Like Mat Sang

A fallen Likay (Thai folk opera) hero is forced to train as a boxer to fight for the championship of Thailand. But fate plays a joke on him when his coach turns out to be a brutal young woman who holds a grudge against him. It looks like our hero might get knocked out by his coach before he even steps into the ring!
A heavy war breaks out between two houses: the Petch Samroeng Likay Troupe and the Sor Orachon Boxing Gym. They have become enemies due to a past conflict. Samroeng, a flirtatious Likay actor, used to date Orachon. However, a huge misunderstanding caused their relationship to shatter. Orachon has held a deep grudge ever since, instilling hatred into Prim, her beautiful niece who also doubles as the gym's brutal boxer. Consequently, Prim hates Petch, Samroeng's son, by default. When she meets Petch—who is tricky, playful, and loves to provoke people—Prim’s temper flares even more.
While the Petch Samroeng troupe hits rock bottom in their career, the Sor Orachon gym is thriving. To torment Samroeng, Orachon buys up his debts and gleefully oppresses the troupe. Petch has no choice but to find money quickly to save his family. The only way to make a large sum of money fast is to become a boxer. Although his father forbids it, Orachon immediately accepts Petch into her gym specifically because Samroeng forbade it.
Prim is annoyed that Orachon accepted Petch, so she tries to get rid of him. She secretly signs Petch’s name for a district-level fight, planning for him to lose disastrously. Orachon becomes furious that Petch entered a fight unprepared and kicks him out of the gym. However, the situation flips when Orachon discovers that Prim was the one who signed him up. To save the gym's reputation, Orachon orders Prim to take responsibility by becoming Petch’s personal trainer and intensively coaching him. Prim is forced to be stuck with Petch, with Long acting as a sparring partner. While teaching Petch how to box, Prim has to restrain herself from beating him up herself, but the more she tries to escape him, the more they are thrown together.
Meanwhile, Khanun, a top female boxer at Sor Orachon gym and daughter of Chart (the gym’s head coach and former national champion), secretly takes singing lessons with Jariya, a plump Likay heroine. She is caught by Rak, another Likay actor from the Petch Samroeng troupe. Rak offers to teach Khanun singing himself, in exchange for Khanun looking after Petch during boxing practice. Rak is actually a wealthy heir who defied his father’s order to inherit the family jar business because of his love for Likay. Rak and Khanun understand each other well as they share a similar fate: Khanun wants to be a singer but has to box, while Rak wants to perform Likay but doesn't want to sell jars.
On fight day, Petch faces Jiban, a senior fighter from the Black Cloud Gym. As expected, Petch loses. Instead of being angry, Orachon orders Prim to train Petch even harder for a rematch to redeem the gym's honor. Petch has to perform Likay and train heavily for boxing, but he is happy because Prim is by his side, even if she’s constantly scolding him.
Prim finds a way to teach Petch boxing by integrating Likay movements, helping him understand the core of the sport. In doing so, Prim unknowingly begins to appreciate the art of Likay. Meanwhile, Samroeng, seeing his son exhausted, looks for an additional actor. Yodsoi, a former heroine who once fled the troupe, returns to apply. She acts like a saint, but in reality, she was sent by Mek Dam (owner of Black Cloud Gym) to destroy Petch and the Sor Orachon gym. Yodsoi, being Mek Dam’s mistress, reluctantly agreed. However, she eventually feels guilty, switches sides to support Petch, and helps him on the rematch day, resulting in a draw.
Khanun is caught spending time at the Likay troupe. Instead of confessing, she lies and says she is teaching Rak how to box because he begged her. Rak has to play along and become an accidental boxer. One day, Maenmas, the wife of the District Chief and a superfan of the troupe, steals her husband’s money to support them. The District Chief finds out and sends men to beat up Petch. Petch and Prim fight back but are outnumbered and flee together. They hide in a temple where they see Luang Pu (Grandfather Monk) secretly practicing martial arts. Luang Pu possesses a legendary boxing manual from ancient palm leaves and teaches Petch everything. Prim witnesses Petch’s determination and begins to secretly admire him. Petch becomes a formidable fighter in the ring, stunning everyone, though he remains his provocative self outside of it.
Orachon sends Petch to audition for "Thai Fight" in Bangkok, the country’s biggest boxing program. Petch sees this as a chance to clear the debt. Prim reluctantly goes as his cornerman. Khanun lies that she is auditioning for Thai Fight too, but actually goes for a singing audition. Rak goes to Bangkok with Chart (Khanun’s father). Chart sees his daughter singing but, surprisingly, doesn't scold her. He makes her realize she can be both a boxer and a singer. Khanun withdraws from the competition, returns to Ratchaburi, and agrees to date Rak.
Back home, Orachon gets into an accident, and Samroeng saves her. They reminisce about the past and start to reconcile. Orachon is about to forgive the debt, but she catches Samroeng flirting with girls again. Furious that he hasn't changed his womanizing ways, she sells the debt to the rival Black Cloud Gym.
Petch becomes a Thai Fight champion. His handsome looks and charm make him a celebrity, but he still values Prim above all. Prim, however, remains stubborn and won’t admit her feelings.
Kaewwaen, the daughter of Sia Tui (the Thai Fight promoter), takes a liking to Petch. Sia Tui wants Petch under his label. Prim doesn't trust them, and she is right—the contract is a slave contract. Petch loses his freedom and cannot tell anyone. Seeing Petch change under the promoter's influence, Prim recalls Orachon’s words that "Likay people are insincere" and returns to Ratchaburi in disappointment. Petch decides to tear up the contract to save his dignity, even though he has to pay damages and returns home empty-handed. Prim is shocked that he would sacrifice so much for her.
Orachon forbids her gym members from associating with the Likay troupe. Khanun and Rak try to reconcile the two elders, but they end up arguing themselves over whose parent is at fault. The Petch Samroeng troupe is in debt again. The villagers now dislike Petch due to the false image created by the promoter. Petch uses his experience from Bangkok to revamp the Likay troupe, mixing it with country music (Luk Thung) and turning it into a musical about his own life. He reveals the truth to the villagers and uses the stage to confess his feelings to Prim. Prim is touched, realizing Petch’s sincerity and her own love for him.
The two houses finally reconcile and work together. The muscular boxers become dancers for the Likay troupe, and Likay actors perform wherever the boxers fight. Petch takes on two stages: the boxing ring and the Likay stage. He no longer fights just for money, but for love, with Prim by his side—no longer a forced coach, but a willing lover.
Follow the drama "Likay Mud Sang" every Wednesday to Friday at 08:00, 12:30, and 19:50 on Channel 8. Premiere episode: Thursday, April 9, 2015.