Prison Fight

Prison Fight is a controversial rehabilitation program for inmates through combat sports organized in partnership with the Thai Department of Corrections, an agency of the Thai Ministry of Justice.[2] The program gives Thai prisoners who are incarcerated former fighters the opportunity to take on foreign fighters in exchange for sentence reduction and even gain their freedom if they win.[3] If the inmates win sufficient amounts of fights against foreigners and have good behaviours, the Department of Corrections can reduce their sentences or even grant them a Royal pardon.[4][1] Prison Fight holds events inside various maximum security prisons in Thailand and provides inmates with money and equipment to prepare them to reintegrate society.[5] Convicts can engage in Muay Thai and Boxing matches in exchange for an early release.[6][7]

This article is about rehabilitation program. For other uses, see Prison violence.
Prison Fight
Founded2012
PurposeRehabilitation of inmates[1]
HeadquartersBangkok, Thailand[2]
Key people
Kirill Sokur
Aree Chaloisuk
Thai Department of Corrections
Websitewww.prisonfight.com

The program was featured in notable media outlets such as Esquire,[8] TIME,[1] Huffington Post,[1] New York Post,[4] Al Jazeera,[9] The Telegraph,[10] Vice,[11] Die Zeit,[12] Men's Journal[7] and Bangkok Post.[13]

Mission
The press conference for Prison Fight: Fight For Freedom held at Klong Pai Prison in 2014

Since its foundation, Prison Fight gained widespread attention for its controversial concept[8] where violent inmates can reduce their sentences[14] and even earn their freedom by winning a series of Muay Thai fights against foreign fighters.[15]

The ultimate aim of the Thai Department of Corrections through the Prison Fight events, is the implementation of a rehabilitation program to promote sport and good health among prisoners.[12] Development of sports inside prisons walls is believed to minimize internal problems such as diseases, drug abuse and violent behaviour.[10][13]

History

The Thai Penal System has a long history of organizing sporting events, from soccer and basketball tournaments to weightlifting competitions.[8] In an effort to modernize the penal system, Thai authorities began issuing sentence reductions to the athletes viewed as bringing honor to their country. In the 1980s, Thai Department of Corrections introduced a program called Sports Behind Bars. This gave birth to the Thai tradition of pardoning outstanding fighters.[9] Muay Thai was one of the first activities offered.[7]

Since then, only a handful of prisoners have managed to parlay their skill into an early release. In 2007, the imprisoned drug dealer Siriporn Taweesuk beat a Japanese boxer for the World Boxing Council light-flyweight title in a match held at Klong Prem Prison. Not long afterward, she was released, having achieved, in the words of one Thai official, "glory for Thailand."[7] That same year, Amnat Ruenroeng, a Muay Thai veteran and convicted robber serving 15 years at Bangkok's Thonburi prison, was pardoned after winning a national title in boxing. He subsequently qualified to represent Thailand at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.[16]

Creation
Dave Leduc vs Thai Inmate at Prison Fight Thailand 2014

Prison Fight is the brain-child of an international team of proponents of rehabilitation via martial arts, notably Aree Chaloisuk,[2] former director of the Klong Pai Central Prison, in Nakhon Ratchasima, two hours north of Bangkok, and of Estonian businessman Kirill Sokur.[8] The first three Prison Fight events were held in early 2013 at Klong Pai prison. In past events, Chalernpol Sawangsuk, an inmate competitor in the third event, was released shortly after his victory over British Muay Thai fighter Arran Burton.[17]

One of the main reasons the Prison Fight program has captivated the worldwide media is the slogan: "Battle for Freedom". Many believed the fights were organized as a way for prisoners to fight and secure a pardon or sentence reduction,[13] but it appears to be much more than that. Nowadays, Prison Fight established stricter rules for the inmates wishing to participate in the program. They are expected to display exemplary behavior and personal development along with their fighting skills.[9] When it comes to fighting convicts, former notable competitor Dave Leduc said to Bangkok Post : "They deserve to get my 100%," adding, "If he wins, then he earns it."[13][18][19]

Television

In 2013, in early stage of the program, Vice Fightland made a heavily shared short video on YouTube that made the world aware of the Prison Fight program in Thailand.[11][20]

In 2016, the Prison Fight program was the subject of a short documentary, titled Prison Fight, set in both Canada and Thailand.[21] The film tells the story of Sean McNabb fighting Komkit Agorn Ketnawk at Klong Pai Central Prison. Two men from opposite ends of the world with only one thing in common, the art of Muay Thai.[22][23]

In 2017, Prison Fight was featured in the Showtime documentary Prison fighters : 5 Rounds To Freedom.[24] The film is narrated by Sons of Anarchy star Ron Perlman and aims at examining a controversial practice in Thailand’s criminal justice system.[25][26] The documentary follows a convicted murderer through redemption. He is granted a Thai Royal pardon after winning a final Muay Thai match against an American fighter.[4]

As explained in the movie,[25] they came up with it to capitalize on the popularity of a national sport and exploit the rehabilitative power of fighting’s discipline. Most events took place in the maximum security Klong Prem Prison.[13][27] The events are sanctioned by the Thai Department of Corrections and are portrayed as a way for inmates to battle their way to an early release.[4]

On November 9, 2017, Prison Fight was mentioned in the Canadian documentary La Fosse aux Tigres which aired on Canal D.[28]

References
  1. Andrew, Andrew (2 February 2017). "Film Review: Prison Fighters: 5 Rounds to Freedom". Huffington Post.
  2. Ghogomu, Mbiyimoh (19 September 2014). "The Prison in Thailand Where Inmates Fight Foreigners As Part of Their Rehab". Samui Times.
  3. Claire Reid (21 June 2021). "Thai Prisoners Can 'Fight For Their Freedom' Via Unusual Rehabilitation Scheme". LAD Bible.
  4. Kaplan, Michael (23 February 2017). "Inside the prison where murderers can be freed". New York Post.
  5. Hotz, Alexander (8 October 2013). "Prison Fight! Inmates battle foreigners for freedom". Coconuts Bangkok.
  6. Walker Van Wey (11 March 2021). "Cody Moberly's Unpredictable Rise to Infamy". Ultimate Fighting Championship.
  7. Shaer, Matthew (16 June 2018). "How Thailand's Most Notorious Prison Became a Fight Club". Men's Journal.
  8. Lawrence, Jeremy (15 January 2014). "Ready to Rumble". Esquire.
  9. Ortiz, Kc (4 January 2014). "Thai prison fights". Aljazeera.
  10. Goyder, James (25 October 2013). "Life behind bars in Bangkok's notorious Klong Prem prison". The Telegraph.
  11. "Thai Prison Fights". Vice Fightland. 12 August 2014.
  12. Von Moritz Tschermak (18 August 2014). "Muay-Thai-Kampfsport Brutal frei" [Brutal Martial Art : Muay Thai]. Die Zeit (in German).
  13. Arterbury, John (20 June 2014). "Prison fighters prize future over future". Bangkok Post.
  14. Rose, Dan (18 February 2017). "New Showtime Doc Prison Fight to Feature Thailand Prisoners Fighting for Freedom". Mike Swick.
  15. Forgan, Duncan (14 March 2014). "Prison Inmates in Thailand Fight Foreigners for Their Freedom". Time.
  16. Beech, Hannah (24 July 2008). "Beijing Olympics: Amnat Ruenroeng". Time.
  17. Shaer, Matthew (4 May 2017). "Freedom Fighters". United Airlines Hemispheres.
  18. Arnaud, Fanny (16 September 2016). "Un Québécois gagne un prison fight en Thaïlande". Le Journal de Montréal.
  19. Comtois, Martin (23 November 2015). "David Leduc de retour dans la fosse aux lions". La Presse. Archived from the original on 2 March 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  20. O'Donnell, Jake (7 December 2013). "Thai Prisoners Fight For Their Freedom". SportsGrid.
  21. "Prison Fight Thailand - Short Documentary". Bravo Fact. 18 January 2016.
  22. "Prison Fight Documentary". Ekran. 18 January 2016.
  23. Aripez, Nathan (15 March 2017). "Prison Fight Documentary Features Sean Mcnabb". Muaythai Authority.
  24. Caneco, Sílvia (8 May 2017). "(Spanish) Estes presos podem lutar (literalmente) pela liberdade". Visão.
  25. "Showtime Sports announces original documentary "Prison fighters: 5 Rounds To Freedom"". Boxing News 24. 9 January 2017.
  26. Hansen, Darah (10 January 2017). "Showtime Sports doc showcases "Prison Fighters"". Real Screen.
  27. Sawitta Lefevre, Amy (18 July 2016). "Inside Thailand's Klong Pai Prison". Reuters.
  28. "La Fosse Aux Tigres". La Fosse aux Tigres. Retrieved 6 August 2022.
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