight Title for a second time, Chionoi would go undefeated in his next 6 fights to secure a title shot against long time WBA Flyweight Champion Masao Ohba. On January 2, 1973 Chionoi would face off against Ohba in a very memorable fight. Chionoi put Ohba on the canvas early, but the champion would rebound and stop Chionoi in the 12th round.

Tragically Ohba would die in an auto accident 22 days after this fight. As a result of this tragic event, Chionoi would be paired against Fritz Chervet in May 1973 for the vacant title. Chionoi would knock out Chervet in the 5th round to capture his third World Flyweight Title.

Two successful defenses of his WBA Flyweight Title would follow, before Chionoi would lose his title on the scales in October 1974. Despite being stripped of the title, Chartchai Chionoi would still fight Susumu Hanagata in a fight that was for the vacant WBA Flyweight Title, at least on Hanagata's part. Susumu Hanagata would stop Chionoi in the 6th round to walk away the WBA Flyweight Champion.

Chartchai Chionoi after retirement

After losing his third World title, Chionoi would win a 10-round decision over Willie Asuncion, then suffer a knockout loss to Rodolfo Francis in August 1975. Chartchai Chionoi would retire from boxing after the loss to Francis, finishing with a career record of 61-18-3 (36).

Chionoi is living a very comfortable life in retirement with his wife of over 45 years, spending as much time as possible with their four children. Despite some lasting ill effects from his years as a boxer, Chionoi has fond memories of his career, and no regrets.

He has lasting effects from Parkinson's disease, including come paralysis, certainly a by-product of his boxing career.