Lumpinee Boxing Stadium () is a sporting arena in

Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estim ...

, Thailand. Opened more than a decade later than

Rajadamnern Stadium Rajadamnern Stadium (; ), also spelled ''Ratchadamnoen'', is a sporting arena in Bangkok, Thailand. Along with Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, Rajadamnern is one of the two main stadiums for modern Muay Thai. It hosts fights every Monday, Wednesday, ...

, Lumpinee is run by the

Royal Thai Army The Royal Thai Army or RTA (; ) is the army of Thailand and the oldest and largest branch of the Royal Thai Armed Forces. History Origin The Royal Thai Army is responsible for protecting the kingdom's sovereignty. The army was formed in 187 ...

. It has become the symbol of modern

Muay Thai Muay Thai or Muaythai (, , ), sometimes referred to as Thai boxing, the Art of Eight Limbs or the Science of Eight Limbs, is a Thai martial art and full-contact combat sport that uses stand-up striking, sweeps, and various clinch fighting, cl ...

. Only Rajadamnern Stadium rivals the prestige of holding the title of "Muay Thai Champion of Lumpinee". The ranking system and championship titles are held from

mini flyweight Mini flyweight, also known as paperweight, minimumweight, strawweight, or super atomweight, is a weight class in combat sports. Boxing In professional boxing, boxers in the minimumweight division may weigh no more than . This is a relatively new ...

(105 lb) up to

super welterweight Light middleweight, also known as junior middleweight or super welterweight,PeBoxRec/ref> is a weight class in boxing but also may include other combat sports. Boxing The light middleweight division (also known as junior middleweight in the IBF o ...

(154 lb). Muay Thai bouts are held on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. The fights usually start around 18:00. The final event at its original site on

Rama IV Road Rama IV Road (, ; usually shortened to , ) is a main road in Bangkok, Thailand. It starts at Mo Mi Junction in the area of Chinatown, Bangkok, Bangkok's Chinatown in Samphanthawong District, Samphanthawong and Pom Prap Sattru Phai Districts and ...

near

Lumphini Park Lumphini Park (, , ), also Lumpini or Lumpinee, is a 360 Rai (area), rai () park in Bangkok, Thailand. The park offers rare open public space, trees and playgrounds in the Thai capital and contains an artificial lake where visitors can rent ...

(where

One Bangkok One Bangkok is a US$3.9 billion mixed-use development under construction in Bangkok, Thailand. One Bangkok is being developed by Frasers Property, a subsidiary of TCC Group, one of Thailand's largest conglomerates. It was expected to open in s ...

is currently being built) was held on 8 February 2014. The stadium then moved to its new home on

Ram Inthra Road Highway 304 is a national highway of Thailand, leading from the Bangkok suburb city of Pak Kret to Nakhon Ratchasima in the country's Northeast. It forms the main link between the eastern and northeastern regions, and is one of the major a ...

which can hold up to 5,000 spectators. The new stadium held the first fight on 11 February 2014 and was officially opened on 28 February 2014.

History

General

Praphas Charusathien Praphas Charusathien (, , ; 25 November 1912 – 18 August 1997) was a Thai military officer and politician. He was a Field Marshal (Thailand), field marshal of the Royal Thai Army and minister of interior in the governments of military rulers Sa ...

was the driving force behind the construction of the Lumpinee Stadium, the second national stadium built in

Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...

after Rajadamnern. Lumpinee opened its doors on 8 December 1956. The stadium is operated by the Army Welfare Department of the

. All proceeds from the fights go towards supporting the various departments of the Thai Army. The board of directors, headed by Army Commander

Apirat Kongsompong Apirat Kongsompong (; ; born 23 March 1960) is a Thai military officer who was the List of commanders-in-chief of the Royal Thai Army, commander in chief of the Royal Thai Army from 1 October 2018 to 30 September 2020. He serves as the Vice-Chamb ...

, consists entirely of army officers. Eleven promoters are responsible for booking boxers to fight at the stadium. The rules are the same as at Rajadamnern: boxers must weigh more than 100 lb (45.4 kg), older than 15 years, with a weight difference between boxers of not more than a . Women are not allowed to fight in the stadium or enter the ring. One of the most famous Lumpinee champions was

Dieselnoi Chor Thanasukarn Charin Sorndee (; born December 27, 1961), known professionally as Dieselnoi Chor.Thanasukarn (), is a Thai former professional Muay Thai fighter. He was the Lumpinee Stadium Lightweight Champion for four years until he was forced to retire afte ...

who reigned without defeat in the early-1980s, holding the

Lightweight Lightweight is a weight class in combat sports and rowing (sport), rowing. Boxing Professional boxing The lightweight division is over 130 pounds (59 kilograms) and up to 135 pounds (61.2 kilograms) boxing weight classes, weight class in the spor ...

title for four years. He was eventually forced to retire because he ran out of opponents. Lumpinee Stadium was implicated in a cluster of COVID-19 cases during the

coronavirus pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...

in Thailand in 2020. Boxing matches were held on 6 March 2020 in spite of a government shutdown order issued on 3 March. Among those later stricken by COVID-19 was the chief of the Army Welfare Department, who had been at the stadium. In early 2021, it was reported that the Army was considering releasing the stadium to the private sector, or turning the stadium into a museum. In response to this, Lumpinee management announced their intention to re-brand and implement major changes. These changes included allowing women to fight in the stadium, begin hosting

mixed martial arts Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting combat sport, sport based on strike (attack), striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. In the early 20th century, various inter-s ...

bouts and ban gambling in order to attract a non-gambling audience. Traditionally reserved for male fighters, Lumpinee Stadium eventually hosted its first female fight card on 13 November 2021. The main event featured Buakaw Mor.Kor.Chor.Chaiyaphum facing Sanaejan Sor.Jor.Tongprajin for the WBC Muaythai mini flyweight championship and Lumpinee Stadium women's mini flyweight championship, with Sanaejan winning by decision. Having long been a venue for Muay Thai, Lumpinee Stadium made history by holding its first

event on 16 January 2022, hosted by Fairtex Fight Promotion. The event consisted of both Muay Thai and MMA fights. In August 2022 it began hosting

ONE Championship ONE Championship, formerly ONE Fighting Championship (ONE FC) until January 2015, is a Multinational corporation, multinational combat sports Promoter (entertainment), promotion founded on 14 July 2011 by Chatri Sityodtong and Victor Cui. Origi ...

events, with nearly all fights under Muay Thai rules.

Notable champions

Apidej Sit-Hirun Narong Yaenprateep (; September 1941 – April 4, 2013), known professionally as Apidej Sit-Hirun (), was a Thai professional Muay Thai fighter and boxer. He was a two-time Lumpinee Stadium Welterweight Champion and two-time Rajadamnern Stadium ...

Poot Lorlek Taweesak Pipatkul (; born January 1, 1952 – June 1, 2020) known professionally as Poot Lorlek (), was a Thai professional Muay Thai fighter and professional boxing, boxer. He was a Lumpinee Stadium#Super Bantamweight Championship, Lumpinee Stad ...

Wichannoi Porntawee Chucheep Iam-erb (; January 25, 1948 – January 31, 2022), known professionally as Wichannoi Porntawee () was a Thai professional Muay Thai fighter. After becoming a dominant figure in the 112 lbs to 130 lbs (50.80 - 58.97 kg) wei ...

Kongtoranee Payakaroon Subin Dejtiptamai (; born Chartchai Tiptamai ; July 12, 1960), known professionally as Kongtoranee Payakaroon (), is a retired Thai Muay Thai fighter and professional boxer. He is a former five-division Lumpinee Stadium champion, the 1984 Sports ...

Samart Payakaroon Samart Popteeratham (, born ''Samart Thipthamai'', ; December 5, 1962), known professionally as Samart Payakaroon (), is a Thai former professional Muay Thai fighter, professional boxer, and entertainer. He is a former four-division Lumpinee Sta ...

Chamuekpet Hapalang Vichean Bootdee (; born: August 10, 1962), known professionally as Chamuekpet Hapalang (), is a Thai former professional Muay Thai fighter and boxer. He is a former four-time Lumpinee Stadium champion and five-time Rajadamnern Stadium champion ...

* Karuhat Sor.Supawan * Saenchai Sor.Kingstar *

Anuwat Kaewsamrit Apisak Rongpichai (; born November 17, 1981), known professionally as Anuwat Kaewsamrit (), is a Thai former professional Muay Thai fighter. He is a one-time Lumpinee Stadium champion and four-time Rajadamnern Stadium champion across four ...

Singdam Kiatmuu9 Uthid Kodprakhon (; born January 1, 1984), known professionally as Singdam Kiatmuu9 (), is a Thai former professional Muay Thai fighter and kickboxer. He is former four-time Lumpinee Stadium champion across three divisions, as well as the 2002 S ...

Petchboonchu FA Group Yutthapong Sitthichot (; born May 8, 1990), known professionally as Petchboonchu F.A.Group (), is a Thai former professional Muay Thai fighter. He is a former five-time Lumpinee Stadium champion and one-time Rajadamnern Stadium across five divisi ...

Yodsanklai Fairtex Yodthanong Photirat (; born born, July 1, 1985), known professionally as Yodsanklai Fairtex (), is a Thai former professional Muay Thai fighter and kickboxer. He is a former WBC Muay Thai World Super welterweight champion at 154 lbs, and a ...

Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong ( Thai: สิทธิชัย ศิษย์สองพี่น้อง, ; born September 23, 1991) is a Thai Muay Thai kickboxer who is currently signed to ONE Championship. Sitthichai is a former Lumpinee Stadiu ...

Petpanomrung Kiatmuu9 Petpanomrung Kiatmuu9 (เพชรพนมรุ้ง เกียรติหมู่เก้า, pronounced "Kiatmuukao"; born 26 May 1995) is a Muay Thai fighter and kickboxer from Thailand. Hailing from Buriram in the northeast of Thail ...

* Panpayak Jitmuangnon *

Superlek Kiatmuu9 Manachai Yamsiri (; born 6 November 1995), known professionally as Superlek Kiatmuu9 (), is a Thai professional Muay Thai fighter and kickboxer. Nicknamed 'The Kicking Machine', he is regarded as one of the greatest Muay Thai fighters of his ge ...

Only six non-Thai athletes have become Lumpinee champions. The first winner was French-Algerian fighter

Morad Sari Morad Sari (born June 20, 1973) is a French-Algerian former professional Muay Thai fighter and kickboxer. He is a former Lumpinee Stadium Super Lightweight Champion who was active during the 1990s and 2000s. Notably he's the first non-Thai to w ...

, who claimed the super lightweight championship in 1999. French fighter Damien Alamos won the super lightweight title in 2012 and was the first foreigner to defend the belt later that year. France's

Rafi Bohic Raphael Bohic (born July 9, 1991), known professionally as Rafi Bohic, is a French professional Muay Thai fighter. He is a former two-time Lumpinee Stadium Welterweight Champion, WBC MuayThai World Super Lightweight Champion, and WMC World Sup ...

, won the welterweight title in 2017 and defended the belt four times. Moroccan-Belgian

Youssef Boughanem Youssef Boughanem (born December 6, 1989) is a Moroccans in Belgium, Moroccan-Belgian professional Muay Thai fighter, kickboxer, and mixed martial artist. He is a former Lumpinee Stadium, Rajadamnern Stadium, Omnoi Stadium, World Muaythai Council ...

won the middleweight title in 2018. Japan's Nadaka Yoshinari became mini flyweight champion in 2019, though he won the belt at an event in Japan. The last non-Thai fighter to win the belt was France's Jimmy Vienot in 2019 at middleweight. A number of non-Thais have achieved top 10 rankings within the stadium.

Ramon Dekkers Ramon Dekkers (4 September 1969 – 27 February 2013) was a Dutch professional Muay Thai fighter. He won multiple world and international titles in Muay Thai during the 1980s and 1990s. Nicknamed the "Turbine from Hell", he was a fan favorite due ...

was one of the most renowned foreign fighters in Lumpinee history, but he never won the Lumpinee belt. Stéphane Nikiéma would have been the second foreign Lumpinee champion, but his title fight ended in a no-contest.

Current champions

Championship history (incomplete)

Pinweight Championship

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Mini Flyweight Championship

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Light Flyweight Championship

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Flyweight Championship

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Super Flyweight Championship

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Bantamweight Championship

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Super Bantamweight Championship

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Featherweight Championship

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Super Featherweight Championship

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Lightweight Championship

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Super Lightweight Championship

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Welterweight Championship

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Super Welterweight Championship

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Middleweight Championship

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Super Middleweight Championship

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References

External links

Muay Thai rules of Lumpinee Stadium

Lumpinee set to hang up its gloves

Buying tickets online for Lumpinee Stadium
{{Tourist attractions in Bangkok Indoor arenas in Thailand Kickboxing in Thailand Professional Muay Thai organizations Muay Thai venues in Bangkok Boxing venues in Thailand Pathum Wan district Sports venues completed in 1956 1956 establishments in Thailand

History

Notable champions

Current champions

Championship history (incomplete)

Pinweight Championship

Mini Flyweight Championship

Light Flyweight Championship

Flyweight Championship

Super Flyweight Championship

Bantamweight Championship

Super Bantamweight Championship

Featherweight Championship

Super Featherweight Championship

Lightweight Championship

Super Lightweight Championship

Welterweight Championship

Super Welterweight Championship

Middleweight Championship

Super Middleweight Championship

See also

References

External links