Ring rage: Brawl erupts at Phuket boxing stadium

A viral video showing foreign boxers and their cornermen brawling in the ring has sparked widespread criticism online. The explosive incident took place at the Bangla Boxing Stadium in Patong, Phuket, during the main event on May 26.

The match featured an Irish boxer in the red corner and a Russian boxer in the blue corner. As the ring announcer prepared to announce the winner, the Russian boxer, confident of victory, performed a dramatic backflip into the center of the ring. However, the judges awarded the match to the Irish boxer with a close score of 49 to 48, shocking the Russian boxer.

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The Irish winner then approached his Russian rival and taunted him, igniting immediate tensions. The Russian boxer, visibly upset, retaliated, leading to a physical altercation. Their cornermen and trainers quickly joined the fray, with some enthusiastic spectators also joining the chaos. Fortunately, security personnel and the ring announcer intervened swiftly, bringing the melee under control in less than two minutes.

Despite the disruption, the championship belt was awarded to the Irish boxer, and both fighters left the venue without further incident. Tourists were even allowed to take photos on the stage as usual. However, the clips circulating online predominantly showcased the fight, leading many to mistakenly believe that the violence was more severe than it was. In response, stadium officials urged those sharing the clips to include the full footage, emphasizing that no one was injured and the situation was quickly resolved. The Sports Authority of Thailand officials in Phuket summoned the involved parties yesterday, reported KhaoSod English.

Both boxers apologized and shook hands, expressing regret for the incident.

Thailand hosted its first-ever mixed martial arts event exclusively for police officers on May 28 at Rajadamnern Stadium. The appropriately titled Cops Combat event saw police officers from various parts of the country competing in a combat sports tournament.