SOR PHUMIPHAT GYM, Colonel Somporn Phumiphat’s boxing camp
SOR PHUMIPHAT GYM, Colonel Somporn Phumiphat’s boxing camp!
by Serge TREFEU (2024)
Sor Phumiphat Camp, located in Nakhon Si Thammarat, is an iconic Muay Thai venue in this major city in southern Thailand. Nestled in the Mamuang Song Ton district, just across from the Central Nakhon Si Thammarat shopping mall, it has an atypical infrastructure.
The camp is located within the grounds of the Pumipat stadium, an imposing multifunctional building. On the ground floor, a covered market brings local life to life, while on the upper floor, there is a large boxing stadium. It is in part of this stadium that the boxers of the Sor Phumiphat camp train.
Pumipat Stadium regularly hosts boxing events, with fights held once a month. This allows boxers from the camp and local athletes to compete in a competitive setting, while attracting a passionate audience.
Open for ten years, the Sor Phumiphat camp welcomes around twenty boxers, a dozen of whom are regularly engaged in important fights in the big stadiums of Bangkok such as Lumpinee, Ratchadamnoen and TV7.
The camp benefits from the supervision of three seasoned coaches, including the experienced Khru Taeng. The latter, with nearly 400 fights under his belt, allows him to pass on effective techniques and strategies to the young boxers.
The owner of Sor Phumiphat Boxing Camp and Pumipat Stadium is Lieutenant Colonel Somporn Phumiphat, a respected senior police officer in Nakhon Si Thammarat City and the entire southern region of Thailand. His name is well known not only for his commitment to promoting Muay Thai, but also for his outstanding actions as a police officer.
Somporn Phumiphat has several major arrests to his credit that have strengthened his reputation. In 2016, he dismantled one of the largest drug trafficking networks in the region by arresting drug boss Jane Theparat, a key figure in the trade. In 2019, he also led another major operation that led to the arrest of a fraudulent drug trafficker.
One of his biggest successes came in 2018, when he coordinated a massive police operation across southern Thailand, resulting in the arrest of a trafficking ring and the seizure of over a million methamphetamine pills, a massive amount that was expected to supply the southern Thai market. The seizure was hailed as one of the largest methamphetamine busts in the region, cementing his profile and influence in the fight against organized crime.
In addition to his exploits in public safety, Somporn Phumiphat contributes to the community by supporting Muay Thai, making his stadium a training ground for young talents in the region.
Mr. Somporn Phumiphat, a Muay Thai enthusiast, is completely devoted to his boxers and does not hesitate to personally accompany them from Nakhon Si Thammarat to Bangkok by plane to offer them the opportunity to fight in the biggest stadiums in the capital.
Somporn Phumiphat works closely with the Kietpetch promotion family. Chun Kietpetch and his son Deer Kietpetch are the biggest promoters of the prestigious Rajadamnern (Radja) and Channel 7 (TV7) stadiums, two of the most respected Muay Thai stages in Thailand.
In 2024, Mr. Somporn Phumiphat had the honor of receiving Mr. Ari Krainara, the Secretary of the Ministry of Interior of Thailand, who visited the Pumipat Stadium facilities. During this visit, Mr. Krainara was impressed by the quality of the stadium facilities and the Sor Phumiphat Gym, the adjoining boxing camp. He officially recognized Sor Phumiphat Gym as one of the best training camps in southern Thailand.
Sor Phumiphat Gym is home to several top fighters, with athletes regularly competing in the major stadiums of Bangkok and southern Thailand. Among them:
Pornsanee Sor Phumiphat (25 years old) is one of the pillars of the camp. He has fought 107 fights for 69 wins, 34 losses and 4 draws. In 2022, he won the Pumipat Stadium champion title in 128 lbs, after having already triumphed in the famous TOA tournament in 2019, with a prize of 500,000 baht. Although he had a good year in 2023 with many victories, 2024 was more difficult with two defeats in the One Championship organization, including one by KO.
Pornnarai Sor Phumiphat (23 years old) impressed by winning the “Lumpinee Thai Battle TKO” tournament in 118 lbs in 2019 at the prestigious Lumpinee Stadium in Bangkok.
Pornsanchai Sor Phumiphat, originally from Myanmar (Burma), regularly fights in Bangkok, building a solid reputation for himself.
Phornnamchok Sor Phumiphat (19 years) is a promising young talent who frequently competes at TV7 Stadium and Radja Stadium in Bangkok.
Three formidable fighters stand out in the 118 lbs category: Phornpitak Sor Phumiphat (21 years old), Theeradej Chang Nakhon Si (20 years old), and Thotsakan Chang Nakhon Si (23 years old). Phornpitak has even been selected for the prestigious Tiger Cement TV7 tournament in 2022.
Taptimsiam Chang Nakhon Si, meanwhile, won the Southern Thailand 100 lbs champion title in 2023.
The 10-year-old prodigy, Phonadam Sor Phumiphat, is already a multiple champion, with titles at Pumipat Stadium, Koh Lanta Stadium, Hat Yai Stadium, and as the Southern Region champion in -21 kg.
Pronabee Sor Phumiphat, at only 12 years old, is the regional champion of Nakhon Si Thammarat.
Finally, Phonawut Sor Phumiphat (14 years old) has already won three titles at Hat Yai Stadium in -70 lbs.
The Sor Phumiphat Gym, while mainly staffed by local boxers, has also hosted foreign fighters, including a Spaniard and a Norwegian. Foreign fighters wishing to improve their skills in traditional southern Thai Muay Thai are welcome, with the opportunity to fight at Pumipat Stadium, provided they are of an adequate standard.
