Sports | Updated Jun 20, 2007 at 09:55am IST

Thai prisoner KOs her way to freedom

Dan Rivers, CNN

Bangkok: A young Thai woman, imprisoned for dealing drugs, is instead dealing "blows" as she boxes to get out of jail.

Her hands may look delicate - but these are the fists of a champion. Siriporn Taweeksuk is being released from prison early - literally fighting her way to freedom. She's spent the last seven years in a Thai jail - incarcerated for dealing drugs - but she hasn't wasted her time.

Siripon took a new name for the ring - Samson Sor Siriporn. And in April she beat Japan's Ayaka Mi-Yano to become the World Boxing Council's Fly-Weight Champion. The fight's organisers say they think she is the first prison inmate in the world to win a boxing title. Not bad for a young woman sent to prison for selling Methamphetamines.

Siriporn learnt to box three years ago to protect herself from other inmates. Now the sport which she's become so passionate about has helped to win her freedom.

Siriporn's being released early from prison and her boxing success is the reason why.

"I'm very pleased to be free because I have been here so long. Boxing has made me healthy and helped me defend myself," says the boxing champion.

And the Thai authorities agree boxing can be beneficial.

Nathee Chitsawang, the Director of Thai Correctional Department, says: "We want them to have a career after their release so they won't go back to the drugs."

There's already talk of a film about Siriporn's remarkable life, but Thailand's most famous jailbird's not letting it go to her head. She'll be busy preparing to defend her hard-won title next month.

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