Wall picture "Scene from the court life" --Prince Ransit palace (17th century), 
shows a Muay Thai match, accompanied by the music orchestra (right).
During the reign of King Rama VI, Thai boxing matches became more widespread.  Matches that used to be held in make-shift rings in any available courtyard became a standard raised ring surrounded by ropes.  The first ring was built in 1921 at Suan Kularp field.  Although standard rings were available, boxers still bound their hands with rope.  Foreign boxers came to take on Thai boxers.  An important free-style match took place between Young Harntalay and Chin Chang from China which attracted a huge crowd of spectators.  The result was that Young Harntalay floored Ching Chang with a beautiful kick. In this period, they also had referees in the ring, and kept time by the clock.  These innovations were probably adopted from abroad.
Rope binding was needed until 1929 when boxing gloves took its place.  Earlier at the Lumpini Park Ring, a Filipino boxer gave an international style boxing exhibition with boxing gloves.  Later, gloves were also used in student boxing matches called "Muay Farang", and in professional international boxing between Thai and foreign boxers.  This led the organizers of Thai-Style boxing to see that gloves are less dangerous than rope-binding, and decided that gloves should be adopted in Muay Thai, but fighting with elbows, knees, feet and fists would still be allowed.  

This old Thai Boxing text, written on traditional Khoi paper, may be the oldest extant example of such a book.  It illustrates both defensive and offensive techniques and postures used in old style Thai Boxing.  It was compiled at least 170 years ago during the reign of King Rama III.  Reprint from Muay Thai:  The Most Distinguished Art of Fighting by Panya Kraitus and Dr. Pitisuk Kraitus.
 
Although many improvements or changes were applied from the type of ring, breaking each bout into rounds, using the minute-system of time-keeping, and using gloves, one aspect of Thai-style boxing remained the same--the jock strap.  Originally, the jock-strap consisted of a triangular-shaped pillow tied to the waist, with a strap tied behind from between the legs.  The pillows were red or blue color according to the boxer's corner.  These pillows were used until one boxer went to Malaysia and saw foreign boxers use jock-straps.  He brought the idea back to Thailand, and since then jock-straps have replaced the triangular pillows.
During the reign of King Rama VII, in the revolutionary period, permanent boxing stadiums were established both in Bangkok and in the provinces.  They gradually disappeared in 1942 during World War II.  After the war, boxing stadiums sprang up like mushrooms overnight.  Skilled boxers from up-country flocked to Bangkok to take part in tournaments.  Finally the first standard boxing stadium was established--the Rajdamnern Stadium, in 1945.  Rules were set, and later on regular bouts were set at 5 rounds of 3 minutes each, with a two-minute interval between rounds.  The weight was taken down in stones like race-horses, and later converted into kilograms.  

In the early days, the match-maker system was used; the stadium officials would  organize matches providing cup or talent jackets as prizes.  Matches were not classified into weight groups until many years later when the pound system replaced stones and kilograms.  International names were given for each weight group, such as flyweight and bantamweight.  Matches were arranged to select a champion for each class, following the international style.
Muay Thai is still developing, but what remains unchanged is the use of the pipe and drums as musical accompaniments for the matches, and is considered a unique characteristic of Muay Thai.  Muay Thai has been initiated under many names, which have not received prolonged interest because the original has already became known world-wide.  
Many additions have been made to the regulations of Muay Thai.  It is forbidden now to hit the private parts since this technique has become quite infamous as a form of attack and is considered debasing for the fine art of Thai boxing.  Muay Thai remains a national art form.  If all parties concerned help to uplift and conserve this form of martial arts, and pass it onto following generations, it will remain a valuable possession of the Thai nation.  

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