Lumpinee Boxing Stadium

Lumpinee Boxing Stadium (Thai: สนามเวทีมวยลุมพินี) is a sporting arena in Bangkok, Thailand. Opened more than a decade later than Rajadamnern Stadium, Lumpinee is run by the Royal Thai Army. It has become the symbol of modern muay Thai. 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 (154 lb).[1]

Lumpinee Boxing Stadium
(Sanam Muay Lumpinee)
New Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in 2014
LocationRama IV Road (8 December 1956 – 8 February 2014),
Ram Intra Road (11 February 2014 – present)
Bangkok, Thailand
Coordinates13°52′1.36″N 100°36′31.88″E
OwnerRoyal Thai Army
MG Rachit Arunrangsee,
President
OperatorRoyal Thai Army
Capacity9,500
Field size3007.5 m2
Construction
Built1956
Opened8 December 1956
Expanded11 February 2014 (move ground)
Tenants
Songchai Promotions
Annual King's Cup
Website
www.lumpineemuaythai.com/home/

Muay Thai bouts are held on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. The fights usually start around 18:00.[1]

The final event at its original site on Rama IV Road near Lumphini Park was held on 8 February 2014.[2] The stadium then moved to its new home on Ram Intra Road which can hold up to 5,000 spectators.[3] The new stadium held the first fight on 11 February 2014 and was officially opened on 28 February 2014.[4]

History
Lumpinee's ring bell, old stadium
Muay Thai ring at the old Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in 2005
Inside new Lumpinee boxing stadium

General Praphas Charusathien was the driving force behind the construction of the Lumpinee Stadium, the second national stadium built in Thailand after Rajadamnern. Lumpinee opened its doors on 8 December 1956. The stadium is operated the Army Welfare Department of the Royal Thai Army. All proceeds from the fights go towards supporting the various departments of the Thai Army.[5] The board of directors, as of 2020 headed by Army Commander Apirat Kongsompong, consists entirely of army officers.[6]

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 5 lb (2.3 kg). Women are not allowed to fight in the stadium or enter the ring.[7]

One of the most famous Lumpinee champions was Dieselnoi Chor Thanasukarn who reigned without defeat in the early-1980s, holding the Lightweight title for four years. He was eventually forced to retire because he ran out of opponents.[8]

Covid-19 Outbreak

Lumpinee Stadium was implicated in a cluster of COVID-19 cases during the coronavirus pandemic in Thailand in 2020.[9] Boxing matches were held on 6 March 2020 in spite of a government shutdown order issued on 3 March.[10][11] Among those later stricken by COVID-19 was the chief of the Army Welfare Department, who had been at the stadium.[12]

Notable champions
Boxer in new Lumpinee Boxing Stadium
  • only five non-Thai athletes have been awarded the most prestigious belt in muay Thai, that of Lumpinee champion. The first winner was French-Algerian fighter Morad Sari, French fighter Damien Alamos who is the only foreigner to win the prestigious belt twice and Rafi Bohic, also French. Ramon Dekkers was a super star in Lumpinee but never won the Lumpinee belt. Stéphane Nikiéma also came close to being the second Lumpinee champion, but was beaten. A number of non-Thais have achieved top 10 rankings within the stadium. The last non-thai fighter to win the belt was Jimmy Vienot in 2019 at 160lbs.

References
  1. "Stadiums in Thailand". www.muaythaionline.org. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2008.
  2. "Last Ever Show At Old Lumpinee Stadium 8th February 2014" (Video). YouTube. Retrieved 8 May 2014.
  3. "End of an era as Lumpini Boxing Stadium closes its doors on Friday". Phuket News.
  4. "New Lumpini Stadium". Muay Thai Focus. Retrieved 28 February 2014.
  5. "History of Lumpinee". World Muay Thai Council. Archived from the original on 22 December 2007. Retrieved 20 January 2008.
  6. "Executive Managment; Board of Director". Lumpinee Muai Thai. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  7. Mallon, Scott. "Lumpini Stadium Turns Fifty". The Sweet Science. Archived from the original on 5 July 2008. Retrieved 25 January 2008.
  8. "Lumpini Stadium History". World Muay Thai Council. Retrieved 25 January 2008.
  9. "Thailand reports 188 new coronavirus cases, brings total to nearly 600". Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  10. Boonbandit, Tappanai (26 March 2020). "ARMY ORDERS PROBE IN SUPER-SPREADER BOXING MATCH". Khaosod English. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  11. Prateepchaikul, Veera (30 March 2020). "Army's role in boxing a shady affair" (Opinion). Bangkok Post. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  12. Nanuam, Wassana (14 March 2020). "Army welfare chief has virus, 60 quarantined". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.