"GAMBLING" IS A LIFELINE OF THE THAI BOXING INDUSTRY.
IT HAS UP TO 500,000 PARTICIPANTS, AND ABOUT 40 BILLION
TO 50 BILLION BAHT CIRCULATE IN GAMBLING EACH YEAR.
NINETY-EIGHT PERCENT OF SPECTATORS IN BOXING STADIUMS ARE GAMBLERS
WHO CALL THEMSELVES
"BOXING GURUS."
INSPIRED BY TRUE EVENTS
People view Thai boxing
as a circle operated by the mafia.
It's a circle of thugs.
A circle of gangsters.
So that's the reason why
we never think of Muay Thai
as an integral part of the nations martial arts?
Listen to me. Focus! Focus!
Understand? All right. Go!
Kick!
Yes! Yeah!
Yes! Good!
New release.
Keep pushing! Hit him high!
Kid.
You're Wichian, right?
Yes, sir.
You did well. Good job.
Keep training. You'll go a long way.
These days, gambling acts like the heart of the boxing industry.
It's what's keeping it alive.
Right now, it's hard to find people who love boxers.
or to find ones who love boxing so much
that they'd spend on tickets to watch a match.
LEARN TO LOSE, LEARN TO WIN, LEARN TO FORGIVE
LUANG POR THUAT, CHANG HAI TEMPLE, KHOK PHO DISTRICT, PATTANI PROVINCE
Running out of time Either get out or get in
Days are slipping by Won't wait to begin
'Cause I'm losing All my feathers in the wind
Digging out a memory Of who I was before
And how I got involved In this endless war
The ones who win Don't always need it more
I'm ready for release
I wait for the pain to come
I beg it to believe
Hailstorms coming Baby bring it on
I'm waiting for the blow
I'm reaching out To take what's mine
Whichever way it rolls
I dance my way Through hailstorms anytime
THE WAGER
The Jao Cherng's Muay Thai fight today, the 6th match between
Sor Worasingh and Arnas Liamthong.
Arnas I've seen him a lot.
He works hard and is in prime shape. He's buff as hell.
Okay? Now, for the major fight, take note of the main match.
Aekanan S. Wichaithong in the red corner
will face Den Chaomeungphet in the blue corner.
This one, for me, personally, I would go with Aekanan.
He's hard-working, well-built, and he's been training for this match for months.
That's from an insider.
He can hold on longer. He'll probably last four or five rounds easily.
Sorry if you're rooting for the other side.
Aekanan is easily going to win this fight.
As for the eighth and ninth matches between Nongyuth and Rangsan,
All right. Till next time.
Oh, come in.
-Some apples? -Thank you.
What time are you going to leave today?
Today? I've got to go. I'm meeting him around four.
Um-hmm.
That's okay then. I can still drive you.
Hmm. You're pregnant. Stay home.
It's really okay. I'll just drive you.
-It's okay. You should rest. -It's okay. I can do it.
Don't argue with me.
So, what's the latest on your boxing gym?
Mmm, I went to look at the land.
And?
How was it?
Well, it was okay. I mean,
there's some details I hadn't planned out yet.
For example, building costs, cost for water,
electricity, and a bunch of other stuff.
Plus maintenance costs.
So, when will it be finished?
Well, um…
once the building plan is done, there are other steps we have to follow.
I want it to be finished quickly too.
Do you have enough saved, though?
What? Can't I ask?
Fine.
Well, I… think I've got enough money saved up.
I have it all planned out.
You know we're about to have a baby.
You should think about that before starting anything.
I don't have any income to help support you anymore.
Okay.
Don't worry. I can handle it.
Just get ready, or we'll be late.
My name is Boom Dek Sian. I'm the head of Boom Dek Sian Boxing Gym.
I've always been involved with boxing.
Right now, I'm running a boxing gym.
I'm a boxing guru at the Rajadamnern and Lumpinee boxing stadiums.
My passion for boxing started when I was young.
APIPRAT LERTRAKCHEEWAKUL, BOXING GURU/BOXING GYM OWNER
I was influenced by my grandfather.
He likes to watch boxing matches, and I noticed he would go out every evening.
I got curious and wondered why he liked it so much.
I wanted to go with him even just once,
so I could experience it myself.
So I started going out when I was about ten years old.
I remember wearing my school uniform
because that way, I didn't pay anything to get in.
There were so many people there.
The stadium was packed.
All the people were cheering, and the atmosphere was just great.
After that, I started liking the sport,
and I asked my grandfather if I could go watch matches with him all the time.
At first, when I went,
I. uh, I wasn't betting.
I was just watching. Then two or three years later,
I started saving up my allowance. About 100 sometimes 200 baht.
Eventually, I wanted to place bets like my grandfather.
He bet 4,000 to 5,000 per bout.
I only had a couple of hundred, but I bet it on the ones I liked.
And that's how it started for me.
I placed bets every time I watched a match.
I was about 16 or 17 years old.
Uh, as I got older and got more money, I made larger bets.
From the time I started, it's been over ten years that I've been a boxing guru.
What time do you want me to come and pick you up?
You can come at nine. I'll be done by then.
Uh-hmm. I'll wait for you at the same spot then.
- Okay. Sure. - Call me if you need anything.
Okay. Bye.
RANGSIT BOXING STADIUM, PATHUM THANI
Hey, Phat!
Hey, bro.
Why are you there?
I was waiting for you, bro.
Dude, you still let your girlfriend drive you?
You know what she's like.
If I didn't let her do what she wants,
I'm telling you, I wouldn't hear the end of it.
Here.
No, thanks. I quit.
What? Since when?
For a week now.
Relax, women are like that.
Just don't mind it.
Which match are you looking at?
The fifth one and the main one. Here.
The rate of the major bout is quite high.
At least all of them are interesting.
Mm-hmm.
Can we go?
All right, all right. Let's go then.
-Damn. -Shit.
Come on.
You whine like my girlfriend.
Is it because you're getting old?
When it comes to boxing,
we don't usually refer to audience members by their names.
Everyone in the boxing circle are generally referred to as boxing gurus.
Even if you're there to watch the match or just to cheer,
or maybe you're there so you can experience…
SOROS CHAROENKITCHA, BOXING GURU
…being a part of gambling and boxing circles.
who are mostly referred by "Sian", meaning gurus.
That's where the term "boxing guru" comes from.
-Can I get two tickets, please? -Hello.
- Sure. - What's up?
- Hello. - Here you go, huh?
Come on.
Two tickets, please.
There are boxing gurus
who are like the heart of each stadium.
These men usually go there so they could watch the match.
They are people who are respected by the other bettors in the business.
They're referred to as “Big guru”.
Hey, Phat. The high rollers have arrived.
All the bouts are attracting money.
That's normal, isn't it?
Hey, two tickets for Kom.
-They want to bet on major fights. -Here are the tickets.
Thanks.
All done, sir.
Shit.
Kom just got here.
Most of them are popular, and they have lots of money to burn.
They have the upper hand.
They have more money. They bet big.
Let's say you're not a well-known guru…
VICHAI YASALA, BOXING PROMOTER/BOXING GYM OWNER
…but you still place a large bet,
then based on that, you're called a "big guru".
So, most people usually…
SMING KAO, BOXING COMMENTATOR
…don't dare negotiate with or challenge a big guru during a match.
Here he comes.
Hello.
Hello, sir.
- Hello. - Hello.
Well, you just got here in time.
Hey…
This is a good spot.
-Wirot. -What?
Have you ever bet against Kom?
Of course.
But these days I rarely see him at the stadium.
Why are you asking?
You wanna play against him?
Mmm.
Phat.
You know he only plays with high rollers.
Ten to 100,000.
And he likes to raise it when somebody joins.
I got trapped and lost a lot.
-Are you even listening to me? -Yes.
Stop yelling at me.
He said he rarely comes to the stadium. Why are you afraid?
Okay. Put in a bet for me, will you?
Let's play on this side. Why would you wanna play there?
All right. I know. I hear you.
People who gamble on boxing matches at the stadium,
you can say they are like
moths flying in to a flame.
It's easier to trap new players…
DAMRONG TASAKO, COACH
…they lose a lot of money. They don't know what it means.
The term "getting trapped" means, for example, uh… the big guru bets on red,
the small and minor gurus bet on the red corners as well.
All the while, blue is going strong.
When blue throws kicks, the odds don't change.
That's what's called "getting trapped."
Go tell red I'll add 20,000.
Yes, sir.
Yes!
- Yeah! - Push him out!
Push him out! Push him out!
Time! Corners. Corners.
- All right! - Yeah!
Blue!
- You did great. Well done. - All right.
Hey, blue won.
The good thing of being a boxing guru is
it's a job where you stand to make money easily,
because a match is usually done in 30 minutes,
If you got 1,000 baht,
considering there are seven to nine boxing matches a day,
if you bet on all seven, you get 7,000 baht.
-Jack isn't here yet? -No, he's not here yet.
Aum!
I heard that you lost big yesterday.
-Hey. You're late, *. -Yes?
Come on, man! I'm just a little late. Don't get so upset.
If only I hadn't heard something really interesting,
I wouldn't have been late.
Just leave it.
You know what I heard?
At the weigh-in for the main match,
the odds were at 3/2 with red as the favorite.
Right now it's 7/4.
And you know what?
The reason the odds went up this much is
because the story is spreading that the blue boxer didn't train and partied a lot.
I think they're driving up the odds for sure.
So, who's selling the story?
They say it's Kom's men.
Because those guys set the odds in favor of red.
There's also some insider information
that the blue boxer won't last to the fourth or fifth round for sure.
Now that people are hearing about it, they're flocking to bet on the red corner.
That's what I heard.
All right. * it. In boxing things can always change.
Hey.
The term "selling a story" mostly means spreading lies..
Maybe the boxer fought as hard as he could, but he was exhausted.
What happens is the story or rumor still gets the credit.
Whether it's true or not, they still shouldn't be spreading those lies.
They can affect the boxer negatively.
People who sell stories can hurt the boxers and ruin their reputation.
Hey, Kom, do we go for this match?
-Sure. Go ahead. -They set it at 9/2.
-Mmm. -Mmm.
-Go ahead. -Yes. Yes, I will.
Who is he?
I think his name is Phat. He's Roj's friend.
Sir, let me play with you.
-Roj. -What now?
Hey, Roj.
Look.
What?
Phat went over there.
We play tough around here, kid.
Are you sure?
I also heard that
around these parts… you play the toughest.
Mm-hmm.
Correct.
So, can I play with you?
Or are you afraid?
If you play with me and you can't pay me back,
I'm warning you, your life will be difficult.
Big gurus generally play with those who are also well off.
Usually these are individuals with money whom they already know well.
They wouldn't agree to play with anyone who approaches them.
They wouldn't be able to trust them.
Chances are they wouldn't want to play big with them.
They play within their circle.
How would he know if the small guru can pay him if he loses?
What if he has no money and can't pay up?
What will happen?
Generally, people who are small gurus, they are respectful.
They respect the big gurus.
When small gurus are short on money,
or in the event they lose one or two bouts,
they'll sit with the big gurus and * up to them.
Big gurus have lots of cash, and sometimes you can even get a loan.
So in terms of clashing with big gurus,
from what I've seen or heard in the boxing circle,
they try to avoid this.
They even ask the big gurus for advice.
By the way, my name is Wirot, boxing guru.
And the fight is starting.
Round one.
Fight!
Yeah!
Over here.
All the gurus speak this universal language.
They use hand signals
so that from a distance, they can bet with each other.
For thousands, it's a thumbs up.
This is a 1,000.
For 10,000, they would raise a fist like this.
I'm red. 50,000.
Okay? 50,000 for red. They'll repeat. Red, 50,000.
So those are the hand signals. All gurus use them.
Everyone understands what those signals mean.
In the boxing business, it's a gentlemen's agreement.
We use hands to communicate.
World-wide-web-V-8-9-N-G-dot-com.
Hey, man.
The fight's just starting. They barely touched each other.
Look at these *s. They're going in hard.
I guess today is going to be fun as *.
Let's go! Yes!
Usually, there aren't many bets placed in the first and second rounds
because the boxers aren't showing off their moves yet.
Since they bounce around so intense this early,
the boxing gurus can't set the prices.
-Come on! -Damn, man! Red is looking good.
-Red! Red, 3/2. -Red looks good.
Red, 3/2!
4,000? Okay, on red.
It's a deal!
Jab! Jab! Jab! Jab!
Break. Break!
Fight!
His form is * great!
I told you.
Stop!
Normally in a boxing match, people don't bet on the first round.
But after the second round is over, the prices are set in the 3rd round.
WANCHAI PONGSRI, REFEREE
Sometimes something unusual happens.
Like if during the Wai Khru ceremony,
and the crowd suddenly gets rowdy,
you can be sure that there's something wrong.
When that happens, they know that they have to be careful and… alert.
Let's go!
Round two. Fight!
Knock him out!
Fight!
Come on. Hit him!
- That's good! - Yes!
Yes!
Get him! Get him! Knock him out!
Stop!
-Hey. -The ropes! The ropes! Referee!
The ropes! Hey!
-Hey. -What the * is he waiting for. Dammit.
Break.
Fight!
No! Don't run. Get closer! Get closer!
Good!
With this kind of sport, the odds change by the second
because the boxers are always showing off their moves,
and the odds change based on how they fight.
Come on. Fight!
-Your kicks. Throw your kicks. -Yes!
-Damn it.
Good.
-Goddamn it. -Come on!
Good.
Get up!
Go.
-Red has fallen. Red has fallen right now. -Hey! Get up! Quickly!
Red has fallen.
Come on!
Hey, Phat, that's 50,000. The odds on blue are going up.
Hold on. Didn't Kom bet on red before?
Why bet on blue now?
He bet a lot on red. I guess he's hedging his bets.
Now that the odds on blue are going up.
Get closer. Come on, man.
Hey, throw some punches.
A left punch. Go on. Throw a left punch!
Don't be a coward! Hit him!
Get up!
Damn it.
All right. Let's go. You got this.
-*. -Goddamn it.
The odds are even now. They're even.
When the audience is cheering wildly,
it's because the amount that's at stake is actually getting higher and higher.
In boxing, the cheering starts to get intense in the third round.
The cheering is part of the match.
Those who support the red must cheer for red.
Those who support blue must cheer for blue.
The cheering is another element
that can influence the fight to become more intense.
And on the boxer's side,
when they hear the crowd cheering, they fight better. They do.
So now, the outcome of the match
depends on how well the boxers fight the opposite corner in that round.
Even to red. Even to red now. The big gurus are with blue.
Fight!
-Hey! Move it, *! Move it, man! -Come on! Hit him!
Get your hand up.
Aren't you a left-handed, *? Move it.
-Come on, throw a punch. -Kick! Punch! Come on!
Damn it. Closer. Closer. Come on!
Hell yeah! Yes!
Yes! Yes!
Yes! Yes! Yes!
-Don't run away, damn it. Go. -Punch! Punch!
-Get closer. Closer, damn it! -Just do it!
-Go on! Punch! -Closer! Yes!
Get your hand up!
-Throw a punch, man! Punch him! -Yes!
Yes! Yes.
Hey, get up! Up! Up!
Come! Get up!
Fight!
*Don't back down!
Goddamn it. What are you walking around for?
Kick and punch him!
Push him out!
Yes! Good!
Red has fallen.
*, you can't fall anymore!
- Don't run! - Fight.
You're a lefty, so throw a hook! *!
One! Two!
-Shit! -Red has fallen.
Yeah!
Two!
Three!
Four!
Five!
- Six! - Red, focus!
-Red, focus! -Red! Red, I'll pay you!
40,000 extra! 40,000!
Eight! Good!
Fight!
Yes! Yes!
Hey, Phat, why would you pay him that much?
-You're gonna be broke. -We're already in this. Let's go all in.
-Get closer! -Get in there!
Move!
Jab!
Let's go!
Yes! Yes! Yes!
Idiot, you're a lefty. Throw your left punch!
*. Use your * brain.
Huh! Yes! Yes! That's right.
Good!
Hey!
The odds are on the blue corner.
What do we do now?
-Red can't take anymore. -I know that.
-Let's hedge our bets with blue. -You can do whatever the * you want!
-Ahh! -Calm down, Phat.
Hey.
Pull yourself together.
Do you know what gurus call the first round?
Round one is for observing.
Second round is for feeling it out.
Third round is for testing.
The first three rounds aren't that important.
If blue catches up at the end of round three,
the odds that were against them could quickly turn
if he gets a few hits in before the end of the round.
in no time, the price quickly favors blue as much as two to one.
Now the odds are in favor of blue.
It's blue's turn. Blue is in good shape.
Well, blue is looking good tonight.
It's like a walk in the park.
The match isn't over yet.
We'll see if it's a walk in the park, or a walk of shame.
That's quite a mouth you have, kid.
Fifty thousand is too little.
I'm going with blue.
Five hundred thousand. Are you in?
Red. Go with red.
Everyone knows you always bet
on the favorite.
Two one. 500,000.
Deal. Okay.
You go for the underdog.
What an *.
What's wrong with you?
Five hundred thousand baht.
Just move, bro.
Betting 500,000 on the underdog.
Well, it's pretty straightforward.
If it's 2/1, 500,000 times two.
You'll get one million.
One million baht.
Old man. I want to add 3,000 more. 3,000.
How much?
Uh, wait a minute. I need another one. Hey! Another one!
- I want to add 3,000 more. - Over there, anyone else?
He's got everyone, right?
What? What, you want my money?
Another one. Another one.
- Are you in? Come on. - Want to play?
Four thousand.
- It should be even. - Come on.
These judges are going to rob the poor guy.
while some lose everything.
Those who lose it all cause their family to suffer.
Round four!
Fight!
-One, two. -Throw the punch!
You * idiot! Use your brain!
Get in there! Get in there!
Get in there! Don't hesitate.
Throw a kick! Throw a right kick!
Yes!
-Kick him, *! -Phat.
-What? -The odds for blue are going strong.
-You should hedge your bets. -Leave me alone.
- Fight him! - Yes!
Get in there!
-Hey! No way! -*!
Nice one.
- Stop! - Yeah!
It's over! It's over!
It's over! It's over! All right.
One!
Two!
Three!
Four!
Five!
Six!
Seven!
Come here!
Fight!
Yes! Yes!
Hey, what the *?
Damn it! Why did you let him continue, you idiot?
*. The fight is over!
It's your job to break them up, you *head!
*!
Yes, keep going! Keep going!
It's * over!
You have to break them up! Can't you hear me? Stop the fight!
You *! * you!
* *! How could you do this?
Hey! What do you think you're doing now? Get back there!
Hey, here he comes! Here he comes!
*! He's not even fighting back!
Do your job, *!
Shit! *! Go!
-Yes! Keep punching! Harder! -Put your guard up!
You *! The fight is * over!
How could you let him continue? You *!
You *. * you.
You hear me? Do you hear me?
Stop!
-Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! -Yeah! Yeah!
*! *, I'll * get you!
* *. I'll * you up!
You *!
Hey. Hey, wait. What the *?
Hey, Phat!
If you do anything stupid, they're gonna ban you.
It's none of your * business.
Do you know how to do your job? How could you let him keep going?
You *head of a referee. He was * out of it already.
-He was out of it! -No way. It was clearly a knockout!
Knockout my *!
-You lost a long time ago. -Don't be a sore loser!
I'm talking to the referee. * the * out!
Hey, you deal with me first, okay? Then I'll go home.
You * the * out. Didn't you hear me?
-Deal with me first. -Phat!
Who are you raising your voice at? Huh, big guru?
You were so tough when I was challenging you.
Fifty thousand, 100K? What was that?
-Now you're chickening out? -You wanna * with me?
-Yes, I'm gonna * with you! -Really?
-Wanna * with me? -Bring it on.
You wanna * with me, *?
As you wish, you *! *!
Damn you! I'll * you up*
3/2 my *. * you!
* you, *!
* you! You don't want to pay, right?
You messed with the wrong man!
-You *ed with the wrong man! -I'll * get you!
You're * with the wrong man!
-Phat! Phat! Let's go, man! -Let go. I'm not scared, *!
You *! Let go of me!
Phat! Look at me!
-That *! -Phat, listen to me!
Let go of me. Let me at him.
I told you that's enough.
- I'll * you up! Come on! - Phat!
- Come on! - What the * is with you?
Listen to me! Because you're like this,
other people think you're an idiot, *.
-And you're so smart? -What?
You think you're so * smart?
How long have I been here? How long have you been here?
Do you know what people think you are? You're a * idiot.
* you, you idiot!
All of you are idiots!
You * bow down to him. Stand up for yourself!
-Stop! -No, you stop and listen to me!
If you live like this,
you'll always have to * bow down to him, you idiot!
Hey there, Phat.
Min, where are you?
I'm waiting at the same spot.
Uh, ooh.
-What's the matter with you? -Let's go.
But, Phat,
did something happen?
Let's go home!
You know you can talk to me, right Phat?
Can we do this at home?
But I want to know right here, right now.
I know you're upset,
but by the time we get home you'll still be angry at me anyway.
Phat, are you okay?
What's the matter with you?
Can't we just go home? I'll tell you at home.
Why the hell can't you give me a direct answer?
For *'s sake, I'll answer you when we get home!
What the hell?
Let's go. Start the car.
You know what?
I've been here the whole time waiting for you.
I'm carrying our baby in my belly-- -Just drive!
What the hell is wrong with you?
You keep bringing up the * baby! Always the baby!
Isn't this your child too?
I never wanted a baby in the first place!
-What makes you think I want one? -You think I did? Shut up!
Shut up and listen!
Do you have any idea of what I had to give up?
What about me? I lost my whole * life just now.
-This is my life too, you know? -I just lost-- Shut up!
Listen to me!
I never wanted that * thing in the first place! You hear me?
-Want me to get rid of it? -Yes! Get rid of it!
-Go ahead! -Fine!
-I want you to get rid of it! -I will!
Go! Start the car, drive yourself to the clinic and get rid of it!
Every day I wake up, and I don't want it.
What have I had to give up?
Do you know what I've lost? Do you?
You have no * clue what I just had to go through!
You're just * pregnant. And that * baby…
Do you think I wanted to give my whole future up?
I left everything so I can spend my life with you.
I'm already dealing with so much.
I have to take care of your emotional issues too.
Why do I have to do that?
Don't you ever think of me at all?
Phat!
It was around the fourth match, one person challenged another,
so it probably went like, "Let's meet outside."
"Let's have it out after the match." Maybe it was like that.
But at that time, other people, including myself,
never could have imagined what happened next.
We didn't think it would get this serious.
People on the outside now see the boxing business in an even worse light
because they're idea of it from the beginning is
it's the business of thugs.
It's a circle that they should stay away from.
So, when they see something like this on the news,
the sport of you to be even more terrifying.
It's a tragedy.
He was headstrong. That's what men are like.
And when one is headstrong, the other won't back down either.
That's why there are fights that can result in murder.
If people play with respect, nothing bad will happen.
But some refuse to pay up.
They take advantage of others.
The circles all about that anyway.
If you're better off, you have an advantage.
But where there's gambling, you know there's cheating.
It's natural for gurus to be crooked.
Referees cheat, and so does everyone else.
The worst is the crooked referee.