Thailand is home to many things, but its national sport – Muay Thai – brings a large number of tourists to the country to experience this impressive combat sport.
If you’re not familiar with Muay Thai, it’s a sport based on traditional Thai martial arts that incorporates kicking, punching, elbows and knees. It’s considered a complete striking art and is gaining global recognition through the MMA and striking world. This article will explore some of the hot spots for Muay Thai, including stadiums to check out.
Bangkok
Bangkok is truly the mecca of Muay Thai. This is where the biggest and best shows happen – with the highest competition. As well as stadiums, you will find a variety of high-level gyms in this city, as well as a bustling atmosphere.
These are some of the most popular stadiums and spots in Bangkok:
Lumpinee Stadium
You can’t talk about Muay Thai without mentioning Lumpinee Stadium. It has been around since 1956, which is a massive amount of time. Although the stadium standing today is called ‘New Lumpinee’ and is a renovated and changed version, the legacy remains. It’s known for its electric and lively atmosphere and high-level competition. It also serves a historical role by preserving the tradition of Muay Thai and its rich past.
While the previous generations revered the old stadium for its massive capacity and historical matches, today, it’s a bit more modern and fits fewer people. It is, however, more suited for the modern age: it’s now home to a variety of shows that include Fairtex Fight, One Championship Friday Fights and LWC Super Champ. Generally, these go from Friday to Sunday, generally, there are no fights on for the rest of the week.
Rajadamnern Stadium
The next big stadium in Bangkok is Rajadamnern Stadium. This stadium was opened before Lumpinee. It began running Muay Thai shows in 1945 and has since become home to several historic bouts. Like Lumpinee, Rajadamnern Stadium features some of the best fighters in Thailand and the world, and the fights are broadcast worldwide. This is also the most popular location for tourists, as you can head into this stadium almost every day of the week to check out Muay Thai via different promotions.
Current promotions at this point in time include Rajadamnern Knockout, Petchyindee, RWS (Rajadamnern World Series), Sor Summai and SKS Empire. At select times, there can be other promotions, but these are the main ones. If you’re seeking excitement, I would recommend Rajadamnern Knockout, but if you’re looking for high-level fighting, RWS is your best bet.
Channel 7 Boxing Stadium
This stadium is a little less accessible for tourists, but if you’re a true Muay Thai fanatic, I would recommend making the effort of getting into Channel 7 Boxing Stadium. It’s a small studio with limited capacity, and you have to dress formally to get inside. The fights themselves are very high level, with the traditional 5-round Muay Thai format.
The good news? The stadium has free entry for tourists and locals. But you have to get in early, as capacity is limited. Also, as a foreigner, you get to sit ringside if you arrive early enough for a fight – you might even get featured on live Thai television. The show itself is called Suek Muay Thai 7, and is one of the most trusted programs in the country. It has won television awards and remains one of the highly regarded shows.
In terms of preparation, make sure you wear long pants, a long skirt, a shirt and closed-toe shoes. Please show respect to the customs of Thailand; don’t put your feet on top of anything at the stadiums, throw anything at the ring, or yell at the fighters or officials. Some packing recommendations include a seat cushion, fan, and umbrella or poncho.
Rangsit Stadium
While not as popular with tourists, Rangsit Stadium is another on the list that features respected shows and broadcasts. The show is held in Rangsit, quite far north of Bangkok, making it a little less accessible for those who reside in the city centre.
The stadium is home to a few big promotions that are televised, which include Muay Thai Channel 5, True4U Fight Night and Youth Muay Thai fights (not televised). Fights take place on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 20:30 onwards, with tickets from 110 baht for female fights and 220 baht for male fights.
Chiang Mai
The northern part of Thailand houses quite a decent Muay Thai scene, with a variety of fights taking place every day of the week. The stadiums here are not as high-level as what you’d see in Bangkok, but the circuit is aimed at beginner fighters. You can come here as a fresh fighter and expect to be matched accordingly.
Loi Kroh Stadium
Loi Kroh stadium is an interesting one, this is where I personally had my second and third fights. It’s situated in the market areas of Chiang Mai and surrounded by tourist bars. It’s a far cry from the high-level action you’ll see in Bangkok, but it does have some reasonable talent and entertaining fights. The clientele is the typical tourist looking to see some violence. You’ll see regular matchups of foreigners fighting against local Thais, with a mixed bag of skill levels. If you’re serious about training and fighting, then this could be a good option for your first bout.
Kalare Boxing Stadium
This boxing stadium is located in the Kalare Night Bazaar in Chiang Mai, and features a massive selection of local vendors selling things like arts, crafts and other unique products. Expect traditional Thai handcrafted goods, clothing, jewellery, souvenirs and a massive selection of food. The stadium itself is home to Fairtex fights, which are associated with Fairtex fights in Lumpinee.
The tickets for the stadium are 600 baht for standard and 1000 baht for ringside. It is located off Changklan Road in Chiang Mai, about 500 meters east of Tha Phae Gate. You can expect a decent level of Muay Thai here, with plenty of fights at varying levels with Thais and local Westerners competing.
Thaphae Boxing Stadium
Thaphae boxing stadium is a classic stadium in the heart of Chiang Mai. It’s been around for quite some time as a breeding ground for new talent. If you’re in Chiang Mai for a little longer, it can be worth checking out. The stadium is not as popular as Loi Kroh or Kalare, but you will see some entertaining fights on a night out. If you have limited time, I would recommend the abovementioned two options, as the fights are generally higher quality. Tickets are around 400 baht. The stadium is in Chiang Mai, near Tha Phae Gate.
Pattaya
Pattaya is another hotspot for Muay Thai. This area is home to a wide array of gyms that cater to locals and foreigners. To name a few: Venom and Fairtex, two camps that house multiple champions. That being said, many fighters also compete locally in Pattaya. Here are some of the stadiums located in Pattaya:
Max Muay Thai
Max Muay Thai has been around for quite a while and is one of the most well-known stadiums in Pattaya. While it used to be regularly televised on Thai national TV, it is now quite rare to see live. The show is currently only in-person and directed towards tourists visiting the area. The high-level televised competition isn’t what it used to be, but it still is home to action-packed fights every day of the week, with 3 bouts daily.
The tickets are 1000 baht for foreigners and 800 baht for Thai nationals. If you’re wanting to come and watch, plan to get there around 7 or 7:30 pm as the show starts at 7:45 pm. The stadium is comfortable and has some snacks and beverages as well as merchandise.
JF Boxing
JF Boxing is another honourable mention for local fights in Pattaya. This stadium is quite popular with Chinese tourists, so prepare for ring announcements in Chinese as well as English. The fights are on every single day at about 7:30 pm and usually feature 3 action-packed bouts. While you won’t see the same high-level action that you would in Bangkok, the fighters here will still put on an exciting performance. The stadium is located in the Bang Lamung District, and tickets cost about 1000 baht per person.
Phuket
Another hotspot for Muay Thai is Phuket, where the fresh air, picturesque beaches and beautiful nature set the scene for a multitude of training camps and solid stadiums. Tourist flock to these locations, but it’s also a hotspot for international fighters to come and hone their skills.
Bangla Boxing Stadium
Bangla is considered to be the most famous stadium in Phuket and all of the bigger fights are situation in this very stadium. While it used to be right in the centre of Bangla walking street, it moved to another location on Banzaan Road. It remains within walking distance of Bangla Road. The advantage of going here is also that you’re close to the beach and the busiest area in Phuket. Fights are on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday from 9 pm. The tickets are about 1500 baht, while the VIP option will set you back around 1900 baht.
Patong Boxing Stadium
Patong Boxing Stadium can be considered the next best option when it comes to Muay Thai in Phuket. The bigger cards that come to the island are usually held at this stadium. You’re only a short distance from the walking street, and the stadium does feel like a bit of an escape from the craziness of the Patong side of town. It features fights about four nights per week, which are held on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Regular standing tickets are 1500 baht, and if you want the VIP ringside option, that will set you back 1800 baht, with a free shirt included.
Rawai Boxing Stadium
The last one on the list is the Rawai boxing stadium. This one is located on the southern end of the island and is another great option, but a little less fancy than the Patong or Bangla stadiums. It will give you everything you need, though: exciting fights, good food and seating. The fights are on twice a week, usually every Tuesday and Friday from 6-8 pm, with VIP seating at around 2200 baht, ringside at 1800 baht and stadium seats at 1500 baht. The fights usually feature local talent, with a mix of Thai and international fighters.
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We trust this guide has served you well as an overview of the stadiums you can visit in Thailand.
There are plenty of options depending on where you are, and while there are the bigger stadiums to visit, you can also check out smaller regional shows that might pop up in your province.
I would recommend that those on holiday find the nearest stadium if they are just interested in checking out some fighting. But those looking for the highest level competitive bouts would be best going straight to the mecca of Bangkok.
