Ratanapol Sor Vorapin
| Ratanapol Sor Vorapin รัตนพล ส.วรพิน | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Real name |
Preecha Charoenthara Anucha Phothong (formerly) |
| Nickname(s) |
Khaosai Noi (เขาทรายน้อย) "Little Khaosai"[1] Ai-Bo (ไอ้โบ้) "Rambo"[2] |
| Weight(s) |
Mini flyweight Junior flyweight Flyweight |
| Height | 1.62 m (5 ft 4 in) |
| Nationality | Thai |
| Born |
June 6, 1974 Dan Khun Thot, Thailand |
| Stance | Southpaw |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 68 |
| Wins | 59 |
| Wins by KO | 48 |
| Losses | 8 |
| Draws | 1 |
Ratanapol Sor Vorapin (Thai: รัตนพล ส.วรพิน; born Preecha Charoenthara (ปรีชา เจริญธารา), formerly Anucha Phothong (อนุชา โพธิ์ทอง), 6 June 1974 in Amphoe Dan Khun Thot, Nakhon Ratchasima province, northeastern Thailand), was a retired professional boxer. He is the older brother of former WBO Bantamweight champion Ratanachai Sor Vorapin.
Early life
Ratanapol Sor Vorapin was born in a poor family in Nakhon Ratchasima province (also known as Khorat) with 14 siblings. His parents were names Somjai and Somjit Phothong. His family were farmers, but even though they had plenty of land, its land on the mountain could not be cultivated. He must bea boxer because of poverty, beginning from Muaythai at 14 in names "Tonaonoy Toichainee" (ทนเอาหน่อย ต่อยใช้หนี้) and "Lion Luknamjai" (ไลอ้อน ลูกน้ำใจ) sponsored by Yindee Juntacup, a famous local people.[1][3]
Professional career
He traveled to Bangkok for Muaythai fighter under Sor Vorapin Boxing Gym in Khaosan Road neighborhood, by Vorapin "Je-sam" Rungsikulpipat as manager and owner. His name "Ratanapol" is actually the name of another fighter, which he used this name to fight. [1]
Ratanapol turned pro in 1990. He was accidentally fighting because Chana Porpaoin's nose was injured and he could not fight, so Ratanapol fought instead and beat the opponent beautifully in Nakhon Pathom province. Since then, he has been supported seriously. He won the IBF International Mini flyweight (also known as Minimumweight) title.
Until Fahlan Lukmingkwan lost the IBF Mini flyweight championship to Filipino Manny Melchor in mid-1992. He was encouraged to recapture it back to Thailand from Sr. Col. Banju Ongsangkune and Suchart "Pe Poster" Kerdmek.
On December 10, 1992, at Nimibutr Stadium inside National Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand, scored a 12-round split decision victory over Manny Melchor to win the IBF Mini flyweight title. He would defend that title 12 times. But in the 13th he lost the title on the scales on March 15, 1996, because he could not make his weight of 105 pounds according to the IBF rules. However on May 18 the same year, he returned as the world champion again and he retained it all 6 times, until December 27, 1997, when he suffered a 5th-round TKO loss to Zolani Petelo of South Africa at Samila Beach, Songkhla province, southern Thailand.
He had two unsuccessful attempts at the IBF Junior flyweight title, first dropping a unanimous decision to Will Grigsby on December 18, 1998. And then on December 2, 2000, he suffered a 3rd-round TKO loss to Mexican Ricardo "El Finito" López in Las Vegas.
The end of the career he changed his manager to Kokiet "Sia Ko" Panichyarom of Kokiet Group and promoted to Flyweight. And won the PABA title.
Boxing style
Ratanapol is a fighter style, with heavy left punch although he has no beautiful footwork or good agility but he has a long reach. His right hand was used mainly to judge the distance for his left, so this style is similar to the legendary Khaosai Galaxy he received the nickname "Little Khaosai" from Thai boxing fans.[3]
In addition every time before the bout. He will shout "Chaiyo...Chaiyo...Ya Mo Ok Suek!!" (ไชโย...ไชโย...ย่าโมออกศึก!!; lit: "Cheer...Cheer...Grandma Mo to Battle!!") to create a frenzy.[3]
Retirement
After retirement Ratanapol's was life was very difficult. He has a lot of debt. Today, he earns his living by selling street vendor noodles in Khaosan Road neighborhood near Sor Vorapin Boxing Gym with his wife and selling DVDs of his own biography on the Bangkok streets in the night.[2]Even though he often quarrels with his wife. At the most stressful moments he has tried to commit suicide by hanging with an electric wire, but eventually, he changed his mind.[4] And he also received ordination at Wat Phra Dhammakaya.
Politics
In politically Ratnapol alliance with the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) or Red Shirts, and joined the protesters on several occasions such as 2005–06 Thai political crisis[5], or 2013–14 Thai political crisis etc.[6]
Titles in boxing
Major World Titles:
- IBF Mini Flyweight Champion (December 1992) (May 1996) (2x) (105 lbs)
Regional & International Titles:
References
- 1 2 3 "Vip - รัตนพล ส.วรพิน 26Mar12". Channel 9 MCOT HD (in Thai). 26 March 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- 1 2 ""แรมโบ้" ชีวิตตกอับ เร่ขายดีวีดีปลดหนี้ ลั่นชีวิตนี้ไม่ยอมให้ใครดูถูก". ASTV Manager (in Thai). 30 October 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
- 1 2 3 หน้า 108-111, "เขาทรายน้อย" รัตนพล ส.วรพิน แชมป์โลกชาวไทยคนที่สิบเจ็ด รุ่นมินิฟลายเวท IBF.. "22 แชมป์โลกชาวไทย" นิตยสารคนเด็ด (เฉพาะกิจพิเศษ) โดย "ชายพจน์": ตุลาคม 38 (in Thai)
- ↑ ""ไอ้แรมโบ้" รัตนพล ส.วรพิน ชีวิตที่ผกผัน เกือบฆ่าตัวตาย สุดท้ายเดินขายซีดีเรื่องราวชีวิตตัวเอง". Sanook (in Thai). 2015-07-02.
- ↑ ""รัตนพล" มาผิดเวที สวมหมวกรักทักษิณวิ่งจ็อกกิ้งหน้าทำเนียบฯ". ASTV Manager (in Thai). 14 March 2006. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
- ↑ "ส่อเหลือแค่ชื่อ ?? "โบ้ รัตนพล" ชูกำปั้น พร้อมรบเคียงบ่าสังเวียนอักษะ". Tnews (in Thai). 11 May 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2016.
External links
| Preceded by Manny Melchor |
IBF Minimumweight Champion 10 Dec 1992–15 Mar 1996 Failed to make weight |
Succeeded by Ratanapol Sor Vorapin |
| Preceded by Ratanapol Sor Vorapin Vacant |
IBF Minimumweight Champion 18 May 1996–27 Dec 1997 |
Succeeded by Zolani Petelo |