Boxing Legends Slam Child Fighter Ban Bill
Thailand's boxing legends oppose a proposed law banning children under 15 from fighting, arguing the sport offers rural youth income and discipline while preventing drug addiction, though the government cites brain injury prevention concern
A fierce controversy has erupted over child boxing after the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security advanced a new Child Protection Act that would strictly ban children under 15 from competing in the ring to prevent brain injuries. The proposed legislation has provoked intense opposition from Thai boxing association representatives and industry figures.
Legendary boxers Samruk Khamsing and Samart Payakarun, two of Thailand's most celebrated fighters, have now publicly voiced their positions on the matter.
Samruk Khamsing stated that the law reflects a failure to understand the lives of rural people. He argued that Thai boxing serves as a lifeline allowing provincial children to earn income, gain discipline, and avoid drug addiction. He contended that such restrictions do not represent development but rather population control and will plainly destroy the Thai boxing industry. He called on policymakers to listen to the voices of rural communities.
Samart Payakarun countered that boxers must develop their fighting structure and physical resilience from childhood. He warned that forcing children to stop training and restarting at age 15 would be too late, guaranteeing the extinction of Thai boxing. He posed a rhetorical question: should they wait for children to become drug addicts first, then treat them at age 15 before starting boxing training?
