THAILAND: BOXING - Klong Prem women's prison, Bangkok, hosts World Boxing Council international championship fight between the Japanese champion Nanako Kikuchi and inmate Siriporn Thaweesuk

Record ID: 868196

  • Title: THAILAND: BOXING - Klong Prem women's prison, Bangkok, hosts World Boxing Council international championship fight between the Japanese champion Nanako Kikuchi and inmate Siriporn Thaweesuk
  • Date: 12th May 2006
  • Summary: PAN: FROM PRISON TO BOXING ARENA IN KLONG PREM CENTRAL PRISON
  • Embargoed: 27th May 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Thailand
  • City:
  • Country: Thailand
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVABK5UN7R6TTSR8XAXRVVRLQUZT
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  • Story Text: Behind the barbed wire and high walls of a Bangkok women's prison, the World Boxing Council held an international championship fight on Wednesday (May 10) between the Japanese champion and a Thai inmate.
    It was the second time for Japan's Nanako Kikuchi, 31, the WBC's strawweight champion, to fight in Klong Prem prison.
    Strawwweight or minimumweight is a category where the boxer weighs no more than 105 pounds.
    Last year, she beat Nongmai Sor Siriporn to win the vacant title in an action-packed bout.
    On Wednesday, Kikuchi, nicknamed the "Fierce Lion", retained her title by beating 23-year-old Siriporn Thaweesuk, who has served six years of a10-year sentence for drug offences. Thaweesuk has won five of the six bouts she has fought in prison during the past two years.
    Kikuchi pounded Siriporn with a series of sharp punches but the Thai inmate held on in the 10-round match, which was won by the champion with scores of 97-93, 96-94 and 96-94.
    Prisoners were not the only spectators to Kikuchi's victory. Hundred of outside observers were also allowed in to see the match and a cable sports channel broadcast the event live.
    "I am really happy that I won and have become the champion especially since there were many people who supported me, many people who helped me train. I wanted to win at all costs because so many more people helped me than in previous times," said a tearful Kikuchi after the bout.
    Although Siriporn lost, she said it was good experience to fight against Kikuchi. "I don't know much about tactics, I lack experience and am not too good at footwork. I need to practice more," she said.
    Men's prisons in Thailand have had kickboxing in their rehabilitation programmes, but such activities are relatively new in women's prisons.
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