THE TANASURANAKORN CAMP
THE TANASURANAKORN CAMP
Special report by Serge TREFEU (2013)
This small camp is in the city of Nakhon Ratchasima in the region of Isaan (northeast).
In the past Nakhon Ratchasima called “Khorat” is one of the most important city of the region of Isaan with about 200 000 inhabitants. Khorat is the capital of the pottery in Thailand, it is also the city which includes an important base of the Thai royal Army.
Khorat was often, in past, the theater of battle persisted against the invaders of time. In the entrance of the city, to stand a sanctuary to the memory of Khun Ying Mo, a girl warrior who took the head of the resistance against the Laotian invaders, under the reign of King Rama III.
This picturesque city of the Northeast includes a great deal of markets, markets in which we find any kind of food with profusion…
The Tanasuranakorn camp is situated at the heart of the big market of fruit Suranakorn, the biggest wholesale market in the Northeast. To find this typical camp it is very difficult, it is necessary to travel the numerous paths of the market which mill about peoples, thread one’s way between the stalls which abound in fruits and vegetables, to bump into on the camp which is hidden at the bottom of the courtyard of a store of fruit. You can pass ten times in front of this store without knowing that there is a “Kay Muay” (Camp of boxing) behind…
We reach the camp by crossing the store to lead into the courtyard which was transformed into camp of boxing. In this camp the slightest plot of land is use, it is stifling, without light, without air, the place is tiny, and nevertheless about fifteen boxers trains for it to the everyday life…
The conditions of training are very rough in this camp. Some boxers who sleep on the spot are in narrow rooms with a roof in sheet steel, inside rooms it is a real oven. In the entrance of the camp, on the side, there is a corner where we find, a bench, a computer and a TV. But the place is so small that it also serves as room with a simple mattress which is put in the ground for night.
Punch bags are in rather good state but the boxing ring is more than used, walls are soaked with the smell of the nammuay (heating oil) and with the sweat of the boxers, we feel that here the training is very hard…
Tanasuranakorn was created 16 years ago by Noi Suranakorn, a former boxer who made around thirty fights. Noi went up his camp and moved into the management of his boxers.
NOI SURANAKORN
Since decade this small camp of province produces good fighters who took away many regional titles and some national titles. But the pride of the owner it is to have they the camp classified among ten nominated for the award of ” Best camps of the year “, in 2009. It is a beautiful gratitude for it modest camp because it was classified in the side of the most prestigious camps such as Lookprabat (Best camps of the year in 2007 and 2008), Kiatmuu 9 (Best camps of the year in 2002), Kietpetch, Seangmorakot (Best camps of the year in 2004), Meenayothin, Naratreekul, Petchyindee, Thor Ratanakiat and Wor Wiwatananon which received this year of 2009 the award of ” Best camps of the year “!
LIST OF TEN CAMPS FOR THE AWARD 2009
Tanasuranakorn it is found, in 2009, in the ranking of the best camps of Thailand thanks to the excellent results of the star of the camp, Lekkla Tanasuranakorn. In 2009, Lekkla gained ten straight wins, he was defeated only at the end of the year, in December, against formidable Sam-A Thor Ratanakiat, and in July he took the belt of Lumpinee in 118 lbs!
Lekkla Tanasuranakorn, 28 years, gained two belts, in 2006, he won champion’s belt of Thailand in 105 lbs against Petboonchu FA Group and in 2009 champion’s belt of the Lumpinee in 118 lbs against Petsiri Por Siripong!
Lekkla was elected ” Best fighter of the Lumpinee ” in 2009!
Lekkla Tanasuranakorn beat champions such as Petboonchu F.A. Group, Rungpet Wor Sangprapai (3 victories), Wuttidet Lookprabat (KO), Petsiri Por Siripong (2 victories), Kungwanlek Petchyindee, Farsatarn Kor Sapaotong, Dungpichid Or Siripon, Prab Kayanghadaogym, Tingtong Siangsawangpanpla, Ritidej Wor Wanthavee, Chatchainoi Sor Prasopchok!
LEKKLA TANASURANAKORN
The Tanasuranakorn camp also counts good fighters as Gaga Tanasuranakorn in 108 lbs, 16 years, Champion of the Isaan in 100 lbs, 80 fights among which 20 in Lumpinee, Palangphon Tanasuranakorn in 100 lbs, 15 years, 100 fights among which 20 in Lumpinee, Payoufai Tanasuranakorn in 130 lbs, 21 years, 120 fights among which 50 in Lumpinee, Seankonlek Tanasuranakorn in 126 lbs, 19 years, 50 fights among which 10 in Lumpinee and Sangthongnoi Tanasuranakorn in 130 lbs, 19 years, 60 fights which comes of participated in the famous tournament ” CP Fresh Mart “, the tournament broadcast on channel 7 with a million bahts for the winner!
The boxers of the Tanasuranakorn fight in the stadium of Lumpinee a lot because the promoter of the camp is Mr. Virat Wachirarattanawong (Petchyindee Promotion), the promoter N° 1 of Lumpinee. When they go fight in the stadium of Lumpinee in Bangkok, stadium which is in 250 km of the city of Nakhon Ratchasima, the boxers leave by car, in the middle of the night, to arrive on time, in the morning at 6 am, for the official weighing-in. They rest then, the day, in a room near the stadium before their evening fight. They leave just after their match for 4 hours of road until Nakhon Ratchasima…
The trainings are managed by two trainers among whom the former champion of the Radja, Kompayak Sitenchai. Kompayak gained the belt of the radja in 108 lbs against Rachana Sor Vorapin, 16 years ago. Kompayak was considered as being a terrible durable boxer, his bloody matches left him, as memories of fighter, numerous scars with the face…
KOMPAYAK SITENCHAI
This camp has no specificity as fighter’s style, it is a camp ” Touk Yang Muay ” (All the styles). The trainers form as well “Muay Bouk” (Fighter who moves forward), ” Fimeuu ” (Technician), “Muay Khao” (Strong in knees) or “Muay Mat” (Strong in fist)!
The morning jogging is very early made here, at 6 am. The morning, the boxers run 12 km and in the afternoon only 7 km. They wait till 4 pm before running because the day it is too much warm, the heat becomes fast infernal in this region of the Thailand!
The rounds of paos are long, he lasts 5 minutes instead of usual 3 minutes, every competitor makes six rounds of paos then three rounds in the punch bag. The session of clinch lasts 45 minutes in the morning and one hour after noon, the training ends at 7:30 pm. By way of comfort, having lost liters of sweats, boxers can delight with juicy fruits, fruits special fresh of the market…
Just two foreigners came to test paos to the camp Tanasuranakorn, German and French. The training costs only 300 bahts for two sessions…
