Daorung Chuvatana (Thai: ดาวรุ่ง ชูวัฒนะ; born 1 April 1969) is a Thai former professional boxer who competed in the bantamweight division. He is a two‑time World Boxing Association (WBA) bantamweight champion and is noted for a controversial title win in 1994 that involved an accidental headbutt. After retiring from boxing, Chuvatana served in the Royal Thai Air Force and later worked as a municipal official in his native Uttaradit Province.
Early life and background
Surapol Sidangnoi, known professionally as Daorung Chuvatana, was born in Nam Pat District, Uttaradit Province, Thailand. He began boxing at a young age, later adopting the ring name “Daorung,” which translates roughly as “Rising Star” in Thai.
Professional boxing career
- Debut and rise: Chuvatana turned professional in 1985 and amassed a record of 61 wins, 7 losses, and 3 draws over his career.
- First world title (1994): On 16 July 1994, he captured the WBA bantamweight title by defeating John Michael Johnson via a technical knockout in the first round. The stoppage was controversial because Johnson’s cut was caused by an accidental headbutt, yet the referee ruled it a punch‑induced injury and awarded the victory to Chuvatana.
- Title defenses and loss: He defended the belt once, losing it to Veeraphol Sahaprom on 17 September 1995.
- Regaining the title (1996): Chuvatana reclaimed the WBA bantamweight championship on 27 October 1996 by defeating Nana Konadu after the fight was stopped in the 10th round. He defended the title once before losing it back to Konadu in a rematch on 21 June 1997.
Later life and post‑boxing career
Following retirement, Chuvatana served as a non‑commissioned airman in the Royal Thai Air Force’s Supreme Command Headquarters, working as a driver and mechanic and attaining the rank of Fight Sergeant 1st Class. He subsequently resigned to take a civil service position with the Uttaradit Municipality.
Other names
- Daorung MP Petroleum
- Daorung Chor Siriwat
Legacy
Daorung Chuvatana is recognized among Thai boxing enthusiasts for his world‑title achievements and for the notable controversy surrounding his 1994 championship win. His career contributed to the prominence of Thai boxers on the international stage during the 1990s.
References
- Wikipedia article “Daorung Chuvatana” (accessed April 2026).
- BoxRec profile for Daorung Chuvatana.