Thursday, June 14, 2007

Trade Your Passion For Glory

Recently eaten: pesto chicken sandwich melt
Recent annoyance: torrential downpours no buses in sight

Just when I think MY life seems like a movie (tragedy or comedy, we haven't decided ala Woody Allen), an article like the one below just blows my screenplay out of the water. So, you grew up poor in Thailand, sold some drugs to get by, went to prison, but they promised you your freedom if you could win one fight against some Japanese chick? Yeah, that all sounds perfectly normal.

Prisoner boxes her way to freedom
Thailand's first female boxing world champion has been released from jail as a reward for winning the women's world light-flyweight title earlier this year.

Siriporn Thaweesuk, who boxed her way to freedom, was released Wednesday on parole from the women's prison in Pathum Thani province, 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of Bangkok, three years before the end of her seven-year sentence for selling amphetamines.

Siriporn -- or Samson Sor Siriporn as she is known in the ring -- defeated Japan's Ayaka Miyano for the title in a prison yard boxing ring in April amid cheers from other inmates and prison guards.

She had previously been told by prison authorities that they would release her early if she won the title.

The victory in April was her first after having lost the WBC Straw-weight title to Japan's Nanako Kikuchi last year.

A first-time offender, Siriporn grew up in a poor family in the Thai capital of Bangkok, where her family had to sell clothing by the roadside to survive.

After her release, Siriporn will continue to train on the prison grounds and live in a house provided by the prison authorities in a nearby compound. She will also be required to report to the director of the women's prison once a month.

The decision to grant her parole as a reward for the world boxing title was not without controversy, but the boxing champion shrugged off the criticism as she left behind her years behind bars.

"Thanks for those who supported a convict like me. Some may not agree but I don't care. I am happy that there are people willing to support me. I like to thank all the officials as well," Siriporn said at a press conference after her release.

"I coulda been a contender"

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