Lumpinee Boxing Stadium ( th, สนามเวทีมวยลุมพินี) 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 estima ...
,
Thailand
Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...
. The stadium is named after
Lumbini
Lumbinī ( ne, लुम्बिनी, IPA=ˈlumbini , "the lovely") is a Buddhist pilgrimage site in the Rupandehi District of Lumbini Province in Nepal. It is the place where, according to Buddhist tradition, Queen Mahamayadevi gave birth ...
, the birthplace of the
Buddha
Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha, was a śramaṇa, wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism.
According to Buddhist tradition, he was ...
. Opened more than a decade later than
Rajadamnern Stadium
Rajadamnern Stadium ( th, สนามมวยราชดำเนิน; ), 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 m ...
, Lumpinee is run by the
Royal Thai Army
The Royal Thai Army or RTA ( th, กองทัพบกไทย; ) 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 so ...
. It has become the symbol of modern
Muay Thai
Muay Thai ( th, มวยไทย, , ), sometimes referred to as Thai boxing, is a combat sport that uses stand-up striking along with various clinching techniques. This discipline is known as the "art of eight limbs", as it is characterised ...
. 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 (105 lb) up to
super welterweight
Light middleweight, also known as junior middleweight or super welterweight,PeBoxRec/ref> is a weight class in combat sports.
Boxing
The light middleweight division (also known as junior middleweight in the IBF or super welterweight in the WBA an ...
(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 ( th, ถนนพระรามที่ 4, ; usually shortened to , ) is a main road in Bangkok, Thailand. It starts at Mo Mi Junction in the area of Bangkok's Chinatown in Samphanthawong and Pom Prap Sattru Phai Districts and e ...
near
Lumphini Park
Lumphini Park ( th, สวนลุมพินี, , ), also Lumpini or Lumpinee, is a 360 rai () park in Bangkok, Thailand. The park offers rare open public space, trees, and playgrounds in the Thai capital and contains an artificial lake w ...
was held on 8 February 2014.
The stadium then moved to its new home on Ram Intra Road 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 ( th, ประภาส จารุเสถียร, , ; 25 November 1912 – 18 August 1997) was a Thai military officer and politician. He was a field marshal (''chom phon'') of the Royal Thai Army and minister of inter ...
was the driving force behind the construction of the Lumpinee Stadium, the second national stadium built in
Thailand
Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...
after
Rajadamnern. Lumpinee opened its doors on 8 December 1956. The stadium is operated by the Army Welfare Department of the
Royal Thai Army
The Royal Thai Army or RTA ( th, กองทัพบกไทย; ) 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 so ...
. 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 ( th, อภิรัชต์ คงสมพงษ์; ; born 23 March 1960) was the Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Army from 1 October 2018 to 30 September 2020. He currently serves as the Vice-Chamberlain of the Roya ...
, 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 who reigned without defeat in the early-1980s, holding the
Lightweight
Lightweight is a weight class in combat sports and rowing.
Boxing
Professional boxing
The lightweight division is over 130 pounds (59 kilograms) and up to 135 pounds (61.2 kilograms) weight class in the sport of boxing.
Notable lightweight boxe ...
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, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identified ...
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), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, inc ...
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 November 13, 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
mixed martial arts
Mixed martial arts (MMA), sometimes referred to as cage fighting, no holds barred (NHB), and ultimate fighting, and originally referred to as Vale Tudo is a full-contact combat sport based on striking, grappling and ground fighting, inc ...
event on January 16, 2022, hosted by
Fairtex Fight Promotion
Fairtex is a Thailand muay thai, boxing, mixed martial arts and clothing brand that was founded by Bunjong Busarakamwongse (better known as Mr. Philip Wong) in Bangkok, Thailand in 1958. Fairtex won the Best MMA gloves Award at World MMA Awards ...
. The event consisted of both Muay Thai and MMA fights.
Notable champions
*
Samart Payakaroon
Phetchakhat na yok (เพชฌฆาตหน้าหยก)(e.g. ''Jade-faced Executioner'')
, nationality = Thai
, birth_date =
, birth_place = Chacherngsao, Thailand
, fighting_out_of = Bangkok, Thailand
, height ...
*
Sak Kaoponlek
Sak Kaoponlek ( th, ศักดิ์ ขาวผ่องเล็ก), also known as Kaoponglek Luksuratham (ขาวผ่องเล็ก ลูกสุรธรรม) in Thailand is a Thai Muay Thai fighter and trainer.
Career
Kaop ...
*
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 ...
*
Yodsanklai Fairtex
Yodsanklai Fairtex a.k.a. Yod ( Thai: ยอดแสนไกล แฟร์เท็กซ์; born, July 1, 1985) is a retired Thai Muay Thai kickboxer. He is a former WBC Muay Thai World Super welterweight champion at 154 lbs, and a ...
*
Dieselnoi Chor Thanasukarn
*
Anuwat Kaewsamrit
Anuwat Kaewsamrit (อนุวัฒน์ แก้วสัมฤทธิ์) born November 17, 1981 is a Thai Muay Thai kickboxer and a former Lumpinee and four time Rajadamnern Stadium champion who used to fight out of Kaewsamrit Gy ...
*
Saenchai Sor Kingstar
Suphachai "Saenchai" Saepong (born July 30, 1980), formerly known as Saenchai Sor. Kingstar ( th, แสนชัย ส.คิงสตาร์), is a Muay Thai fighter of Khon Isan descent. Saenchai won the Lumpinee Stadium title, which is ...
*
Buakaw Banchamek
Sombat Banchamek ( th, สมบัติ บัญชาเมฆ, born May 8, 1982) a.k.a. Buakaw Banchamek ( th, บัวขาว บัญชาเมฆ, links=no, Buakaw meaning "white lotus") is a martial artist from Thailand of ethnic ...
*
Coban Lookchaomaesaitong
Coban "The Cruncher" Lookchaomaesaitong (born August 4, 1966) is a Thai former Muay Thai kickboxer and World Champion. He won his first world title in 1985. He retired in 2000 after a 23-year career in Thailand and moved to New York to coach. He ...
*
Saiyok Pumpanmuang
Saiyok Pumpanmuang ( th, ไทรโยค พุ่มพันธ์ม่วง; born October 22, 1983), formerly known as ''Saiyoknoi Sakchainarong'' (ไทรโยคน้อย ศักดิ์ชัยณรงค์), is a Thai welt ...
*
Jomhod Kiatadisak
Jomhod "King of the Ring" Kiatadisak (born 5 July 1970) is a professional Muay Thai fighter from Phang Nga province in the South of Thailand. He started learning muay Thai at the age of 7 and won his first fight when he was 11 years old. In 1986, ...
*
Orono Wor Petchpun
Orono Wor Petchpun ( Thai: โอโรโน่ ว.เพชรพูล, born August 22, 1978) is a Thai super featherweight kickboxer and bantamweight mixed martial artist fighting out of Wor Petchpun Gym in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. He is ...
*
Matee Jedeepitak
*
Petch-eak Sidjaopho
*
Petch-tho Sidjaopho
Only six non-Thai athletes have become Lumpinee champions.
The first winner was French-Algerian fighter
Morad Sari, who claimed the super lightweight championship in 1999. French fighter
Damien Alamos
Damien Alamos (born July 30, 1990) is a French Muay Thai kickboxer. He is the WPMF European and World Muaythai Champion & Lumpinee stadium champion 140 lb.
For his professional fighting career he is jointly managed by Numnoi and Rodrigo A ...
won the super lightweight title in 2012 and was the first foreigner to defend the belt later that year. France's
Rafi Bohic
Rafi Bohic (born July 9, 1991) is a French Muay Thai kickboxer who lives in Thailand. He is the current Lumpinee Stadium Welterweight champion.
He is the former WBC Muaythai World Super Lightweight and WMC Junior Welterweight World champion.
...
, won the welterweight title in 2017 and defended the belt four times. Moroccan-Belgian
Youssef Boughanem
Youssef Boughanem (born December 6, 1989) is a Moroccan-Belgian Muay Thai and kickboxer, who has held WKN super welterweight Muay Thai title. He is also a former Lumpinee Stadium, Rajadamnern Stadium and WBC Muay Thai World Middleweight Cham ...
won the middleweight title in 2018. Japan's
Nadaka Yoshinari
is a Japanese kickboxer, and the current Battle of Muaythai Flyweight champion. He is the former Lumpinee, Rajadamnern, IBF Muaythai and WBC Muaythai champion at mini flyweight.
He is also known as Nadaka Eiwasports gym (th: นาดาก ...
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
Jimmy Vienot
Jimmy Vienot (born June 9, 1995) is a French Muay Thai kickboxer who is the reigning SUPERKOMBAT World Middleweight Champion. He is a former Lumpinee Stadium and Arena Fight champion. As of October 20, 2022, he is ranked #5 in the ONE Feathe ...
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 kickboxer and an eight-time Muay Thai world champion. Dekkers was a favourite with fight fans due to his fast-paced, aggressive fighting style. Dekkers was also renowned for his wi ...
is one of the most renowned foreign fighters in Lumpinee history, but he never won the Lumpinee belt.
Stéphane Nikiéma
Stéphane Nikiéma (born 1965 in Bordeaux) is a French former kickboxer, and 3-times French Muay Thai champion, 3-times European Muay Thai champion, 3-times World Muay Thai champion and finalist for the Lumpinee Stadium belt. Stéphane Nikiéma w ...
would have been the second foreign Lumpinee champion, but his title fight ended in a no-contest.
Current champions
See also
*
Rajadamnern Stadium
Rajadamnern Stadium ( th, สนามมวยราชดำเนิน; ), 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 m ...
*
World Muaythai Council
The World Muaythai Council (WMC) is one of the oldest and the largest professional sanctioning organizations of Muaythai in the world for the sport. The organization was set up in 1995 by parliament resolution, and is incorporated by the Royal T ...
References
External links
Muay Thai rules of Lumpinee StadiumLumpinee set to hang up its gloves
{{Tourist attractions in Bangkok
Indoor arenas in Thailand
Kickboxing in Thailand
Professional Muay Thai organizations
Muay Thai venues in Thailand
Muay Thai venues in Bangkok
Sports venues in Bangkok
Boxing venues in Thailand
Pathum Wan district
Sports venues completed in 1956
1956 establishments in Thailand