Lumpinee Boxing Stadium

Lumpinee Boxing Stadium (สนามมวยเวทีลุมพินี) is an indoor sporting arena located in Bangkok, Thailand. Opened more than a decade later than Rajadamnern Stadium, the Lumpinee is run by Royal Thai Army on behalf of Thai Government. 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 Flyweight (111 lb) up to Welterweight (147 lb). Muay thai contests are held on every Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The fights usually start around 6.00 p.m. Ticket prices range from 200 to 1,500 Baht.

History

General Prapas Jarusatien was the driving force behind the construction of the Lumpinee Stadium, a second national stadium built in Thailand after Rajadamnern. Lumpinee opened it's doors on December 8, 1956. The stadium is operated by Thailand’s Army Welfare Department of the Royal Thai Army, all proceeds from the fights go towards supporting the various departments of the Thai Army.

Currently there are eleven promoters presented with the responsibility of bringing fighters to fight in the stadium. The rules are the same as in Rajadamnern with the boxers having to weigh more than 100 lb (45.4 kg), be aged over 15 years and the weight difference between the boxers is not allowed to be more than a . Women are not allowed to fight in the stadium or enter then 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 4 years, he was eventually forced to retire because of simply running out of opponents.

Some of the famous Champion fighters who have fought in Lumpinee Stadium:

Gambling

Lumpinee is one of the few places in Thailand where gambling is permitted and it takes place at the second level. The betting is done by hand-signals, as in a stock exchange trading floor. Often such signs are misunderstood by one side and additional fights may erupt outside the ring between gamblers. The security service at Lumpinee is managed by armed Military Police officers. Foreigners usually occupy the expensive ringside seats, while gamblers and aficionados prefer the second or third ring of seats upstairs.