LERDSILA CHUMPERTOUR”PLALAY SAYSAKET (THE EEL ON ROLLER SKATES)” (CAREER 2000-2020)
LERDSILA CHUMPERTOUR
“PLALAY SAYSAKET (THE EEL ON ROLLER SKATES)”
By Serge TREFEU
Lerdsila Chumpertour, whose real name is Manop Srirupee, was born on October 22, 1981, in the village of Kaset Sombun, in the province of Chaiyaphum, a region in northeastern Thailand. An only child, his parents were very poor farmers.
His childhood in Isaan was marked by hardship; his family lived hand to mouth. Days passed without them spending a single baht, as they depended on harvesting and growing rice. Lerdsila was small in stature and often became the target of ridicule. It was then that his father had an idea: to teach him Muay Thai, because he no longer wanted to see his son bullied. His father had practiced boxing himself, but had only fought once, winning a match.
After some time, Lerdsila’s father felt it was time to put his training to the test. His mother disagreed, as she didn’t want her son to get hurt, but eventually, Lerdsila got a fight.
His first bout was against a friend… who was one of the bullies at school. So his father decided to have him fight this opponent. This friend already had ten fights under his belt, while Lerdsila had none. Despite this, Lerdsila won by knockout!
He was paid 100 baht for this first match.
Lerdsila then fought several bouts with his father as his coach before training at Ajarn Boonlerd’s camp. This small provincial camp had only a handful of boxers and was located just a few kilometers from his home. Ajarn Boonlerd’s teachings profoundly influenced Lerdsila; he taught him movement, footwork, the art of dodging, but above all, he imparted essential life lessons, such as humility, the most important quality for becoming a great champion.
Lerdsila fought over 100 bouts for Master Boonlerd’s camp. He was quickly spotted by the owners of a renowned camp in the neighboring province of Khon Kaen. He then joined the Chumpairtour camp, where he adopted the fighting name “Lerdsila Chumpairtour.” With this camp, he won the prestigious Isaan region championship title three times.
Then, at 15, just like the star Saenchai, who also trained in the region at the Sor Kingstar camp, Lerdsila was spotted by trainers from the renowned Kaennorasing Gym in Khon Kaen. The recruiter, Kaendjai Norrasing, owner of Kaennorasing Gym, collaborated with one of Bangkok’s largest camps, Jocky Gym. Lerdsila therefore moved to Bangkok to fight under the Jocky Gym banner, a camp that had produced true legends of the ring such as Somrak Kamsing, Robert Kaennorasing, Silapathai JockyGym, Saenchai Sor Kingstar, Kaoklai Kaennorasing, and many others.
Lerdsila quickly became one of the ring prodigies at Jocky Gym, just like his illustrious training partner Saenchai!
At Jocky Gym, he honed and developed his unique style thanks to the exceptional coaches of this veritable champion factory. Lerdsila loves to toy with his opponents, destabilizing them, frustrating them, and breaking their concentration with his unpredictable evasive maneuvers and extraordinary timing. Muay Thai fans have even given him a nickname that is as amusing as it is respectable: “Plalay Sasaket,” literally “the eel on wheels,” a reference to his prodigious agility and phenomenal evasiveness.
In his early days fighting in Bangkok’s major stadiums, Lerdsila made a name for himself by racking up 19 consecutive victories, remaining undefeated for nearly two years.
At the beginning of 2002, Lerdsila captured the Rajadamnern Stadium belt in the 115 lbs weight class by defeating the formidable puncher from the South, Peesajdang Kor Kumanont, a particularly dangerous opponent who had fought around twenty professional boxing matches and won the ABC and PABA belts. Lerdsila then successfully defended his title against Sakniran Sakthewan, confirming his dominance in the weight class.
A few months later, he set his sights on a new challenge: the Rajadamnern Stadium belt at 118 lbs. Facing him was another exceptional puncher, Norasing Kiatprasanchai, already the Rajadamnern Muay Thai champion and future two-time Thai boxing champion. Norasing had even knocked Lerdsila out in 2000.
But this time, the scenario was entirely different. Lerdsila delivered a masterclass, dominating Norasing from start to finish and exacting a resounding revenge. He won decisively on points, thus claiming his second title at the legendary Rajadamnern Stadium!
On February 5, 2003, at Rajadamnern Stadium, Lerdsila, then 21 years old, faced a formidable champion, Chutin Por Tawachai, 26 years.
Chutin was a true star of the ring, already the Rajadamnern champion at 122 lbs, and one of the most respected boxers of his generation. His record speaks for itself; he had defeated legends such as Chamophet Ha Phalang, Silapathai Jockygym, Komkiat Sor Thanikul, Sengkrai Sitchuchok, and Anantasak Payutaphum. In 1996, he was even crowned “Rajadamnern Stadium’s Best Boxer of the Year”!
Lerdsila, the absolute master of timing and evasion, delivers a masterful performance. Thanks to his unique style, a blend of relaxation, cunning, and explosive technique, he manages to destabilize Chutin and impose his rhythm. Lerdsila wins on points and writes a new chapter in his history, seizing the Rajadamnern belt at 122 lbs, thus securing his third Rajadamnern title in a third different weight class!
The phenomenal Lerdsila retained his Rajadamnern Stadium 122 lbs belt for over four years, an exceptional feat in one of the most competitive weight classes of the time. He defended his title several times, notably against one of the stars of the era, Thailand Pinsinchai, Rajadamnern Stadium champion, Lumpinee Stadium champion, and Thai champion.
2003 was one of the best years of his career. Lerdsila delivered a string of exceptional performances, defeating several top figures in the sport. He notably beat the formidable Watcharachai Kaewsamrit, Rajadamnern Stadium champion, Thailand champion, and Rajadamnern Stadium’s Best Boxer of 2000, twice.
He also dominated Fasuchon Sit-O, Lumpinee Stadium champion, Thailand champion, and also named Best Boxer of 2000.
Throughout this period, Lerdsila confirmed his status as a ring genius, capable of frustrating, neutralizing, and surpassing both the most formidable strikers and the best technicians. His mastery of movement, his sense of timing, and his unpredictable style made him one of the most difficult fighters to beat in the 2000s.
He also faced his old rival Saencheinglek Jirakriangkrai, whom he defeated on points in early 2003. Nicknamed “Stone Man Junior,” Saencheinglek, Rajadamnern Stadium and Rangsit Stadium champion, was a true star, renowned for his devastating jumping knees. Their rivalry was intense; the two fighters faced each other five times, with Lerdsila winning two and Saencheinglek three.
Their clash in August 2003 will forever be etched in history as one of the bloodiest fights of the year. Both men, their faces ripped open by a barrage of elbows, engaged in a ferocious battle. Lerdsila was ultimately knocked out in the third round, at the end of a brutal confrontation that has become legendary among Muay Thai fans.
In 2004, Lerdsila faced his other major rival, Watcharachai Kaewsamrit, twice. He defeated him on points the first time, but lost the second match due to an injury stoppage.
The beginning of 2005 proved particularly difficult for Lerdsila, who had to face the biggest puncher of the moment, the unstoppable Anuwat Kaewsamrit. Nicknamed “The Iron Hands of Siam,” Anuwat knocked him out in the fourth round.
At this time, Anuwat was at the peak of his career, Rajadamnern Stadium champion, Lumpinee Stadium champion, Omnoi Stadium champion, multiple world champion, and, most notably, named “Best Boxer of the Year” by the prestigious Sports Writers Association of Thailand two years in a row, in 2003 and 2004.
But Lerdsila bounced back perfectly after his defeat against Anuwat. In their rematches, he even secured two resounding victories on points, completely dominating the powerful puncher. In total, the two legends faced each other four times, with Lerdsila winning twice, Anuwat winning once, and one draw.
Lerdsila then faced the rising star of the moment, Jomthong Chuwattana, Rajadamnern Stadium champion in four weight classes, and WBC and WMC world champion. Jomthong was on an unstoppable run of form; he would later be named “Best Boxer of the Year 2006” by the Sports Writers Association of Thailand. Lerdsila lost the first time on points, managed a draw in their second encounter, but lost again on points in their third bout.
In 2006, at Rajadamnern Stadium, Lerdsila returned to winning ways by defeating the great champion Jaroenchai Kesagym, Rajadamnern, Omnoi, and Thailand champion, to claim the WMC world title at 135 lbs!
Lerdsila then added the WPMF and WCK world titles at 135 lbs to his list of achievements.
Until 2010, Lerdsila experienced a rollercoaster of victories and defeats against the greatest champions of his era. He dominated Phetek Kiatyongyut, Nongbee Kiatyongyut, and Pettaksin Sor Thumpet, but fell to stars such as Iquezang Kor Rungthanakeat, Kaew Fairtex, Nong-O Sit Or, Orono Wor Petchpun, Singdam Kiatmuu9, and F-16 Rachanon.
At the age of 32, Lerdsila embarked on an exceptional second career, competing almost exclusively abroad for nearly six years, primarily in China and the United States. He fought over twenty bouts there, winning almost all of them and suffering only two defeats on points.
In 2018, at 37, Lerdsila was still going strong. He joined the prestigious ONE Championship organization and had his first fight in China, where he defeated Cambodian champion Sok Thy. He quickly confirmed his status as a virtuoso by winning again against Sok Thy, then against Japan’s Momotaro and Cyprus’s Savvas Michael. Lerdsila only lost on points in Malaysia to the young French prodigy Elias Mahmoudi.
At 43 years old, on September 21, 2024, the ring magician once again caused a sensation, defeating Frenchman Sohanne Bengana by knockout in New York and capturing the WBC International title in the -63.5 kg category!
On August 23, 2025, Lerdsila won by TKO against Thai fighter Neungsiam Samphusri in the United States, then defeated American Jason Somchay by points on September 6, 2025.
With over 230 fights and only about thirty losses, Lerdsila will remain one of the most virtuoso stylists Muay Thai has ever known. A ring genius, an absolute technical master, and without a doubt one of the greatest Thai stars of the last twenty years!