Ratanapol Sor Vorapin (; born Preecha Charoenthara (), formerly Anucha Phothong (อนุชา โพธิ์ทอง)) is a Thai former professional boxer. He is the older brother of former World Boxing Organization Bantamweight champion Ratanachai Sor Vorapin.

Early life Vorapin was born on June 6, 1974, to Somjai and Somjit Phothong in Dan Khun Thot, Nakhon Ratchasima province. Despite having large amounts of land, Vorapin, his parents, and his 14 siblings were impoverished farmers, as the mountainous ground was poor soil for agriculture. Because of his poverty, he became a boxer at age fourteen in Muaythai using the names "Tonaonoy Toichainee" (ทนเอาหน่อย ต่อยใช้หนี้) and "Lion Luknamjai" (ไลอ้อน ลูกน้ำใจ) sponsored by Yindee Juntacup, a local celebrity.

Professional career Vorapin traveled to Bangkok to fight Muaythai under Sor Vorapin Boxing Gym. The name "Ratanapol" is actually the name of another fighter. Going pro in 1990, Ratanapol fought in the place of Chana Porpaoin, out because of his injured nose, and defeated his opponent. Because of that victory, he received serious support.

When Fahlan Lukmingkwan lost the IBF Mini flyweight championship to Filipino Manny Melchor in mid-1992, Ratanapol was encouraged by Sr. Col. Banju Ongsangkune and Suchart "Pe Poster" Kerdmek to return to Thailand. On December 10, 1992, at Nimibutr Stadium, he scored a 12-round split decision victory over Manny Melchor to win the Mini flyweight title. He would defend that title against twelve boxers, but he lost the title on the scales on March 15, 1996, because he could not make his weight 105 pounds to qualify. On May 18 the same year, however, he returned as the world champion and he retained it six times until December 27, 1997, when he received a 5th-round TKO loss to South African Zolani Petelo at 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 received a 3rd-round TKO loss to Mexican Ricardo "El Finito" López in Las Vegas. Near the end of the career, he changed his manager to Kokiet "Sia Ko" Panichyarom of Kokiet Boxing Group and promoted to Flyweight and won the PABA title.

Boxing style Ratanapol had a heavy left punch and a long reach but little footwork or agility. His right hand was used mainly to judge distance for his left, similar to the famed Khaosai Galaxy, even receiving the nickname "Little Khaosai" from Thai boxing fans.

In addition every time before the bout, he shouted "Chaiyo...Chaiyo...Ya Mo Ok Suek!!" (ไชโย...ไชโย...ย่าโมออกศึก!!; lit: "Cheer...Cheer...Grandma Mo to Battle!!") to create a frenzy.หน้า 108-111, "เขาทรายน้อย" รัตนพล ส.วรพิน แชมป์โลกชาวไทยคนที่สิบเจ็ด รุ่นมินิฟลายเวท IBF.. "22 แชมป์โลกชาวไทย" นิตยสารคนเด็ด (เฉพาะกิจพิเศษ) โดย "ชายพจน์": ตุลาคม 38

Retirement After retirement, Ratanapol's life was very difficult. Burdened by debt, he sold street vendor noodles in Bang Lamphu neighborhood near Sor Vorapin Boxing Gym with his wife, and sold DVDs of his own biography on the Bangkok streets. At the most stressful moments, he attempted suicide by hanging with an electric wire 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, or 2013–14 Thai political crisis etc.

Professional boxing record

Result Record Opponent TypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes68Loss59–8–1Rey MigrenoKO5(11) Jul 10, 2009 67 Win59–7–1Wido Paez KO3(11) May 7, 2009 66Win58–7–1Noriyuki Komatsu TKO1(10) Feb 08, 2009 65Win57–7–1Wanlop SawangwongKO3(6) Nov 26, 2008 64Loss56–7–1Richard GarciaMD11 Oct 03, 2008 63Win56–6–1Fang Shuai KO1(11) Jul 16, 2008 62Win55–6–1Juharum Silaban KO3(11) May 23, 2008 61Win54–6–1Sam BurdamKO2(11) Apr 15, 2008 60Win53–6–1Pingping TepuraTKO2(11) Feb 14, 2008 59Win52–6–1Alwi Alhabsyi KO1(12) Nov 16, 2007 58Win51–6–1Yanus Emaury KO3(6) Oct 03, 2007 57Win50–6–1Gui Yao Bo KO3(8) Jul 24, 2007 56Win49–6–1Takayuki Okumoto TKO2(6) May 29, 2007 55Win48–6–1Edwin EzekielKO1(6) Mar 29, 2007 54Win47–6–1Hendrik Barongsay KO3(6) Jan 31, 2007 53Win46–6–1Christian ColladoUD6 Oct 04, 2006 52Win45–6–1Edo ResilayKO1(8) Aug 16, 2006 51Win44–6–1Masatsugu Okada6 May 10, 2006 50Win43–6–1Ratazu MatsuiKO2(6) Feb 22, 2006 49Win42–6–1Alex BuckieTKO4(6) Nov 21, 2005 48Win41–6–1Dicky TimorKO1(6) Oct 04, 2005 47Win40–6–1Arbon BeyerKO3(6) Sep 02, 2005 46Win39–6–1Alex BuckieUD12Aug 05, 2005 45Loss38–6–1Ricardo LópezTKO3 (12), Dec 2, 2000 44Loss38–5–1Yura DimaKO2 (12)Nov 05, 1999 43Win38–4–1Jerry RosalesKO4 (?)Sep 03, 1999 42Loss37–4–1Will GrigsbyUD12Dec 18, 1998 41Win37–3–1Alpong NavajaPTS10Sep 20, 1998 40Win36–3–1Leo RamirezTKO2 (10)Aug 12, 1998 39Win35–3–1Jerry PahayahayTKO4 (10)Jun 05, 1998 38Loss34–3–1Zolani PeteloTKO4 (12), Dec 27, 1997 37Win34–2–1Wellington VicenteTKO2 (12)Aug 30, 1997 36Win33–2–1Juan HerreraUD12Jun 14, 1997 35Win32–2–1Luis DoriaTKO4 (12)Mar 22, 1997 34Win31–2–1Eddie FelisildaKO5 (10)Jan 18, 1997 33Win30–2–1Gustavo VeraKO2 (12)Nov 24, 1996 32Win29–2–1Oscar AndradeKO5 (12)Sep 28, 1996 31Win28–2–1Jun OrhalizaKO3 (12)Jul 13, 1996 30Win27–2–1Jun ArlosUD12May 18, 1996 29Win26–2–1Lee SandovalTKO11 (12)Mar 16, 1996 28Win25–2–1Osvaldo GuerreroTKO6 (12)Dec 30, 1995 27Win24–2–1Jack RussellKO2 (12)Oct 29, 1995 26Win23–2–1Dario OlarteTKO2 (?)Aug 20, 1995 25Win22–2–1Oscar Alfonso FloresTKO2 (12)May 20, 1995 24Win21–2–1Jerry PahayahayTKO3 (12)Feb 25, 1995 23Win20–2–1Carlos Alberto RodriguezTKO3 (12)Nov 12, 1994 22Win19–2–1Marcelino BolivarTKO4 (12)Aug 20, 1994 21Win18–2–1Roger EspanolaTKO6 (12)May 14, 1994 20Win17–2–1Ronnie Magramo12Feb 27, 1994 19Win16–2–1Felix NaranjoTKO2 (12)Dec 10, 1993 18Win15–2–1Domingus SiwaletteTKO4 (12)Sep 26, 1993 17Win14–2–1Ala VillamorTKO7 (12)Jun 27, 1993 16Win13–2–1Nico ThomasKO7 (12)Mar 14, 1993 15Win12–2–1Manny Melchor12Dec 10, 1992 14Win11–2–1Al TarazonaKO5 (12)Sep 06, 1992 13Win10–2–1Husni RayKO4 (12)Jun 14, 1992 12Win9–2–1Ali Moril3 (?)Feb 23, 1992 11Win8–2–1Teelek SorthanikulTKO5 (?)Jan 29, 1992 10Loss7–2–1Aswin SithlakmuangTKO3 (?)Dec 23, 1991 9Win7–1–1Dao SingkrungthonTKO4 (?)Sep 23, 1991 8Loss6–1–1Aswin SithlakmuangPTS10Jul 17, 1991 7Win6–0–1Kom SorthanikulPTS6Jun 17, 1991 6Win5–0–1Dao SingkrungthonPTS6Mar 28, 1991 5Win4–0–1Dao SingkrungthonPTS6Feb 07, 1991 4Win3–0–1Rome SalothornTKO3 (?)Jan 10, 1991 3Win2–0–1Inseethong Sorthanikul2 (?)Nov 22, 1990 2Draw1–0–1Inseethong Sorthanikul4Nov 01, 1990 1Win1–0 Anusit Chokemchart1 (?)Oct 04, 1990

Titles in boxing Major World Titles: IBF Mini Flyweight Champion (December 1992) (May 1996) (2x) (105 lbs) Regional & International Titles: IBF International Mini Flyweight Champion (June 1992) (105 lbs) PABA Flyweight Champion (November 2007) (May 2009) (2x) (112 lbs)

References

External links