Rajadamnern Stadium
Rajadamnern Stadium (Thai: สนามมวยราชดำเนิน; RTGS: sanam muai ratchadamnoen), 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, Thursday and Sunday. The stadium has its own ranking system and championship titles up to middleweight (160 lbs).[2]
Rajadamnern Stadium in 2022 | |
| Location | 1, Ratchadamnoen Avenue, Khet Pom Prap Sattru Phai, Bangkok, Thailand |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 13°45′40″N 100°30′32″E / 13.76111°N 100.50889°E |
| Owner | The Rajadamnern Co. Ltd |
| Operator | Chuwattana Muay Thai & Boxing camp |
| Capacity | 8,000[1] |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1 March 1941 |
| Built | 1941-1945 |
| Opened | 23 December 1945 |
| Expanded | 1951 |
| Construction cost | 258,900 baht |
| Main contractors | Imprese Italiane All' Estero-Oriente |
| Tenants | |
| Choocharoen Boxing Promotion | |
| Website | |
| rajadamnern | |
History
In 1941, the prime minister of Thailand, Field Marshal Plaek Phibunsongkhram, gave orders to build a national boxing stadium on Rajadamnern Avenue. Impresse Italiane All' Estero-Oriente won the construction rights, and the 258,900 baht project foundation stone was laid on 1 March 1941.[3]
Due to the lack of construction supplies during the World War II, the project was halted until August 1945. When construction resumed, it took only four months to complete it. The first boxing match was held on 23 December 1945. Tickets were priced at between 70 and 300 baht. Pramote Puengsoonthorn became the first stadium manager and remained in the post until his retirement in 1947.[4]
The original stadium was open-air, resembling a Roman amphitheatre in design. Six years later, in 1951 a concrete roof was added, making it weather-proof.[5] After seven years of government ownership, the stadium was losing money, and on 24 May 1953, Chalerm Cheosakul, the stadium manager at the time, asked permission from the Crown Property Bureau to run the stadium and founded the "Rajadamnern Co, Ltd." Rajadamnern Co., Ltd. operates it to this day, and it has become one of the chief muay Thai boxing stadiums in Thailand.[3]
Chuwattana Muay Thai & Boxing camp is the official promoter for Rajadamnern Stadium, licensed by the Thailand Boxing Commission.[citation needed]
As part of Rajadamnern World Series, on 22 July 2022, Rajadamnern Stadium hosted the first four female Muay Thai fights in its almost eight decade-long history. The first female bout was between Aida Looksaikongdin and Zahra Shokouhi.[6]
Gambling
Gambling is legal and takes place at the second level. The betting is done by hand-signals, as on a stock exchange trading floor. Often such signs are misunderstood by one side and fights may erupt outside the ring between gamblers. The security service at Rajadamnern Stadium is managed by armed military police. Foreigners usually occupy the expensive ringside seats, while gamblers and aficionados prefer the second or third ring of seats upstairs.[7][8]
Current champions
| Weight Class | Champion | Date won | Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini Flyweight | Laempo Sitkhunwasan | Sept 23, 2022 | 323 |
| Light Flyweight | Petchpanom Sor. Salacheep | Sept 25, 2022 | 333 |
| Flyweight | Paeyim Sor Bonmerit | Sept 29, 2022 | 288 |
| Super Flyweight | Petchdet Wor.Sangprapai | January 5, 2023 | 1 |
| Bantamweight | Wanwin Lukjaoporongtom | Sept 25, 2022 | 313 |
| Super Bantamweight | Petchsansab SorJor Tongprajin | February 7, 2022 | 333 |
| Featherweight | Petchrungruang Aodtuekdaeng | March 6, 2022 | 306 |
| Super Featherweight | Petchsukhumvit Boybangna | March 13, 2022 | 299 |
| Lightweight | Jom Parunchai | June 26, 2022 | 194 |
| Super Lightweight | Tongsiam Kiatsongrit | December 24, 2022 | 13 |
| Welterweight | Shadow Singmawynn | March 21, 2022 | 291 |
| Super Welterweight | Daniel SinbiMuayThai | June 1, 2022 | 219 |
| Middleweight | Vacant | - | - |
See also
References
- ^ "Rajadamnern Boxing Stadium". foreverbreak.com. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
- ^ . Muay Thai Online. Archived from the original on 2012-10-26. Retrieved 2008-01-21.
- ^ a b "Rajadamnern Stadium". Muay Thai 2000. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
- ^ Banomyong, Pridi. "การก่อตั้งขบวนการต่อต้านญี่ปุ่นและเสรีไทย" ใน อนุสรณ์นายปราโมทย์ พึ่งสุนทร.
- ^ . wmtc.nu. Archived from the original on 2008-02-04. Retrieved 2008-01-20.
- ^ "Women fighters make debut at Thailand's oldest Muay Thai stadium". nationthailand. 2022-08-05. Retrieved 2022-08-07.
- ^ Corba, Gian Carlo. "Muay Thai Gambling". muayfarang.com. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
- ^ Ray, Melissa. "Big Gambling". muaythaionthebrain.com. Retrieved 19 February 2022.