Thailand vs. The World
November 24, 2009 by nopstar
Just came across this bit of news on MuayMag the other week. MuayThai in the main stadiums are pretty established, one could argue stale.
MuayThai outside of Thailand is picking up… there has probably never been more foreign boxers training in Thailand ever.
The place just isn’t foreigner friendly, if you make it past the gauntlet of agents selling tickets, your still going to pay inflated prices. If you’re a foreigner coming to visit, you don’t have much of an option… you going to have to pay the foreigner “tax” and pay 3x a normal price ticket. Personally I think its bullshit.
I saw approximately 50 or so tourist who paid the 1500B+ tickets to sit front row. I just think they’re sending the wrong message. It’s just greedy short term thinking; let’s just make as much loot as possible, while the going is good.
I think Songchai picked up a longtime ago that there was huge potential for MuayThai outside of Thailands borders.
One could argue he’s one of the primary driving forces of the popularity of MuayThai outside Thailand. He’s really carried the flag with his S-1 events and his Kings and Queens Cup shows. They’ve spent a great deal on creating a new modern stadium… I think he see’s where Muaythai has to go in order for it to flourish in Thailand.
His latest collaboration is with the WMC it’s called MuayThai vs. The Challenger. It’s going to be a series of bouts of challenging nations fighting Thai fighters. I can sort of feel where they want to go with this. You can tell they want to make it more “entertaining”.
Sure I can hear a lot of you saying, leave it alone… MuayThai doesn’t need to be made more foreigner friendly, it’s doesn’t need to be made more glitzy and entertaining. I argue he isn’t trying to reach us. We’re fans through and through, it’s isn’t going to matter for us.
There are loads of Thai and Tourists alike who might be interested if the venue was convenient, and there was a sense of entertainment and spectacle. I say good for them, I wish all the success… if more people are exposed to MuayThai and go to fights, we all win.
I’ll get behind any effort to promote our sport. The first of the bouts is supposed to take place in Jan, at the newly built Baan Klang Stadium.
There also planning on some sort of reality show in conjunction with the event. I think it’s a great idea considering the Contender Series has apparently shit the bed.
Anyone else here anything about the series?
Actually me and some friends were talking about the WMC (world muay thai council)
And that this year or the start of the next, there is going to be a big eruption for muay thai promoters here in the states… Smokers are getting legalized now…. But they are going to be called “amature”. There is going to be 3 classes, the 3rd one is class c, and you need gear on, headgear, shin pads, cup, and a mouth piece… Class b, elbows are going to be allowed (yes elbows!!) But you need elbow pads, and the pads above… Now class a, I’m not too sure about, but I don’t think you need shin pads, but you need the headgear and the elbow pads, the mouth piece, and the cup.
Then after that, I am not sure what happens, again, I am not too sure about class A, I think you don’t need headgear, but you will need elbow pads, and when you go pro, elbow pads come off. Since Denis Warner has been monopolizing the states with his promo’s… There will be new promoters here in the states, there is going to be more of everything.. So expect some really good Thai’s out here in the states.
Also there will be different regions for the muay thai (wmc) council.. There is going to be a region in OC, Beverly hills, etc… So Muay Thai in the states is going to get real good…. Now if we can get most of the Americans to stop being like sissies and be more like the dutch and the thais. (no offense) :P
Also all that info was given to me by a board of directors from the WMC.
Is there a WMC site that has updated news about what may be happening in the states?
i pray for the day american muay thai becomes serious.
Yea, same here Jake. A lot of people do it for a hobby, but once more people start doing it for fighting, etc…. It is going to be kick ass.
I’m all for more Thai Boxing in the states but americans are pussies (chill i’m american) When people hear that I’m a MT practioner, they look at me like i’m either superman or crazy! Americans hate blocking leg kicks. Just look at the Aldo vs Brown fight. WEC champ does not know how to bong!
Although there is a handful of us who are up for the challenge; Americans are too soft and pampered for authentic gritty MT; however, the more exposure the better.
Hopefully, things will change soon.
Yo Nop, Contender Asia is Kaput? Any news about champions vs champions 3?
I think there is a small window of opportunity to make muay thai grow globally right now.A rise in big promotions, like MSA here, Slamm in holland and events like this.Handled right and promoted properly maybe there is a little competition for k1 which lets face it most people are becoming increasingly unhappy with for a variety of reasons.But I agree the short sightedness of the big stadia in thailand and there quick buck mentality, is an attitude which can stiffle the laymen from the sport.MT is obviously Thai heritage but I think a more inclusive approach from everyone, from the street ticket touts and stadium ticket policies all the way through to the promoters is whats needed right now to help boost MT if its gona get bigger support in thailand and in the rest of the world.
Cyex – although its astep in the right direction (it seems MT practitioners in the states have had to suffer unfairly with regards to competition rules and the athletic commision) I think its the wrong direction to go in.In my opinion all the c class b class A class, amateur rules, smokers etc etc is very alientating and confusing for spectators.In my opinion it is the main reason MT in the UK will never reach mainstream acceptance.Because people literally dont know what they’re watching.You go to a show and there are so many sets of rules, different timed rounds, different number of rounds etc in fights its ridiculous.
In my opinion there should be interclubs/smokers , amateur rules mt which has shorter rounds full protection but all techniques allowed, and FTR and nothing else,That way we would see people serving a proper aprenticship at amateur level like they do in boxing.All the rules the same that way everyone knows what they’re watching.
Manant, well classes C and B aren’t going to be held in casinos and what not, they’re gonna be held in the gyms, the only one that actually counts as a amateur is class A.
Since there is no gear, other than the elbow padding (maybe) But the other two are like smokers, but just called amateur. But I agree, it should be more simple.
Well smokers and the amateurs (a&b) are going to be 2 minutes long, and class A is 3 mins long.
But I agree with you.