• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About +
    • Press
  • Start Here +
    • Accommodations
    • Budgeting & Money
    • Adventure Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Gear & Gadgets
    • Packing Tips
    • Travel Blogging
    • Trip Planning
    • UNESCO Sites
  • Travel Blog
  • Destinations +
    • Africa +
      • Botswana
      • Egypt
      • Ethiopia
      • Morocco
      • Rwanda
      • South Africa
      • Tanzania
    • Asia +
      • Cambodia
      • China
      • Hong Kong
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Japan
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Nepal
      • Philippines
      • Thailand
      • Vietnam
    • Europe +
      • England
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Iceland
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Spain
      • Switzerland
      • Turkey
    • North America +
      • Canada
      • Costa Rica
      • Cuba
      • Guatemala
      • Mexico
      • Nicaragua
      • Panama
      • United States
    • Oceania +
      • Australia
      • French Polynesia
      • New Zealand
    • South America +
      • Argentina
      • Bolivia
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Colombia
      • Ecuador
      • Peru
  • Resources +
    • Travel Insurance
  • Work With Us

Go Backpacking

Adventure Travel Blog

Go Backpacking > Destinations > Asia > Thailand > Dare #13 – Completed – Fight Night – Muay Thai Boxing

Dare #13 – Completed – Fight Night – Muay Thai Boxing

August 7, 2008 By Dave

  • Share
  • Tweet

Muay Thai fight

Steve had trained in Thailand's national sport, Muay Thai, for three years back in England so he was excited to see his first match, and myself, Chrissy, and Diana joined him for a night out on Koh Phangan.

The ride there was about 30 minutes, with the first half spent twisting, turning, and bumping around on the dirt roads in the back of the modified pick-up.

The “stadium” felt more like someone's backyard. There was a small bar, a few bleachers, and tables/chairs around the ring for those who paid extra.

I was glad to attend the fights with Steve because he was able to appreciate some of the technique and answer questions.

The format was similar to what we'd have seen anywhere else.

Exhibition fight - 2 little girls kick each other's butts for our entertainment?

The whole event lasted about three hours and started out with tiny little kids fighting.

We'd heard about this so it wasn't a surprise, yet it was mildly disturbing. In this case, the tots were girls.

At first it was novel to have the small kids fighting intermittently as the night progressed, however, it then seemed to become more of a filler between bouts with increasingly older guys.

Pre-fight routine

In fact, the two best fights of the night, which came at the end (of course), resulted in KO's within the first round.

Before one of the fights started, I picked a guy in red trunks to win. He was short, tan, with well-defined muscles, and a good game face.

His opponent was a beanpole by comparison, and while taller, seemed to lack muscle mass and any sense that he was going to come out of it a winner.

Thai fans cheering

Earlier in the evening, the audience was almost all tourists, however as the fighters got older, more Thais filtered in to give the experience a better sense of authenticity.

Steve was disappointed that his first fights in Thailand were not so fantastic, and resolved to watch some matches at Lumbini, the big stadium in Bangkok.

When it was all over, we rumbled our way back to Thong Nai Pan Noi for late-night cheeseburgers.

I was looking forward to the next night's entertainment, the biweekly Half Moon Party.

Planning a trip? Go Backpacking uses and recommends:

  • G Adventures for small group tours
  • Skyscanner for researching flights
  • Hostelworld for booking hostels
  • Airbnb for renting rooms and homes
  • Rail Europe for train passes
  • World Nomads for travel insurance

  • Share
  • Tweet

Related

Filed Under: Thailand

About Dave

Dave is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Go Backpacking and Feastio. He's been to 65 countries and lived in Colombia and Peru. Originally from New York, Dave now calls Austin, TX home. Find him on Instagram and Twitter.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Boris says

    August 7, 2008 at 5:18 am

    Did you win any money then? The fights in Lumpini can be fantastic, you should check them out, if you have the chance…

    • Dave says

      August 10, 2008 at 9:08 am

      Nope, and gambling was something I had hoped to do at the fight. I suppose I could’ve started betting with Steve but he didn’t seem too interested.

  2. Boris says

    August 7, 2008 at 10:18 am

    Did you win any money then? The fights in Lumpini can be fantastic, you should check them out, if you have the chance…

    • Dave says

      August 10, 2008 at 2:08 pm

      Nope, and gambling was something I had hoped to do at the fight. I suppose I could’ve started betting with Steve but he didn’t seem too interested.

  3. Stefan Knoepfel says

    August 7, 2008 at 9:26 pm

    looks like i owe you some money, whats your paypal addy?

  4. Stefan Knoepfel says

    August 7, 2008 at 4:26 pm

    looks like i owe you some money, whats your paypal addy?

  5. Pokin says

    August 8, 2008 at 12:12 am

    I think the closest I’ve ever been to boxing are the the reruns of Rocky on TV. :p It’s an interesting experience to see familiar sports reinterpreted in different countries. The young kids boxing part is a little bit disturbing. How did they end up there? Did they want to be part of the spectacle? Are they having fun?

    • Dave says

      August 10, 2008 at 9:10 am

      The kids are very much a part of the fight nights. You can tell they train/practice. The littlest girls that opened the night were seen hanging out together afterwards – so they seemed to be friends. Each fighter performed a dance unique to his/her gym before starting off, along with what I think were prayers as they did a walk around the ring.

  6. Pokin says

    August 8, 2008 at 5:12 am

    I think the closest I’ve ever been to boxing are the the reruns of Rocky on TV. :p It’s an interesting experience to see familiar sports reinterpreted in different countries. The young kids boxing part is a little bit disturbing. How did they end up there? Did they want to be part of the spectacle? Are they having fun?

    • Dave says

      August 10, 2008 at 2:10 pm

      The kids are very much a part of the fight nights. You can tell they train/practice. The littlest girls that opened the night were seen hanging out together afterwards – so they seemed to be friends. Each fighter performed a dance unique to his/her gym before starting off, along with what I think were prayers as they did a walk around the ring.

  7. Ames says

    August 9, 2008 at 10:54 am

    Muay Thai is some serious stuuufffff…… I have watched many a fight where the highly skilled muay thai fighter has dominated over other fighters who are just as skilled in a different martial art (jujitsu or whatever). I find it a little fascinating… of course, I am observing the commercial americanized versions. I actually saw a special program once about children fighters and how they are starting this off at such a young age. It was something very strange about watching 2 10-year old boys try to beat the snot out of each other… the absence of testosterone kinda makes for a boring match :smile: Not to mention…they cried at the end of the fight.

  8. Ames says

    August 9, 2008 at 5:54 am

    Muay Thai is some serious stuuufffff…… I have watched many a fight where the highly skilled muay thai fighter has dominated over other fighters who are just as skilled in a different martial art (jujitsu or whatever). I find it a little fascinating… of course, I am observing the commercial americanized versions. I actually saw a special program once about children fighters and how they are starting this off at such a young age. It was something very strange about watching 2 10-year old boys try to beat the snot out of each other… the absence of testosterone kinda makes for a boring match :smile: Not to mention…they cried at the end of the fight.

  9. Kango Suz says

    August 11, 2008 at 7:08 pm

    What a wierd experience to see kids fighting professionally. I mean, I know that kids train that young here in the US, but it’s just not something you see if you’re not one of their parents, you know?

  10. Kango Suz says

    August 12, 2008 at 12:08 am

    What a wierd experience to see kids fighting professionally. I mean, I know that kids train that young here in the US, but it’s just not something you see if you’re not one of their parents, you know?

  11. Dentist Thousand Oaks says

    December 23, 2009 at 2:07 am

    Muay Thai is a sacred sport in Thailand this how they can measure the strength and passion of Thai mens to their country and belief.

  12. Dentist Thousand Oaks says

    December 23, 2009 at 8:07 am

    Muay Thai is a sacred sport in Thailand this how they can measure the strength and passion of Thai mens to their country and belief.

Primary Sidebar

Hi, I'm Dave and I've been backpacking for 20+ years. We're here to make your next trip your best trip! Read More…

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Topics

About | Archive | Travel Resources | Submissions | Work With Us | Contact

© 2021 Go Backpacking · All Rights Reserved

Privacy Policy · Cookie Policy