Kiattaweesuk Killed In Car Accident IBF #1 122 pounder Thantong Kiattaweesuk was tragically killed Saturday in a car accident in Bangkok, Thailand. Thantongs wife and twin nephews were also killed in the car accident. were also killed. Kiattaweesuk stopped South African Macbute Sinyabi in ten rounds of an IBF elimination bout on May 18 in Thailand. He was scheduled to meet the winner of the Nonito Donaire vs. Jeffery Mathebula WBO/IBF world title bout. Jimmy Chaichotchuang who was Thantongs manager and promoter said, it is tragic news that Thantong has passed away in a car accident with his wife and nephews. He had achieved so much in boxing as amateur and professional also was a national Muay Thai champion. He was a hero of boxing fans and a role model in Thailand. Thangthong Kiettaweesuk, his real name was Thangthong Klongjan, was born on August 13, 1978 at a remote village in Bo Rai District, Trad Province. Same as most of the famous Thai fighters, he started his martial-art career as a Muaythai fighter which he got a moderate success, occupying the Muaythai 105lb title of Famous Lumpini Stadium during 1999-2001. Then, he turned to Amateur Boxing, being a member of the Thai National Squad and winning a silver medal in the Southeast Asian Games in 2005 in Manila. In 2007, he turned to professional boxing and rapidly grabbed the IBF Pan Pacific 118lb belt during his sixth professional bout by defeating Korean I-hon Kim. Thangthong smoothly progressed on his boxing career, retaining his IBF regional crown 11 times and also earning the WBC international 118lb title with an impressive victory over Kenyan Nick Otieno, then he jumped to 122lb division and captured the IBF Pan Pacific title with an easy win over Indonesian champion Richard Samosir on May 20, 2011. As a result of his last impressive victory over Macbute Sinyabi on May 18, he became the IBF mandatory challenger to fight with the winner of the IBF-WBO unification bout between Nonito Donaire and Jeffrey Mathebula. Calamitously, his chance was finished by this tragedy which also ended his record to 24-0 (17KOs). By Ray Wheatley World of Boxing or By Damrong Simakajornboon |