Boxing is quite a national passion in Thailand… a specific style called Muay Thai which resembles kick boxing. The timing worked out for us to catch a match at one of the boxing stadiums in Chiang Mai.
The area surrounding the stadium was pretty interesting to say the least. Picture the stereotypical, seedy Thailand you see in movies; dimly lit bars with colorful lanterns hanging from awnings blasting music… crowds and all kinds of characters bustling about… boxing enthusiasts, Thai families, dread-locked tourists, camera-toting tourists (like us) and vendors of (eh hem) all varieties.
There were 8 matches all together. It started out with junior league, kids about 11 years old with padded boxing gloves, and moved on to other “main” events like bare-knuckled boxing (hands are wrapped in tape only). There was even an event where 3 guys were placed in the ring blindfolded, talking wild swings at each other… a real crowd pleaser. :)
Lots of video from the matches… only posting a few for now…
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Jen posing with some of the junior boxers
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