Lerdsila Chumpairtour “Mr. Lightning” | Biography & Best Fights
Jocky Gym produced some of the slickest technicians in Muay Thai, and Lerdsila Chumpairtour was among its finest. Training alongside Saenchai, Kaoklai Kaennorasing, and Chaowarit Jockygym, he developed a muay femur style that made him one of the sport’s most elusive entertainers of his generation.
Slippery and unpredictable, he gathered titles in Thailand’s top stadiums while building a reputation that stretched far beyond its borders.
| Name: | Lerdsila Chumpairtour |
| Thai Name: | มานพ ศรีรูปี |
| Birth Name: | Manop Srirupi |
| Date of Birth: | October 22, 1981 |
| Place of Birth: | Kaset Sombun, Chaiyaphum, Thailand |
| Nicknames: | The Eel, The Eel on a Skateboard, Mr. Lightning |
| Height: | 165 cm (5 ft 5 in) |
| Weight Class: | Super Flyweight, Bantamweight, Super Bantamweight, Lightweight, Super Lightweight |
| Team: | Muaythai Iyarin, Phuket Top Team, Jocky Gym, World Muay Thai Gym |
| Years active: | 1991-2021 |
Early Life & Introduction to Muay Thai
Growing up, Lerdsila dreamed of becoming a teacher, but life in rural Isaan pulled him in a different direction. Bullies targeted him for his small size, and his father introduced him to Muay Thai as a way to defend himself.
At seven, Lerdsila had his first fight against a schoolmate with ten bouts to his name. Despite being new to the ring, Lerdsila scored a knockout, earning 100 baht. With his family living off the land and often going days without money, Muay Thai quickly shifted from self-defense to survival.
He trained under Ajarn Boonlerd, a local schoolteacher and coach he called “Dad,” who taught him not just technique but humility and a love for teaching. Under Boonlerd’s guidance, Lerdsila began to develop the slick, elusive style that would define his career.
By 12, his talent was undeniable. He left home for Jocky Gym in Bangkok, working with the likes of Pippa Jocky Gym and Robert Kaennorasing.
At 15, he was already a rising star, fighting on Thailand’s biggest stages.
At Jocky Gym, Somat Sor. Khamsing and Pipa Jockygym produced generations of highly skilled, technical fighters. The gym was named after Jocky Sinpathai, a standout fighter of its early years, and continued to produce elite technicians such as Silapathai Jockygym, Wanwiset Kaennorasing, Somluck Khamsing, and Rolex Kaennorasing.
The gym’s approach emphasised IQ over brute force, creating a lineage of muay femur fighters who frustrated and dismantled opponents in Thailand’s stadiums.
Stadium Success & Championship Reign
By his early twenties, Lerdsila had established himself at Rajadamnern Stadium as a slippery, technical nak muay with bags of potential.
He recorded his best calendar year in 2003 with 8 wins in 10 fights, defeating the likes of Thailand Pinsinchai, Fahsuchon Sit-O, and Watcharachai Kaewsamrit (twice). His defining moment came in 2004, when he defeated golden age legend Thailand Pinsinchai for a second time to claim the Rajadamnern Stadium Super Bantamweight (122 lbs) title.
By July 2004, Lerdsila had secured three Rajadamnern Stadium titles in Super Flyweight (115 lbs), Bantamweight (118 lbs), and Super Bantamweight (122 lbs) divisions, capturing all three within two years and solidifying his status as one of Thailand’s top technical fighters.
Despite his success, Lerdsila fought the toughest names in Muay Thai in his heyday (2002-2008), including Kaew Fairtex, Singdam Kiatmoo9, Orono Wor Petchpun, Nong-O Gaiyanghadao, and “The Golden Boy” Jomthong Chuwattana, all of whom handed him defeats. In 2008, he lost twice by decision to “Sugar” Kaew Fairtex, while his multiple encounters with Jomthong Chuwattana between 2005 and 2007 resulted in three losses and one draw.
During his final years in Bangkok, he suffered losses to Tuantong Phumpanmoung (TKO), Orono Wor Petchpun, Singdam Kiatmoo9, and finally F-16 Rachanon at Lumpinee Stadium in February 2010. At 28 years old, this marked the end of his career in Thailand’s premier stadiums.
International Expansion & Kickboxing Career
After a hiatus of more than two years, Lerdsila returned to competition on the international stage, taking on a new wave of opponents under various rulesets.
He had a challenging start to his international career, losing his first two fights abroad. At K-1 World Grand Prix 2012 in Los Angeles, he faced Gabriel Varga and struggled to impose his usual evasive style, losing a unanimous decision.
Later that year, the young Chinese kickboxer Deng Zeqi, with only a few professional fights to his name, scored a split-decision victory over Lerdsila at WCK Muay Thai in Las Vegas, capturing the WCK Muaythai Lightweight (135 lbs) World title.
Lerdsila rebounded in 2013, defeating Deng in a rematch at the same venue to win the WLF Muaythai Lightweight (135 lbs) World title. He successfully defended this title in January 2014, defeating Deng again by unanimous decision at Kunlun Fight 1 in Pattaya, Thailand.
Between April 2017 and August 2019, he went on a 9-fight win streak, competing in the USA, China, and across Southeast Asia under ONE Championship. During this period, he added two more titles to his record—the Hero Legends Bantamweight belt and the Lion Fight Lightweight championship.
In June 2018, Lerdsila signed with ONE Championship, debuting with a split decision win over Sok Thy at ONE: Pinnacle of Power. He defeated Sok Thy again by unanimous decision at ONE: Warrior’s Dream in November.
Lerdsila continued momentum with wins over Momotaro and Savvas Michael before losing to Elias Mahmoudi in December 2019, his final fight in ONE. Following this loss, he fought twice more, concluding his career at the age of 40 with a decision loss to Huang Shuailu at Wu Lin Feng 2021.
Retirement & Coaching Career
After nearly three decades in the ring, Lerdsila stepped away from competition but remained immersed in Muay Thai. He took on coaching roles at Phuket Top Team and later Bangtao Muay Thai, working with fighters of all levels—including legends like Georges St-Pierre. Beyond the gym, he travels the world hosting seminars, sharing the slick, evasive style that made him famous.
