He is the second child of a Thai-Muslim family of eight children in Chonburi, near Hat Bang Saen, a popular tourist destination.
After winning his first four professional fights, he challenged WBC Light flyweight Champion Jung-Koo Chang on 31 March 1984, losing a twelve-round decision.
His ring name "Sot Chitalada" comes from the name of "Muns Sorchitpatana" (Thai: มันส์ ส.จิตรพัฒนา; RTGS: Man So-Chitphatthana), another boxer under the same stable.
Undaunted by the Chang loss, he won two more fights and a little over six months later shocked WBC and Lineal Flyweight Champion Gabriel Bernal, winning the world championships in his home country at Indoor Stadium Huamark, Bangkok.
He lost the titles on 24 July 1988, travelling to South Korea and losing a twelve-round decision to unbeaten (at that time) Yong-Kang Kim.
In his third defence, he made his second fight in the Western Hemisphere, defeating Richard Clarke by an eleventh-round knockout in Kingston, Jamaica, thus retaining his titles.
Chitalada won two more fights before challenging Kittikasem to a rematch, but the result was the same, this time it ended in a ninth-round stoppage.
He spoke broken English but was very eager to teach his Muay Thai class in the early mornings at 6:00 a.m.. His style was different from the other teachers that were there.