--- description: For some, boxing has become a hard-won ticket out of a life of crime in ThailandPhotographs for Time by Philip Blenkinsop / Noor title: Boxing Out of Poverty and Prison in Thailand image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production --- * [World](/section/world/) * [LightBox](/tag/time-section-lightbox/) # Boxing Out of Poverty and Prison in Thailand by [TIME](/author/time/) Jun 23, 2008 4:00 AM CUT by [TIME](/author/time/) Jun 23, 2008 4:00 AM CUT For some, boxing has become a hard-won ticket out of a life of crime in ThailandPhotographs for Time by Philip Blenkinsop / Noor ### Rising Champ  Amnat Ruenroeng, 29, trains hard with the rest of the Thai Olympic teamin Danang, Vietnam. Boxing, the three-time convict says, has brought focusand discipline to his life. Amnat Ruenroeng, 29, trains hard with the rest of the Thai Olympic teamin Danang, Vietnam. Boxing, the three-time convict says, has brought focusand discipline to his life. ### Blow-by-Blow  Jailbird-turned-boxer Wannee "Nongmai" Chaisena recounts her tale toTIME while sitting outside her small convenience store on Phet Buri Road inBangkok. Jailbird-turned-boxer Wannee "Nongmai" Chaisena recounts her tale toTIME while sitting outside her small convenience store on Phet Buri Road inBangkok. ### Heavy Hitter  Thai Olympic hopeful Ruenroeng prepares to step on the scale after amorning practice in Danang, Vietnam, with his Cuban trainer looking on. Thai Olympic hopeful Ruenroeng prepares to step on the scale after amorning practice in Danang, Vietnam, with his Cuban trainer looking on. ### Pulling no Punches  Ruenroeng listens closely to his trainer's advice after a morningworkout. He took up boxing to fight boredom while serving 15 years forrobbery. Ruenroeng listens closely to his trainer's advice after a morningworkout. He took up boxing to fight boredom while serving 15 years forrobbery. ### Fighting to Live  Ruenroeng steels himself for a fight while training in Danang. Photographs for Time by Philip Blenkinsop / Noor ### In this Corner  Siriporn "Samson" Thaveesuk, who went to prison at age 17 for dealingdrugs, makes her way to the ring. Ten rounds later, she takes down herJapanese challenger and keeps her international title. Siriporn "Samson" Thaveesuk, who went to prison at age 17 for dealingdrugs, makes her way to the ring. Ten rounds later, she takes down herJapanese challenger and keeps her international title. ### A Way Out  Samson's trainer shouts advice between rounds. Her boxing prowess got herreleased early from prison. Samson's trainer shouts advice between rounds. Her boxing prowess got herreleased early from prison. ### Going the Distance  Samson stands with gloves aloft, posing for photographers after defeatingher opponent. She was the first convict ever to win the World BoxingCouncil's light-flyweight title while still serving time. Samson stands with gloves aloft, posing for photographers after defeatingher opponent. She was the first convict ever to win the World BoxingCouncil's light-flyweight title while still serving time. ### In the Kisser  Female inmates at a Bangkok prison spar in the ring at the end of anafternoon training session. Female inmates at a Bangkok prison spar in the ring at the end of anafternoon training session. ### Rolling with the Punches  Roj, a 20-year-old who fights in the 54-kg class, slams her fist into apunching bag as she trains with fellow inmates. Roj, a 20-year-old who fights in the 54-kg class, slams her fist into apunching bag as she trains with fellow inmates. ### Gloves are Off  Inmates chat amiably while awaiting their turns to pummel each other inthe ring. Inmates chat amiably while awaiting their turns to pummel each other inthe ring. ### Prize Fight  Siriporn Chutikulun, director of the Women's Correctional Institute forDrug Addicts, lectures fighters. Siriporn Chutikulun, director of the Women's Correctional Institute forDrug Addicts, lectures fighters. ### The Contenders  Eager boxers line up at the end of their morning training at a prisonoutside Bangkok. Eager boxers line up at the end of their morning training at a prisonoutside Bangkok. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/archive/7056727/boxing-out-of-poverty-and-prison-in-thailand/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/archive/7056727/boxing-out-of-poverty-and-prison-in-thailand/"},"headline":"Boxing Out of Poverty and Prison in Thailand","datePublished":"2008-06-23T04:00:00.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-13T10:45:28.383Z","description":"For some, boxing has become a hard-won ticket out of a life of crime in ThailandPhotographs for Time by Philip Blenkinsop / Noor","url":"https://time.com/archive/7056727/boxing-out-of-poverty-and-prison-in-thailand/","keywords":["LightBox"],"thumbnailUrl":"","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"TIME","url":"https://time.com/author/time/"}],"articleSection":"World","image":[],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/world/","name":"World"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-lightbox/","name":"LightBox"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/archive/7056727/boxing-out-of-poverty-and-prison-in-thailand/","name":"Boxing Out of Poverty and Prison in Thailand"}}]}] ```