Quick Facts
Biography
Veerapol Sahaprom or Veerapol Nakhornluang Promotion (Thai: วีระพล สหพรหม, วีระพล นครหลวงโปรโมชั่น; born November 16, 1968) is a former WBC and WBA Bantamweight Champion. He is from the Nakhon Ratchasima Province in Thailand. He is nicknamed "Solemn-faced Tiger" or "Deathmask" because he never changes his expression when throwing punches.
Boxing career
Veerapol Sahaprom entered professional boxing after becoming champion in three different weight classes in Muay Thai kickboxing. His debut in 1994 was a title match, where he won the WBC International Super Flyweight Title. He challenged a world title for the first time in only his fourth fight as a professional, defeating fellow thai fighter Daorung Chuvatana. However, Sahaprom lost his first defense against former WBC Super Flyweight Champion Nana Konadu at Kanchanaburi Stadium, losing his title in only four months.
Three years after losing his WBA world title, Sahaprom got his second world title shot against WBC Bantamweight Champion Joichiro Tatsuyoshi on December 29, 1998. The fight took place in Osaka, Japan, and Sahaprom won by knockout in the 6th round, becoming world champion for the second time. Sahaprom fought Tatsuyoshi again in August, 1999, knocking him out in the 7th round for his second defense of the title.
Sahaprom defended his title 14 times from 1996 to 2005, winning numerous non-title fights in between. He also fought Japanese boxer Toshiaki Nishioka four times during his reign, retaining his title in every single fight. Sahaprom finally lost his title to Hozumi Hasegawa in a 12-round unanimous decision. He held the WBC Bantamweight Title for over six years.
Sahaprom fought five non-title fights after losing his title to Hasegawa, winning all five, including four by knockout. He challenged Hasegawa on March 25, 2006 in Kobe to avenge his loss, but was knocked down with a right hook in the 9th round, and was unable to pick himself up. This was the second knockout loss of his career, and his eighth fight in Japan.
Retirement
Sahaprom announced his retirement from boxing at age 39 after a loss to Vusi Malinga in a world title eliminator on June 12 in Bangkok, Thailand. He returned to the ring less than a year later on March 20, 2009 to knockout Yudi Arema.
After retirement, he opened Thai food restaurant in Chaiyaphum Province. By sometimes doing their own cooking.