Lumpini stadium birthday show
By Rob Cox (December 18, 2003)
On the 9th of december Suk Petchpiya promotions assembled a mouth-watering fight card to celebrate 47 years of boxing at Lumpini stadium. There where two title fights on the bill along with one eagerly anticipated rematch.
 The first of the main fights on the show saw Suwhitlek Sit Ou-ubon win the Lumpini Lightflyweight title beating Detdamrong sor Amnuaysirichok on points. In his corner he had a couple of Ubon's past heroes known to some westerners. His trainer Dendanai Kiatpatarapan who has beaten Danny Bill and Stefan Nikiema in the past and former boxer of the year Orono por Muangubon.
 Two of Thailands hottest fighters at Flyweight fought for the Thailand Flyweight championship, with Daoprasuk Sitpaafaa (red), defending his title against Sam A Thor Ratonkiat (blue).
Round 1: Typical Thai style opening round with both fighters not committing too much.
Round 2: Sam A looks to use his technical skills to pick away at Daoprasuk, using his push kick and jabs to good effect. Daoprasuk takes the fight to Sam A and lands some solid looking roundkicks. Sam A looks to land a big right punch but gets caught by a counter roundkick fom Daoprasuk. Daoprasuk catches a kick from Sam A and throws him into the ropes and lands a big kick. Sam A attempts an elbow strike which Daoprasuk avoids and counters with another big roundkick.
Round 3: Again a very technical start to the round with Sam A looking to keep Daoprasuk at distance with his pushkicks and jab. Daoprasuk lands a heavy roundkick that Sam A tries to counter, but Daoprasuk leans back out of range and lands again with a big counter kick. The fight moves into the clinch now with Daoprasuk looking the stronger fighter,landing knee after knee. As the fight moves back to the outside range Sam A lands a big roundkick, with Daoprasuk looking to take the fight back into the clinch.
 Round 4: The round starts with a furious exchange of roundkicks with Daoprasuk coming out on top. The fight moves back into the clinch but this time it's Sam A doing the scoring on the inside. Daoprasuk pushes Sam A into the ropes from the clinch and lands a solid roundkick. There is another exchange of kicks and Daoprasuk lands a heavy right hook.
Round 5: Sam A starts the round positive landing some good long knees. Daoprasuk lands a big scoring jumping knee. Sam A's corner scream at him to get forward and land his roundkicks. Sam A tries to land with his roundkicks but Daoprasuk has an answer for everything he throws, be it with a knee or roundkick of his own. The bell rings to end the fight and Daoprasuk is judged to be the winner, successfully defending his title in the process.
 The next fight was the prelude to the main event, between Methi kor Champfarm (red) and Pokaew M16 (blue).
Round 1: Not a lot of action in this round,both fighters content to just test each other out.
Round 2: Methi has a big height advantage over Pokaew who tries to find his way inside and land with his elbows. Methi is content to use his height advantage and score from long range, with push kicks and roundkicks. Pokaew keeps a very tight guard to try and get in close and also lands with a hard lowkick.
Round 3: Methi is still keeping the fight at long range with Pokaew struggling to get inside his range. Methi is throwing roundkicks head height at Pokaew,with ease due to his height advantage. Pokaew looks to try and get close enough to land some big punches, but Methi manages to tie him up in the clinch whenever he gets close.
Round 4: Pokaew starts the round landing a right hand followed by a low roundkick. The fight moves into the clinch now and Pokaew is very determined, he gets Methi in a strong grip and starts to land with some hard knees. Methi manages to sweep Pokaew's legs away and take him to the canvas and then keeps him off with a pushkick. Pokaew is fired up now and marches straight back into action. Pokaew gets Methi in the clinch now and unleashes a barrage of knee after knee, Methi can't get out of the clinch and seems unable to reply. Pokaew has Methi trapped in the corner now and continues to unload knee after knee, the crowd sensing a turn in the tide really get behind Pokaew now, cheering every knee that lands. Pokaew spins Methi round in the clinch and lands a big scoring knee.
Round 5: Pokaew starts the round where he left off in the clinch. A long way in front now after the previous round, Pokaew is then content to see out the rest of the round by keeping Methi at bay with his own push kicks and jabs. Methi seems resigned to defeat and Pokaew gets the decision.
 
The next fight was one of the most eagerly awaited re-matches in a long time. Following on from their very close fight in November, Samkor Kiatmonthep got a chance to avenge his loss at the hands of Singdam Kiatmuu 9.
Singdam is the current star of the Thailand fight scene. He was voted fighter of the year for Lumpini stadium this year and also picked up the award for fighter of the year from the Sports Authority of Thailand and is hot favorite to pick up the vote from the Sportswriters of Thailand for the second year running, this is the most prestigious award and in the past has been won by such greats as Samart and Kongthoranee Payakarun, Chamuekpet Hapalang, Wangjannoi sor Palangchai and Orono por Muangubon.
Samkor needs little introduction having been a big star in Thailand for over 10 years now and is also a big star in Japan now.
There was talk of a big side bet before this fight of up to one million baht, but this didn't materialise after the promoter expressed his concern at the effect on Singdam's home village if he would lose the fight, Singdam comes from a very poor part of Thailand and although everyone would get together to raise the stake it could be devastating if he were to lose!
Before the fight started Singdam was presented with his trophy for fighter of the year by promoter Piyarat Wachiraratnuang.
 Round 1: Samkor starts the action with one of his lightning fast roundkicks. Singdam not to be out done and looking really up for the fight lands one of his own. Samkor fires off another super fast kick. Singdam is content to stay in the center of the ring while Samkor circles around looking to land the left kick. Singdam throws a big roundkick which Samkor sways back out the way of and replies with a big roundkick across Singdam's back, Singdam just shrugs it off though. Both fighters look to clinch and Singdam uses his knees almost exclusively on Samkor's thigh muscles, almost as if he is trying to slow down the left kick of Samkor. Singdam lands with a 3 punch combination at the end of the round.
Round 2: Singdam starts the round by landing a big roundkick after setting it up with two sharp jabs. Samkor replies with another big kick of his own. Singdam again sets up his kick with a straight right this time and Samkor lands another fast reply. Samkor catches Singdam's leg and almost flips him over onto the canvas. Singdam again tries using the jab to set up his kicks but Samkor is too sharp and circles out of the way. Singdam lands another kick after a three punch combination, this sparks a furious exchange of roundkicks between the two fighters. Singdam sways out of the way of a Samkor kick and lands a big counter. Both fighters move into the clinch with Samkor working the body and Singdam again working the legs of Samkor.
Round 3: The round starts with another big exchange of kicks. Samkor takes the fight into the clinch, but Singdam looks the stronger fighter on the inside. The fight moves back to the outside with Singdam landing a big right punch followed by a kick and Samkor replies with two fast hard roundkicks. The fight moves back into the clinch with Singdam going to the body now and landing some big knees, the crowd start to get behind him now, roaring on every knee. Samkor manages to spin Singdam to the canvas from the clinch, but spurred on by his very vocal corner, Singdam is straight back into the clinch where he again dominates. There is a huge roar for everything he lands now.
Round 4: A big kick from Samkor to start the round followed by an exchange of roundkicks which Samkor has the edge. Singdam sways back out of the way of a Samkor roundkick and lands a big scoring roundkick across Samkor's back to a huge roar of approval from the crowd. The fight moves back into the clinch with again Singdam holding the advantage. Samkor tries two more big kicks but each time Singdam swings back and lands solid counters across Sankor's back. This is a huge round for Singdam and he ends the round 40-1 odds on favorite with the gamblers.
 Round 5: Samkor is really fired up now as he knows he has a lot to do to get back in the fight, but Singdam just ties him up in the clinch. Samkor unloads a succession of kicks but Singdam is content to just keep out of trouble now and blocks most of them. Singdam's corner urge him to just move around and use the push kick,which he does to good effect timing one to perfection as Samkor kicks, sending him sprawling across the ring. Samkor has an angry look on his face and throws five kicks in succession but Singdam blocks everyone. Singdam coasts through the rest of the round to win on points and afterwards gets a big show of approval from Mr Wirat Wachiraratnuang and His Nephew Piyarat the Petchyindee promotions team.
 The future looks very bright indeed for the "Blacklion" from Buriram province, the only setback could be a lack of credible opponents. Petchyindee promotions have announced that their star fighter will be off to show his talents in Japan in the near future and there is even talk of getting Sanchai sor Kingstar to come back from International boxing to give Singdam a real test. Whatever happens there are sure to be many more exciting fights from this young warrior!
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