Thailand yesterday started the parole process for a female prisoner whose world boxing title win in a championship bout behind bars could also end up winning her an early release.
Siriporn Taweesuk, a convicted drug dealer known by her stage name "Samson", beat Japan's Ayaka Miyano on Tuesday to clinch the vacant World Boxing Council (WBC) female light flyweight title.
The fight was held at Bangkok's high-security Klong Prem mixed prison, where the 24-year-old Thai has served nearly nine years of a 10-year sentence for selling drugs.
PHOTO: AFP
Thai prisons boss Nathee Chitsawang said the corrections department would inform the justice ministry to start the parole process, which could take up to two months.
"The committee will ... consider her behavior in prison," he said. "We plan to take her on as a trainer at the prison if she gets out."
Siriporn fought Miyano on the grounds of Klong Prem, where 700 people cheered on the local fighter, who entered the makeshift arena accompanied by women dressed as traditional Thai warriors.
The Japanese fighter sauntered into the ring flanked by a pair of women in ninja outfits, but was clearly the underdog as Siriporn landed most the punches to win the 10-round bout on points.
During the breaks, transvestites serving time at the jail strutted around the ring in high heels and mini skirts carrying signs announcing the next round.
A prison band added to the festive atmosphere, playing traditional Thai folk songs which transvestites and other inmates -- released from their cells to support Siriporn -- danced along to before the bout began.
Organizers believe the win makes Siriporn the first inmate to clinch a world title from prison.
To defend her title, she will next meet the winner of a fight between Mexico's Delia Lopez and Julia Sahin from Germany.
"After we know who is the winner, we will organize the time and place for the bout against Siriporn," a WBC coordinator said. "But normally Siriporn would have to fight within six months."
The corrections department said earlier this week that Siriporn could be granted early parole so that she could defend her title overseas.
Siriporn said she was grateful to the prison department for letting her train, and said she would like to open a grocery shop once released from jail.
"If I was not here in the prison, I might be outside and be a drug addict," she told reporters.
Siriporn has a record of eight wins and two losses. Her last loss was last May against Japanese champion Nanako Kikuchi. All the previous bouts were also in prison.
It is the third year in a row that the Thai corrections department and the WBC have organized prison bouts in Bangkok.
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