We'll be in Bangkok for 4 days in August and want to go to a Thai boxing match. Can/should we buy tickets before we leave or get them there? If there, do we get them through the hotel or at the stadium?

You will be fine to get them at the stadium. I havn't been to the fights in Bangkok for a long time, but we recently went in Samui and it was a good night out as always.

No need to book in advance, but this is one of those rare cases where you may want to work through the hotel's tour desk to get you there, get you in, and bring you back. The stadiums in Bangkok can be a bit of a zoo, with a lot of touts working them, and having someone get you through the craziness can be quite useful. Note that as tourist you'll pay a lot more than Thais, but you'll get ring-side seats.

If you just want to go for a look see, when I was in Bangkok and went down to Patpong Street is it, night market, strip joints and all that, I recall there being a bar that had kick boxers having matches.

Can't recall paying anything and it was either just go in and have a drink or you could even see enough from outside if memory serves me correct.

Lots of other entertainment! too.

They were talking about taking tuk tuks off the road because of pollution and do not know outcome of that but if they're still about, using one of them is a thrilling ride too.

Bushranger, There is a big difference between going to see a proper Thai boxing programme at one of the Bangkok stadiums compared to the "demonstation" that takes place in Pat Pong and other bar areas.

The authentic stuff is heavily patronised by Thai's and half of the entertainment is watching the crowd betting and carrying on. The fighters that you see at these events are at the top of their game, fully professional who do nothing but train and fight. The fighters at Pat Pong are semi retired, part timers who are trying to make some beer money and the only locals that watch these fights are the pimps, touts and bar girls.

Interesting to see I suppose but when I went to Lumpinee years ago, as a foreigner they would only sell you the top priced tickets. Seemed to me at the time the cheaper seats would have been the more interesting place to watch from.

shanek
as I said
" If you just want to go for a look see, " as against
" The authentic stuff is heavily patronised by Thai's and half of the entertainment is watching the crowd betting and carrying on."

Nothing wrong with helping some less endowed make a little, help them survive and get entertained at the same time.

You probably also have the opportunity to get up closer and not paying through the nose as a tourist to get ringside seats.

And for sure there'll be a difference in standards, that's quite obvious and applies to similar comparisons with anything.

Bushranger, in my opinion it is like telling a visitor to Australia who wants to watch a game of AFL football, to go down and watch it for free at the local park rather than pay 20 bucks to go and see Geelong and StKilda at the MCG. That was the only point that I was trying to make. I was presuming that the OP was a lover of sporting contests like myself who wanted to watch the top flight stuff.

I'm not that 'into' Thai boxing, but I have to say seeing the real thing at Lumpini or Ratchdamnoen is incredible, while seeing the 'fake' fights at the bars is just incredibly boring.