SKS EMPIRE BOXING SHOP
SKS EMPIRE BOXING SHOP
Special report by Serge TREFEU (2023)
The SKS EMPIRE brand was established in 2013. At the beginning, SKS was a Sportswear brand, then it became a well-known boxing equipment brand.
The SKS brand refers to the initials of the famous Singh Klong Si Gym camp.
Singhklongsi Gym is located in Ban Kokram village, Nong Muang district, a village which is 50 Kilometers away from the famous town of Lopburi, “The City of Monkeys”. Lopburi province is 150 kilometers north of Bangkok.
The Singhklongsi means “The Lions of Klongsi”, this name was given by the founder of the camp, Mr. Chuchiph Popiam. Mr. Chuchiph Popiam was born in Ban Klongsi in Lopburi Province. When he established his camp in the village of Ban Kokram, he took the name of his old village “Klongsi” and associated it with “Singh” (Lion).
Mr. Chuchiph Popiam was a figure in the world of Muay Thai in Thailand, he was Mayor of his village and also a promoter in the stadium of Lumpinee.
The Singhklongsi Gym has produced great champions such as Charnsak Singhklongsi (Lumpinee Champion in 108 lbs), Taweesak Singhklongsi (Lumpinee Champion in 108 lbs, S1 world champion), Luknimit Singhklongsi (Radja Champion in 108 lbs, world champion WMC), Semapeth Sor Chaowalit (Winner of the TV7 cement Tiger tournament) and Daoden Singhklongsi (WBA World Boxing Champion).
After the death of the owner of Singhklongsi Gym, in 2012, the camp was going to close. Two Frenchmen, Charlton Henri (Recognized trainer in Thailand) and Romain Denevault Rossi, becoming aware of the situation and the history of this authentic camp, decided to restore it. Thanks to them, the Singhklongsi Gym had again some good years especially with the champion Luknimit.
The boss of SKS EMPIRE is Romain Denevault Rossi. It is in homage to the Singhklongsi Gym camp that he gave the name SKS to his brand.
Romain is a former rapper who moved to Thailand in 2006, his singer name was “Scarafino“.
In 2009, Romain joined the Singhklongsi Gym camp, a boxing camp in which he was welcomed as a member of the family. The French stayed several years in this family boxing camp and he fought under the colors of Singhklongsi Gym. He made 16 fights in the provinces of Nakon Sawan, Saraburi, as well as Kok Samrong and Sisaket.
In 2013, this Muay Thai enthusiast introduced his brand “Made in Thailand” SKS to several people in Thailand. With its colorful designs and its good quality of material, the brand immediately appealed to the Muay Thai community.
The first champions to wear the SKS brand were ring stars Chanchai Sor Tamrangsri, Sakmongkol Sithchuchok, Jomhod Kiatadisak, Singmanee Kaewsamrit, and former French legend Jean-Charles Skarbowsky.
The SKS EMPIRE brand was also, in 2014, in Paris, the official sponsor of great show “Best Of Siam 5”, and in Bangkok, in 2016, for the “Best Of Siam 8”. A show organized by Jean-Charles Skarbowsky with his associates at the time Akim Didda and Krongsak Boranrat.
Today, SKS EMPIRE has become a well-known Muay Thai brand in Thailand. It is worn by great Thai and foreign champions.
Also, the SKS brand is now a partner with prestigious boxing camp teams such as Singha Mawynn Gym, Jitmuangnon Gym, Skarbowsky Gym and Kiatpetch Gym.
The SKS brand is also worn by Thai fighters during major evenings in the Lumpinee stadium, such as the ONE Championship Lumpinee Show!
Romain Denevault Rossi opened his first SKS EMPIRE SHOP in Bangkok in 2017 in the Pathum Wan district.
The Pathum Wan district of the National Stadium has long been considered the sports centre of Bangkok with its largest concentration of sports equipment stores (National Stadium metro station BTS line, Silom Line terminus).
There are about 10 Muay Thai equipment stores that are not far from each other on foot, shops that offer the favorite brands of fans such as Fairtex, Twins, Windy, Top King, Thai Battle, FBT and now SKS EMPIRE.
In 2021, Romain Denevault Rossi opened a second SKS EMPIRE store in the mall of the famous Lumpinee stadium.
The French entrepreneur has made agreements with important officials of the Lumpinee stadium for the promotion of his brand in several shows of the largest stadium in the country.
It is a great performance for this Frenchman to have succeeded in establishing himself in the very closed environment of boxing in Thailand. Because setting up a boxing equipment business, as a foreigner, in the country of Muay Thai is really not easy. The competition is extremely tough between the big Thai brands like Fairtex, Twins, Windy, Top King or Radja Boxing.
But the SKS Boxing adventure has only just begun!
SKS Empire Boxing Shop (Open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Closed Sunday)
1180 Banthat Thong Road
Rong Mueang
Pathum Wan
Bangkok 10330
SKS Empire Boxing Shop (Open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Closed Sunday)
LUMPINEE STADIUM
Soi 6 Ram Inthra Road
Bang Khen
Bangkok 10220