Um, few people actually die right in the ring. This is in part because the Thais are very superstitious about dying in the ring. I saw a guy get knocked out cold at Lumpenee Stadium. What ensued shocked me. The guys came into the ring with a stretcher and basically threw him onto the stretcher and literally ran out of the ring. The poor guy's head got caught on one of the ropes and he nearly came off the stretcher before they caught him.
This kind of treatment, while difficult to understand for a westerner, stems I believe from the "it's REALLY bad luck" belief regarding someone dying in the ring.
So, the answer to the question might vary based on how you ask it:
A) How many people die in Thailand each year as a result of injuries sustained during a Muay Thai bout? Answer: About 15.
B) How many people die IN THE RING each year in Thailand? Answer: Very few.
Terry |