Rated at Flyweight Losses 8 Height 1.68 m Total fights 40 Wins by ko 6 | Nationality Thai Draws 3 Division Flyweight Stance Orthodox stance | |
Nickname(s) (Alias) Tinapong Hantanakul Born October 25, 1944
Bangkok, Thailand ( 1944-10-25 ) Other name (Alias) Tinapong Hantanakul | ||
Berkrerk Chartvanchai (born October 25, 1944) is a former Thai boxer who won the WBA World Flyweight Title on April 5, 1970 against Bernabe Villacampo in a fifteen round split decision at Bangkok, Thailand. Chartvanchai became the second Thai in history to hold a version of the World Flyweight Title.
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Early life and career
Chartvanchai was born on October 25, 1944 in Bangkok, Thailand. He began competitive professional boxing in early 1966, and in his first twenty-seven bouts through January 1970, he won twenty-four with the remaining three as draws. Nearly all of his early bouts took place in his native Bangkok. By June 1967, he was fighting better known opponents, winning his first bout with Bernabe Villacampo on May 6, 1969, in a ten round points decision.
Taking the WBA World Flyweight Title
Chartvanchai took the WBA World Flyweight Title on April 5, 1970 against Bernabe Villacampo in a fifteen round split decision at Bangkok, Thailand. In a close bout, the Associated Press had the scoring 73-70 for Chartvanchai. Chartvanchai used primarily body punches and solid defense to take the title. He made Villicampo miss repeatedly and scored frequently with blows to the torso. In the eighth he opened a cut above Villacampo's eye that bothered his opponent throughout the remainder of the bout. One source noted "Villicampo...was the more aggressive but could not land telling blows." Many of Chartvanchai's best scoring punches were quick strikes to the torso after breaking out of clinches.
On July 25, 1970, in a non-title fight he lost to Filipino boxer Erbito Salavario in a non-title ten round fight in Manila. Salavario was Flyweight Champion of the Orient. Chartvantchai at 115, outweighed his opponent by two pounds.
Losing the WBA World Flyweight Title
On October 22, 1970, he lost the WBA World Flyweight Title in a thirteenth round knockout against Masao Oba in a title bout at Nichidi Auditorium in Tokyo, Japan. According to one source, the bout was postponed from its initial date when Chartvanchai took ill with a high fever. Chartvanchai was down three times in the third round before finally being called out for the full count at their bout at Nihon University. Enrique Jimenez refereed. Chartvanchai was finished off with a volley of punches to the head at 2:16 into the thirteenth round. He had trouble making the weight limit, even after doing light exercise and taking a steam bath, which may have weakened him for the bout. Oba gained a considerable lead in points throughout the match.