THAILAND: BOXING - Transsexual Thai kick boxer Nong Tum has returned to the ring after nearly three years and won her first fight -- against a man.

Record ID: 335558

  • Title: THAILAND: BOXING - Transsexual Thai kick boxer Nong Tum has returned to the ring after nearly three years and won her first fight -- against a man.
  • Date: 1st March 2006
  • Summary: PATTAYA, THAILAND (RECENT - FEBRUARY 26, 2006) (REUTERS) 'NONG TUM FAIRTEX GYM' NONG TUM DANCING IN RING BEFORE BOXING MATCH SPECTATORS NONG TUM DANCING IN RING BEFORE BOXING MATCH REFEREE NONG TUM BOXING WITH KENSHIRO LOOKCHAOMAEKHEMTHONG OF JAPAN SPECTATORS VARIOUS OF NONG TUM BOXING WITH KENSHIRO NONG TUM WINS SPECTATORS APPLAUDING REFEREE RAISING NONG TUM'S HAN
  • Embargoed: 16th March 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Thailand
  • Country: Thailand
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA2PZ98OJTV93Q7Z3O8MXNQGB7N
  • Story Text: Transsexual Thai kick boxer Nong Tum has returned to the ring after nearly three years and won her first fight -- against a man.
    The 25-year-old Thai know as 'beautiful boxer' made her comeback at Pattaya's Nong Tum Fairtex Gym, which was newly named in her honour.
    Nong Tum hung up the gloves three years ago to have sex-change surgery and then became a celebrity in Thailand, where transsexuals are socially accepted. She opened a boxing camp for children and her life story was made into the movie 'Beautiful Boxer', which was screened globally in 2001.
    She is the first transsexual boxer in Thailand and had 10-years of experience and more than 50 professional fights -- including 25 knockouts -- before becoming a woman.
    Eventually the attraction of the ring proved too much.
    "When I saw other people training and watched my friends fighting it reminded me of what it used to be like. Sometimes when I watch my friends, they don't fight in the way I want people to fight, so that's why I decided to come back to try again," Nong Tum said.
    She has spent seven hours a day for more than a month practicing her swinging punch, kick boxing and fighting skills to ensure that her body was ready for the challenge.
    Nong Tum is worried that the intensive training is turning her body back into that of a man once again.
    "Ever since I started boxing again, my muscles have come back. My legs have grown bigger. If I had more training, I think my skin and body would become like a boxer -- a man -- again. But I've been waiting a long time to be a real woman."
    Nong Tum's first opponent was Kenshiro Lookchaomaekhemthong (pronounced : Ken-shi-ro Look-chao-mae-kem-tong) from Japan.
    Punches, kicks and elbow blows to her opponent's head left a deep cut near his eye after three rounds and Nong Tum won by unanimous decision -- afterwards running across to hug and kiss her opponent.
    Nong Tum is expected to go to Las Vegas in June to fight female boxer Lucia Rijker, who featured in the Hollywood boxing movie 'Million Dollar Baby'.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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