Chartchai Chionoi — Thai Flyweight World Champion

Career and titles

Chartchai won world titles under more than one sanctioning body and is best known for capturing both the WBC and the WBA versions of the flyweight world title during his professional career. He reclaimed the WBC flyweight title on more than one occasion and also held the WBA title, making him one of Thailand’s most successful fighters in the lower weight classes. His achievements brought attention to Thai boxing on the global stage and inspired later generations of Thai professionals.

Notable achievements

• Multiple-time world champion in the flyweight division under major sanctioning bodies.
• Helped raise the international profile of Thai boxers and the sport in Thailand.
• Remembered for a career that combined national popularity with world-level success.

Style and significance

As a flyweight champion, Chartchai competed in a division known for speed, technical skill and high activity. While specific fight records and stylistic details belong to boxing archives and contemporary reports, his status as a multi-belt titleholder indicates a sustained period of competitiveness at the sport’s world level. In Thailand he is regarded as part of a generation that established the country’s presence in international professional boxing.

Later life and death

After retiring from competition he remained a respected figure among boxing fans in Thailand. Chartchai lived in Bangkok (Bangkok) until his final years. He died in 2018 of pneumonia complicated by Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative condition; reports also noted the immediate cause as pneumonia. His passing prompted tributes from the boxing community and reminders of his contributions to the sport.

Names and local context

He is commonly cited under several names and spellings: his birth name Naris Chionoi, the ring name Chartchai Chionoi, and the variant Chartchai Laemfapha. These variants appear in Thai-language records and English-language boxing histories; the multiple forms reflect common practices in Thai naming and ring nomenclature. For further reading and archived reports, consult specialist boxing histories and contemporary Thai sports coverage (Thai sources, RTGS references).