Thailand's Siriporn retains WBC flyweight title [in Phnom Penh]

Convicted Thai drug dealer Samson Sor Siriporn (L) is declared the winner during the WBC light flyweight title fight against Kayoko Ebata from Japan in Phnom Penh April 26, 2008. Siriporn walked out of prison three years early for winning the WBC light-flyweight title earlier this year. Siriporn retained her World Boxing Council by winning against the Japanese challenger in 10 rounds. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

4/26/2008
Agence France-Presse

PHNOM PENH - Former convict-turned boxer Samson Sor Siriporn Saturday retained her World Boxing Council light flyweight title by beating Japanese challenger Kayoko Ebata.

The 24-year-old champion, whose real name is Siriporn Taweesuk, looked passive in the early rounds before she began to fight back, landing many blows on Ebata's face in the middle of 10th round.

The judges gave Siriporn the victory, scoring the bout 97:95, 95:95, 96:94.

"I am very happy with the success," Siriporn told reporters in Thai after her successful title defense in the Cambodian capital.

She took up boxing while serving a 10-year sentence in Bangkok for selling small amounts of methamphetamines.

In a story made for Hollywood, she won early release after beating Japan's Ayaka Miyano and claiming the WBC light flyweight title in a match last April at the Klong Prem prison, also known as the "Bangkok Hilton".

She is believed to be the first inmate to win a world title in jail.

Cambodia to host international women's boxing match

PHNOM PENH, April 24 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia will host an international female boxing match between Japanese boxer Kayoko Ebata and Thai boxer Samson Sor Siriporn on April 26, a press release from the World Boxing Council (WBC) said Thursday.

The two boxers wanted to compete in a neutral country, therefore WBC selected Cambodia as the host country for their match, the press release said.

They will fight 10 rounds in flyweight match, it said, adding that Samson has to defense her belt from WBC.

The match will have three judges and an American arbitrator called Gene Debianco, the press release said.

Cambodian Television Channel 5 is the event organizer and the boxing match will conduct at the old stadium in Phnom Penh, it added.