Chatchai Kratingdang Gym of Thailand was defeated by WBC-WBA super flyweight champion Christian Mijares in the last match of the former world champion’s professional boxing career at Monterrey, Mexico, on August 30.

Former light flyweight world champion Chatchai Kratingdang Gym, also known as Chatchai Sasakul, 38, lost to Mijares, who holds a duo WBC-WBA super flyweight champion titles, in a match at la Arena Monterrey in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico on Saturday August 30.

In the first round, Chatchai was using a defensive strategy while attempting to counter the attacks of Mijares, but the Mexican boxer was able to utilize his longer reach and hit the Thai fighter in the face with a left cross in mid round. Chatchai, however, also had a clean hit on Mijares’ body at the end of the round.

In the second, Chatchai continued to be on the defensive but Mijares sped up his moves and jabbed the Thai fighters on the face several times. Chatchai was able to launch a strike on Mijares’ body but it was the Mexican who made the decisive uppercut attack to Chatchai’s stomach, followed by a right hook and left cross on the face just at the second round ended. The referee started to count, in according to the rules World Boxing Council, but seemed to eventually allow Chatchai to go back to his corner despite his obvious inability to hold himself up.

Chatchai seemed to regain full conscious when the third round began but soon he was hit with a left uppercut and a right hook into his chin. The referee counted to five before deciding to end the bout as the Thai fighter seemed to have lost consciousness.

Mijares won the match, successfully defending his duo world super flyweight titles of WBC and WBA.

The Mexican champion said if the match occurred ten years ago he would have troubles fighting Chatchai who was a skilled fighter. He praised the Thai for his ability to continue the fight despite an age of 38 and a one-year break from training.

Mijares plans to continue to fight the other world champions of his weight class but has already considered moving up to the bantamweight.

Referee George Gibson said the match was exciting as Mijares is a great boxer of this weight class who is able to launch fast and accurate strikes, while the Thai fighter is no longer in the same conditions as when he was younger. The referee said he saw the fight of Chatchai and Yuri Arbachakov in 1995 and was then convinced that very few boxers would be able to match the Thai.

He said Chatchai at the present, although still one of the greatest boxers, can no longer compete with the young and strong Mijares.

Chatchai said he had accepted his defeat but was regret that he lost so quickly. He said the decisive strike was the uppercut to his stomach, which was followed by two more hits to his chin. He said if he had not been hit with the uppercut, he might have some chances to win Mijares.

The Thai fighter said he would no longer box and was disappointed that the finale to his career was not “so elegantly beautiful” but he was proud to have gained fame for Thailand.

Chatchai’s manager Piyarat Wachirarattanawong, who accompanied the boxer to Mexico, said Chatchai was facing several difficulties including physical conditions, adjustments after the long flight, and time differences of Mexico and Thailand. He said Mijares fought exactly the way he prepared Chatchai for, and the Thai boxer would have a better performance if he was not hit by the uppercut in the second round.

Piyarat said he admitted that Chatchai was not a match for Miheres who is a young boxer with formidable skills. However, he said he considered Chatchai a great boxer and he would continue to support Chatchai’s future career when he had quitted boxing.

Chatchai and his team would arrive to Thailand on Tuesday September 2 at 10.00 a.m.