History of the World Professional Muay Thai Federation (WPMF)
With the ambition to promote Thai Boxing in foreign countries, Mr. Somchart Charoenvacharavit, president of the Professional Boxing Association of Thailand (PAT), was determined to set up a nonprofit volunteer-organization, which would act as an intermediary in assisting professional Thai Boxing matches held abroad by its member organizations. This organization became the World Professional Muay Thai Federation (WPMF).
Mr. Somchart’s currently acts as president of the Association of Professional Boxing in Thailand, which is legally acknowledged. He also acts as advisor of the Sports Authority of Thailand and head-advisor of the Veteran-Boxer Club of Thailand, and this Mr. has devoted his time to organize social gatherings for former boxers every quarter of the year to socialize and exchange ideas concerning boxing today. He is considered to be one of the most well-acknowledged and accepted person in the boxing circles. Due to his concern for spreading Thai martial arts, he has teamed up with well-qualified personnel in the area of sports to establish WPMF in 2004 which serves to spread this martial art of Thai Boxing abroad, such as it’s participation in:
- The December 5th Event at Sanam Luang, with participants from numerous countries including Japan, Russia, Iran, USA, Australia, England, and Spain. More than 20 matches were held between 8pm - 4am, which was considered to be a success and a fulfillment of the objectives, and thus make it likely for further such activities to come.
- The August 12th Event to commemorate the Queen’s birthday.
- Nai Khanom Tom Day Event, etc.
Today, several qualified personnel have come to share our ambition to promote Thai Boxing, such as promoter and head of the boxers’ group / boxing manager / former boxer Khun Khiaowan Yontrakit, Khun Phudphadnoi, and many other new generation promoters.
Mr. Somchart Charoenvacharavit, along with the executives of WPMF and it’s advisors, believes that WPMF can develop into a well-accepted body in the boxing circles according to the initial objectives for it’s establishment:
- To act as a non-profit organization
- To sponsor and support the art of Thai Boxing and maintain it’s standards, rules, and regulations, and to spread this across the globe
- To uphold the fairness of Thai Boxing abroad
- To build unity between members
- To hold professional Thai Boxing events without any political objectives
- To act as the intermediary for members of the WPMF to hold Thai Boxing-related events
WPMF will continue to promote Thai Boxing in order to spread Thai knowledge and culture.
