Lumpinee Boxing Stadium () 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).
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 near Lumphini Park (where One Bangkok is currently being built) was held on 8 February 2014. The stadium then moved to its new home on Ram Inthra 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 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 by the Army Welfare Department of the Royal Thai Army. 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, 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), be older than 15 years, and the weight difference between boxers should not be more than . 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 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 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, the 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 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 mixed martial arts 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 events, with nearly all fights under Muay Thai rules.
Lumpinee Stadium will host Muaythai events during 2025 SEA Games.
Notable champions
Apidej Sit-Hirun Poot Lorlek Wichannoi Porntawee Dieselnoi Chor Thanasukarn Kongtoranee Payakaroon Samart Payakaroon Chamuekpet Hapalang Karuhat Sor.Supawan Saenchai Sor.Kingstar Anuwat Kaewsamrit Singdam Kiatmuu9 Petchboonchu FA Group Yodsanklai Fairtex Sitthichai Sitsongpeenong Petpanomrung Kiatmuu9 Panpayak Jitmuangnon Superlek Kiatmuu9
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 won the super lightweight title in 2012 and was the first foreigner to defend the belt later that year. Greece's Rafi Bohic, won the welterweight title in 2017 and defended the belt four times. Belgian-Morrocan Youssef Boughanem 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 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
Weight ClassChampionDate wonDaysMini Flyweight Vacant Light Flyweight Vacant Flyweight Vacant - -Super Flyweight Vacant Bantamweight Vacant Super Bantamweight Vacant Featherweight Vacant - -Super Featherweight Khunpon Eakmuangnon 12 December 2023 Lightweight Kanongsuek Gor.Kampanat 29 April 2023 Super Lightweight Vacant - -Welterweight Vacant Super Welterweight Kongthailand Kiatnavy 6 May 2023 Middleweight Denpanom Pran26 17 June 2023
Fighter of the Year history +YearFighter1995Samliam Singmanee1996Nungubon Sitlerchai1997Attachai Por.Samranchai1998Attachai Por.Samranchai1999Saenchai Sor.Khamsing2000Phet-Ek Sitjaopho20012002Orono Wor Petchpun2003Singdam Kiatmuu92004Pinsiam Sor.Amnuaysirichoke2005Nong-O Gaiyanghadao2006Norasing Lukbanyai2007Wuttidet Lukprabat2008Wuttidet Lukprabat2009Lekkla Thanasuranakorn2010Nong-O Gaiyanghadao2011Sam-A Gaiyanghadao2012Sangmanee Sor.Tienpo2013Yodwicha Por.Boonsit2014Superbank Mor Ratanabandit2015Ronachai Tor.Ramintra2016Muangthai P.K. Saenchaimuaythaigym2017Muangthai P.K. Saenchaimuaythaigym2018Tawanchai P.K. Saenchaimuaythaigym2019Nuenglanlek Jitmuangnon
Championship history (incomplete)
Pinweight Championship
Weight limit: NameDateDefenses Pitti Muangkhonkaen (def. Saknarinnoi Suansampran) 2 November 1976 Inaugural champion. Panmongkol Hor.Mahachai (def. Pitti Muangkhonkaen) 4 February 1977 Panmongkol vacated the title in 1977. Jakrawan Kiattisaktewan (def. Mongkoldej Sakwittaya) 10 February 1978 Jakrawan vacated the title in 1978. Hanuman Sitporluang (def. Somyot Sor.Thanyaburi) 18 July 1978 Kongtoranee Payakaroon (def. Hanuman Sitporluang) 15 December 1978def. Kingchai Phisanchai on 23 March 1979 Bangkhlanoi Sor.Thanikul (def. Kongtoranee Payakaroon) 26 June 1979 Bangkhlanoi vacated the title in 1979. Samart Payakaroon (def. Kongsamut Sor.Thanikul) 11 February 1980def. Paruhatlek Sitchunthong on 7 June 1980 Chamuekpet Hapalang (def. Samart Payakaroon) 8 August 1980def. Paruhatlek Sitchunthong on 23 September 1980 Ruengchai Thairungruang (def. Chamuekpet Hapalang) 9 January 1981 Wisanupon Saksamut (def. Ruengchai Thairungruang) 14 July 1981 Wisanupon vacated the title in 1982. Paruhatlek Sitchunthong(def. Tor Kiattisakkongka) 22 December 1981def. Nopachai Lukmingkwan on 12 March 1982 Palannoi Kiatanan (def. Paruhatlek Sitchunthong) 21 May 1982 Palannoi vacated the title in 1982. Paruhatlek Sitchunthong (2)(def. Chakphetnoi Sitsei) 7 December 1982def. Kaophong Sitmorbon on 7 January 1983 Paruhatlek vacated the title in 1983 and the Pinweight championship was later discontinued.
Mini Flyweight Championship
Weight limit: NameDateDefenses Sittichai Monsongkhram (def. Pongdet Chomputhong) 30 March 1983 Inaugural champion. Saencherng Pinsinchai (def. Pongdet Chomputhong) 11 November 1983 Saencherng vacated the title upon winning it in 1983. Dennuea Denmolee (def. Sittichai Monsongkhram) 29 June 1984def. Wangchannoi Sor.Palangchai on 22 June 1985. Dennuea vacated the title in 1986. Pungluang Kiatanan (def. Saeksan Sitjomthong) 29 November 1986 Hippy Singmanee (def. Pungluang Kiatanan) 19 December 1986def. Saeksan Sitjomthong on 6 February 1987. Hippy was stripped of the title following a knockout loss to Langsuan Panyuthaphum in a non-title fight on 31 July 1987. Saeksan Sitjomthong (def. Morakot Sor.Tamarangsri) 22 September 1987 Hippy Singmanee (2)(def. Saeksan Sitjomthong) 26 January 1988 Hippy vacated the title in 1988. Pairojnoi Sor.Siamchai (def. Kompayak Singmanee) 30 August 1988def. Kompayak Singmanee on 2 May 1989. Pairojnoi vacated the title in 1989. Saengdao Kiatanan (def. Jaroensap Kiatbanchong) 1989 Kompayak Singmanee (def. Saengdao Kiatanan) 6 February 1990 Nungubon Sitlerchai (def. Kompayak Singmanee) 30 March 1990 Thongchai Tor.Silachai (def. Nungubon Sitlerchai) 21 August 1990 Thongchai vacated the title in 1991. Kompayak Singmanee (2) (def. Khanunphet Johnnygym) 12 July 1991def. Chingchai Sakdaroon on 3 September 1991. Rattanachai Wor.Walapol (def. Kompayak Singmanee) 12 October 1991 Daoswing Kiattratphol (def. Rattanachai Wor.Walapol) 26 November 1991 Daoswing vacated the title in 1992. Kompayak Singmanee (3) (def. Pichitnoi Singbangprachan) 31 October 1992def. Pichitnoi Singbangprachan on 19 January 1993. def. Singsamphan Kiatsingnoi on 5 March 1993. Kompayak vacated the title in 1994. Singsamphan Kiatsingnoi (def. Netnarin Fairtex) 4 March 1994def. Khumsap Phetmuangkhon on 29 April 1994. Kongka Nor.Nakpathom (def. Singsamphan Kiatsingnoi) 28 June 1994def. Singsamphan Kiatsingnoi on 29 July 1994. def. Samliam Singmanee on 9 September 1994. Chaichana Dechtawee(def. Kongka Nor.Nakpathom) 1994 Sod Looknongyangtoy(def. Chaichana Dechtawee) 17 December 1994 Samliam Singmanee (def. Singsamphan Kiatsingnoi) 26 August 1995def. Singsamphan Kiatsingnoi on 26 September 1995. def. Ekkachai Or.Chaibadan on 8 December 1995. Ekkachai Or.Chaibadan (def. Samliam Singmanee) 9 July 1996 Saenliem Payakaroon(def. ) 1997def. Kratainoi Sitjephayao on 14 June 1997 Kraithong Monsaichon(def. Saenliem Payakaroon) 1 August 1997 Chalamkhao Kiatpanthong(def. Kraithong Monsaichon) 23 September 1997 Yodsaenchai Sityodtong(def. Chalamkhao Kiatpanthong) 4 November 1997def. Kratihong Monsaichol on 9 December 1997 Nongbee Kiatyongyut (def. Yodsaenchai Sor.Wanna) 21 August 1998 Nongbee vacated the title in 1998. Paruhatnoi Sor.Jaroensuk (def. Yodpradab Daopaedriew) 29 September 1998 Paruhatnoi vacated the titile in 1999. Policenoi Sor.Ratchadaphon (def. Rungrit Sitchamlong) 11 May 1999 Rungrit Sitchamlong (def. Policenoi Sor.Ratchadaphon) 1999 Pornsawan Por.Pramuk (def. Rungrit Sitchamlong) 2 October 1999def. Daophrasuk Sitpafa on 25 April 2000 def. Yodsaenchai Sor.Sakulphan on 8 September 2000 Pornsawan vacated the title in 2000. Rakkiat Kiatpraphat (def. ) Kaewfanoi Sor.Ratchadaporn (def. ) Sayannoi Kiatprapat (def. ) Jomyut Pitakkruchaidaen (def. ) 2001-2002 Dejdamrong Sor.Amnuaysirichoke (def. Jomyut Pitakkruchaidaen) 13 August 2002 Palangpon Piriyanoppachai (def. Chatchai Sor.Thanayong) 22 August 2003 Nattapon Por.Pernruamsang (def. Palangpon Piriyanoppachai) 28 November 2003 Nuttapon vacated the title in 2004. Chaiyo Soonkalabannon (def. Numpetch Sor.Tantip) 20 July 2004 Chaiyo vacated the title in 2004. Yedgoen Tor.Chalermchai (def. ) 2000s Rattanadet Tor.Pansit (def. Fahpratan Or.Saengtawee) 6 May 2005def. Chaiphonnoi Por.Thayida on 10 June 2005. Nakrobdam Tor.Bangsean (def. Rattanadet Tor.Pansit) 21 October 2005def. Namphet Sor.Tantip on 9 December 2005. Nakrobdam vacated the title in 2006. Wanheng Menayothin (def. Khunponjiew Siangsawanpanpa) 2 June 2006def. Namphet Sor.Tantip on 2 August 2006.