Thailand may not have been taking the sporting world by storm lately, but there has certainly been one lady who has been punching her way to grand success. She is no other than Siriporn Taweesuk, who on the 4 April, claimed the WBC Light-heavyweight title.
Warming up for the big day, instead of training Rocky Balboa style, running up and down the stairs of the local town hall she had to make do with her prison’s exercise yard. And instead of winning the title against the Japanese contender in front of cheering thousands, her spectators included a few local reporters, prison guards, trainers and some ladyboy prisoners acting as ring-girls. The championship fight took place at no other than Thailand’s notorious Klong Prem Central Prison.
Siriporn, 24, and a native of Lopburi province, is no stranger to a life behind bars, she has already spent nine years of her young life banged-up for dealing in ‘Ya-ba’ (Methamphetamine pills). Sentenced to ten years, she hasn’t got to wait long to enjoy a trip to the beach, but she could win her release even earlier than that after the Chief of Thailand’s Correction’s Department petitioned the Justice Ministry to allow her early patrol. Nothing speedy of course, but Siriporn could be out in a couple of months. If it is granted, Siriporn will be able to defend her title in the next match scheduled for October.
According to Mr Nathee Chitsawang, the Correction’s Chief, she is certainly applicable for an early release – he explained that she has been a ‘Model prisoner’ and now a ‘Sporting hero’. Siriporn said that she is extremely grateful to the correction’s department to allow her the opportunity to train and fight.
And according to the Thai language Siam Sport magazine, Siriporn told them about her hopes for the future “When I am released, I want to return to my home province of Lopburi and open up a simple convenience store”. Thinking about her sorry past she went on to say “If I weren’t caught and imprisoned I suspect that I would have ended up as a hopeless drug-addict”.
And like thailand life’s very own prisoner Mr Gor, Siripon hopes too that upon her release, she has the chance to become a role-model and teach youngsters about the disastrous consequences of involving oneself with narcotics.
We at thai-blogs wish Siriporn the very best.
An inspiring story and perhaps a good bet for Gor. He is young, has a media presence and what’s more with some training and, if that fails, the secret hiring of a tomato can who will take a walloping for the right price, he too could one day rise to this glory.
Either way, good luck to him and congratulations to this brave young woman.
I hope she doesn’t mess up the face of her Japanese opponents too much… saw a couple of cuties on the newspapers.
It is a shame it could not have been arranged for her to be released on the day she won the title-there was adequate time for this to be sorted out.
at least she still looks good, after all these fights
Good on the girl..I hope she gets out.I know Thailand is tough on drugs but to jail a 14 year old girl for 10 years seems very harsh.
Well, here’s a happy news update for this one.
In related news, Japan has incarcerated former champion Ayako Miyano for shaming the country by losing her championship. Kidding! Congrats to this boxer, more beautiful than most!
Boxer fights her way out of prison
Thailand will release female pugilist Siriporn Taweeksuk from prison later this month, reducing her 10-year jail sentence by three years after she won the women’s light-flyweight belt for the kingdom last month, authorities said Tuesday.
“We will release her on June 13th because she has won glory for Thailand,” said Nathi Jitsawang, director general of the Corrections Department.
Nathi had promised aspiring boxer Siriporn, 24, her freedom from the Women’s Corrections Institution for Drug Addicts on the condition that she win a title fight for Thailand.
On April 3 Siriporn defeated Japanese pugilist Ayako Miyano to win the World Boxing Council (WBC) female light-flyweight belt in a fight held in her prison compound, earning her freedom and making her the first Thai prison inmate to win a boxing title.
Authorities will stage a special “going away” party for Siriporn on June 13th, said Nathi.
Siriporn was sentenced to 10 years in jail on drug charges.
She began boxing in 2004 after a training camp was opened at her jail.
“I believe that society will give us a second chance. It’s up to us to prove ourselves,” Siriporn said in an interview after winning her April 3 fight. dpa