Veeraphol Sahaprom
Encyclopedia
Veerapol Sahaprom is a former WBC
and WBA
Bantamweight Champion. He is from the Nakhon Ratchasima Province
in Thailand
. He is nicknamed "Deathmask" because he never changes his expression when throwing punches.
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
, 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 January 28, 1996. 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.
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
and WBA
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
Bantamweight Champion. He is from the Nakhon Ratchasima Province
Nakhon Ratchasima Province
Nakhon Ratchasima or , often shortened to Korat or Khorat , is one of the north-eastern provinces of Thailand...
in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. He is nicknamed "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 ThaiMuay Thai
Muay Thai is a combat sport from Thailand that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. It is similar to other Indochinese kickboxing systems, namely pradal serey from Cambodia, tomoi from Malaysia, lethwei from Myanmar and muay Lao from Laos...
kickboxing
Kickboxing
Kickboxing refers to a group of martial arts and stand-up combat sports based on kicking and punching, historically developed from karate, Muay Thai and western boxing....
. 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
Daorung Chuvatana
Daorung Chuvatana also known as Surapol Sidangnoi is a retired boxer who won World titles in the Bantamweight weight divisions....
. However, Sahaprom lost his first defense against former WBC Super Flyweight Champion Nana Konadu
Nana Konadu
Nana Yaw Konadu Yeboah is a retired boxer who won World titles in two different weight divisions. Konadu turned pro in 1985 and in 1989 won the WBC Super Flyweight Title by winning a decision over Gilberto Roman. He lost the belt in his first defense to Sung Kil Moon in 1990 and lost a rematch to...
, 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
Joichiro Tatsuyoshi
is a former World Boxing Council world bantamweight champion from Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan. His record is 19–6–1 .He is popular for his fight style and unique personality, and has appeared in several television variety shows....
on January 28, 1996. The fight took place in Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
, 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
Toshiaki Nishioka
is a Japanese professional boxer who is the current WBC super bantamweight champion. Nishioka is currently ranked as the #1 super bantamweight in the world by The Ring and ESPN. Unlike most other Japan's world champions, Nishioka has been willing to fight outside of his own country.- 1976 to 1990s...
four times during his reign, retaining his title in every single fight. Sahaprom finally lost his title to Hozumi Hasegawa
Hozumi Hasegawa
is a professional boxer and a former WBC world bantamweight champion and former WBC world Featherweight champion. He received consecutive MVP awards from the Japanese Boxing Commission in 2005 and 2006 for his title defenses, and is the only Japanese boxer to have defended a world bantamweight...
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
Kobe
, pronounced , is the fifth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, approximately west of Osaka...
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.