1.
LV ZOOM" Feather-weight match between Sakai Makoto (Japan), wearing blue shorts, coming from left-hand corner and Somruedee (Thailand) wearing red shorts. Somruedee goes on to attack.
0.29

2.
SV PAN: Audience.
0.35

3.
SV: Somruedee attacking strongly.
0.43

4.
CU: Audience.
0.46

5.
SV: Somruedee kicks Makoto to the ground and knocks her partially unconscious after she gets up.
1.26

6.
SV: Spectators
1.30

7.
SV: Fight continues and Makoto sinks to her knees and is assisted to her corner.
1.42



Initials JS/1705


SPORT: BOXING

Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Thai boxing is a sport that is hundreds of years old, but it is only recently that women have taken part. Promoters in other countries have realised the attraction of girl competitors but the rules of the game in Thailand bear little resemblance to conventional boxing.

SYNOPSIS: In this feather-weight bout in Bangkok 18-year-old Sakai Makoto of Japan coming out of the left-hand corner in blue shorts, took on Somruedee of Thailand, in the red shorts. Both girls weighed in at 118 pounds (54 kg).

There are few rules in Thai boxing although bitting, choking and spitting are not allowed. Injuries are numerous and even deaths are not uncommon.

On this occasion Sakai Makoto was on the receiving end of most of the punishment from the experienced Thai girl and ended up being knocked nearly senseless.

In the past it was considered that women were unlucky for the sport, and they were kept well away from Thai boxing. This time all the bad luck was on the side of Sakai Makoto.