BANGKOK, Thailand (Reuters) — Thai inmate Samson Sor Siriporn boosted her chances of freedom by beating Japan’s Ayaka Miyano to win the vacant women’s WBC light-flyweight title at the notorious “Bangkok Hilton” prison on Tuesday.
Under the gaze of dozens of prison guards, Siriporn, a convicted drugs dealer, battled through the unforgiving Thai heat to score a unanimous points victory and kick-start parole proceedings for her early release.
“I’ve been in jail for a long time now, I hope this will see me released early,” said Siriporn, flanked by mean-looking guards and surrounded by photographers.
“When I’m free I’ll carry on fighting. I want to fight all over the world.”
Fighting in a makeshift ring in the grounds of the infamous Klong Prem prison with the Thai crowd chanting “fight, fight”, Siriporn was on the attack from the start and repeatedly forced Miyano on to the ropes with a barrage of punches.
The intense afternoon heat took its toll on Miyano, who twice fell to the canvas as a result of Siriporn’s relentless attacks, which drew rapturous applause from the few thousand prison staff, factory workers and taxi drivers who flocked to see her fight for freedom.
Boxers barred Meanwhile, boxers from the Philippines have been suspended from fighting in Thailand after the death of super-flyweight Lito Sisnorio, the country’s Games and Amusement’s Board (GAB) said on Tuesday.
Sisnorio died in a Bangkok hospital on Saturday after sustaining severe head injuries during an undercard bout with former WBC flyweight champion Chatchai Sasakul, which Filipino boxing officials say took place without their approval.
The GAB has banned Filipino boxers from fighting in Thailand until the two countries can come to an official agreement about approving fighters for overseas bouts.
“We are currently investigating the death of Sisnorio because he was fighting without our permission,” GAB chief Nasser Cruz told Reuters by telephone.
“This kind of practice has been going on in Thailand for a long time. We believe this has to stop, especially after this fatal incident.”
Cruz said he had been contacted by boxing commissions from several other countries voicing their support for a crackdown on Thai promotors who were luring boxers to the kingdom without approval.
“We would like Thailand to come to the table and agree to terms because they have to stop this. The safety of boxers is of the foremost importance,” he said.
The GAB would not have allowed Sisnorio to fight as he had suffered three straight defeats, he added.
Sisnorio collapsed on his way to dinner hours after suffering a fourth round knockout in Friday’s bout in Bangkok.
He underwent emergency surgery to remove a blood clot from his brain, but never regained consciousness and died of heart failure 24 hours later.
