An impromptu “fight club” that opened on Pattaya Beach after midnight drew mixed reactions from the public over how young men chose to sort out their differences.
Almost 100 boys and men, said to be between 15 and 20 years old, gathered on the beach around 12:30 a.m. Sept. 24 where they organized a boxing competition. All the contestants used boxing gloves and mouthpieces, and joined in the fights voluntarily. The match would end when one got tired or knocked down.
One fighter, identified only as Ruang said he never attended school and now only trains at Petchsaman Boxing Camp. He and some friends were loitering on the beach when another group of young fighters started talking smack.
Rather than resort to guns, knives or bare knuckles, the two sides decided to clear the air through doing what they were trained to: Boxing.
The unsanctioned fights drew a big crowd, with opinions mixed on whether such fights should be allowed. Police did not intervene.
Once the final bell rang, both sides shook hands and parted ways amicably.