According to fans of these unsanctioned street fights, beating up a stranger while wearing minimal protective gear is what a real man does.
Illegal street fights, organized by a group called Fight Club Thailand, are quickly garnering internet fame. They had already gone viral when a popular facebook page shared their story. Many commenter seem to think that it’s a cool way to prove your worth as a man.
“I think it’s a freaking cool way to control a brawl. These hot-blooded men need their release. This way, they don’t fight at a concert or bus stop. They mainly fight one-on-one with a promise that they will be brothers when it ends,” wrote Facebook community member Tuaron Popcorn Cheese.
These brawls involve amateur fighters armed with nothing but a mouth guard, a pair of gloves and a lot of aggression. They enter a home-made ring, shirtless. A referee explains the brief rules about where they are allowed to hit. The only spots off-limits are the back of the head, the adam’s apple, and the spine. Everywhere else is fair play.
The video above shows a fight between a school bus driver and a soldier. At the end of the fight, the referees ask them to hug it out, saying that they are now brothers for life.
Fight Club Thailand is receiving a lot of heat now that the police have knowledge of their unauthorized fights. According to The Nation, Bangkok’s city chief Sanit Mahathaworn has said that the police were investigating this case and looking to punish those involved. These fights go against Thailand’s Boxing Act (1999) and are punishable by one year in prison and/or a THB20,000 fine.
