carly
02-20-2003, 02:41 PM
He may dress like a girl, but transvestite boxer Pirinya Kaibusaba proved to a sellout crowd of 10,000 fans Tuesday that he doesn't fight like one. . . . And though he does powder his nose during training, Pirinya, from Lamphun, 560 kilometers (348 miles) north of Bangkok, is no powder puff in the ring.
[Associated Press; 2/25/98; on cnnsi.com]
This lady-boy shows fans he packs a punch
The "three people" inside Prinya Kiatbusaba took turns showing their faces.
Like a shy, intimidated woman, he shed tears in the morning. Hours later, he jumped into the ring at Lumpini Stadium, the mecca of Thai boxing, and turned into a snarling tiger, mercilessly mauling its prey. When the fight ended, Prinya turned into a playful lady-boy, hugging and kissing his bloodied opponent.
Welcome to "Amazing Thailand" - a transvestite boxing star is born.
[The Nation (2/25/98), an article by Panya Prachakorn and Radda Larpnun]
Transvestite slugger dispels all doubt of his 'manhood'
Boxer Parinya Kiatbusuba sees no contradiction in being a transvestite and earning a living in the ring . . .
[Bangkok Post article by Yvonne Bohwongprasert 3/1/98]
Float like a butterfly, sting like a queen bee
Pirinya climbed into the ring of Bangkok's Lumpini Stadium wearing eyeliner and lipstick and, after the second round, he paused to mousse his uncooperative hair.
[Anthony Spaeth, Time Magazine, p.12, 3/9/98]
Was that a Lady I saw you Boxing?
farm boys found bejeweled Parinya easy to ridicule. He was lured into more than a few fights, and soon learned how to win. "A person teases me once,' he boasted.
[Joseph Kahn; 4/4/98; the New York Times, page A4]
Lt Gen Wat Kerdsawang, Lumpini stadium manager, said Prinya has added colour to the Muay Thai scene. "In the first year of the Amazing Thailand campaign, Prinya has amazingly brightened up this traditional sport of self-defense," Wat said.
[The Nation; 2/26/98]
(S)he's a knockout!
You don't ask a boxer with an impressive knockout record how many lipsticks he has. But transvestite kick-boxer Parinya Kiatbusaba, whose immaculate make-up and blazing red lipstick have become his trademark in the ring, breaks all the rules.
"I don't feel strange, nor do I have any conflict in my mind about being a boxer. I box like men do and I love it," says Tum as he smoothes his short, bobbed hair into place.
Has he had any problems in the macho world of kick-boxing? "Not at all. The boxers at the camp treat me well and have become my protectors," Tum giggles.
. . . . .
Meanwhile, at the training session in the boxing camp, the other fighters take their painkilling oils and vitamin pills out of their bags ready for another bout. Tum, however, lines up his lipsticks and cosmetics ready for a quick touch-up between rounds.
Thai kickboxing will never be the same again.
[Bangkok Post, 4/19/98, by Nilubol Pornpitagpan
Thailand's cross-dressing kick boxer wants to go one step further
Prinya Kiatbusaba, better known as Nong Tum, the undisputed "queen" of Thai boxing, made headlines again this week when he sought a sex change operation. It was bound to be a story that titillates. It's the sort of story most people can read and enjoy, but there are issues involved worthy of serious consideration.
Psychiatrists and physicians at the Thon Buri hospital, following lengthy interviews with the boxer, decided he was not ready for the change. It was not that he makes a living knocking 80 percent of his opponents out of the ring, but the fact that though he wears make up and has had a feminine disposition since his childhood, Nong Tum is still anxious about the change.
[Editorial Bangkok Post, Pichai Chuensuksawadi; 3/5/99; p.10]
To become a boxer is a dream for many boys in the countryside, while girls for their part hoped to become beauty queens. Parinya must have realised last week that it is hard to be both. He lost to Japan's welterweight champion, Hiroyuki Doi, by a decision. But he bears no ill-will, though it was not a graceful defeat by his standards. He admitted that despite his effective kicks and vicious punches he lost concentration during the fight as he had to take special care of his hormone-injected breasts.
[The Nation, by Jeerawatna Thalang reads, 6/13/99]
After having kicked and punched his way to becoming a woman, Prinya Charoenpol will not give up boxing as many may have predicted. The successful sex-change operation has opened the door to a flood of opportunities, but Prinya, better known as Nong Toom, still harbours his ambition of setting up a boxing camp of his own.
Dressed completely like a woman, unlike in the past when his two identities -- as a boxer and a ****sexual -- often caused bewilderment, Prinya, 18, looked relaxed and happy.
"I don't know how society thinks about this whole thing, but I never regret it. All I have ever wanted is to be myself."
The operation cost about Bt 40,000. Money earned from recent fights easily took care of that.
When it was clear he was serious of his sex-change operation, a lot of people wanted Nong Toom to change his mind. There was pressure from the boxing community, which was afraid of losing a main star attraction. In Thailand, women are not welcome in the ring for any occasion, let alone fight in it.
Finally he made up his mind. Fearing a media frenzy, Nong Toom kept his operation plan secret, informing only his parents and close friends.
Nong Toom hopes to continue boxing at low-profile events, perhaps upcountry where the no-woman-in-the-ring rule is not so strict.
An avalanche of offers has filled up his schedule. There are TV appearances, modelling opportunities and interviews. He can also sing and is much sought as a special guest for provincial concerts.
[12/11/99; by Anan Paengnoy; ;the Nation]
[Associated Press; 2/25/98; on cnnsi.com]
This lady-boy shows fans he packs a punch
The "three people" inside Prinya Kiatbusaba took turns showing their faces.
Like a shy, intimidated woman, he shed tears in the morning. Hours later, he jumped into the ring at Lumpini Stadium, the mecca of Thai boxing, and turned into a snarling tiger, mercilessly mauling its prey. When the fight ended, Prinya turned into a playful lady-boy, hugging and kissing his bloodied opponent.
Welcome to "Amazing Thailand" - a transvestite boxing star is born.
[The Nation (2/25/98), an article by Panya Prachakorn and Radda Larpnun]
Transvestite slugger dispels all doubt of his 'manhood'
Boxer Parinya Kiatbusuba sees no contradiction in being a transvestite and earning a living in the ring . . .
[Bangkok Post article by Yvonne Bohwongprasert 3/1/98]
Float like a butterfly, sting like a queen bee
Pirinya climbed into the ring of Bangkok's Lumpini Stadium wearing eyeliner and lipstick and, after the second round, he paused to mousse his uncooperative hair.
[Anthony Spaeth, Time Magazine, p.12, 3/9/98]
Was that a Lady I saw you Boxing?
farm boys found bejeweled Parinya easy to ridicule. He was lured into more than a few fights, and soon learned how to win. "A person teases me once,' he boasted.
[Joseph Kahn; 4/4/98; the New York Times, page A4]
Lt Gen Wat Kerdsawang, Lumpini stadium manager, said Prinya has added colour to the Muay Thai scene. "In the first year of the Amazing Thailand campaign, Prinya has amazingly brightened up this traditional sport of self-defense," Wat said.
[The Nation; 2/26/98]
(S)he's a knockout!
You don't ask a boxer with an impressive knockout record how many lipsticks he has. But transvestite kick-boxer Parinya Kiatbusaba, whose immaculate make-up and blazing red lipstick have become his trademark in the ring, breaks all the rules.
"I don't feel strange, nor do I have any conflict in my mind about being a boxer. I box like men do and I love it," says Tum as he smoothes his short, bobbed hair into place.
Has he had any problems in the macho world of kick-boxing? "Not at all. The boxers at the camp treat me well and have become my protectors," Tum giggles.
. . . . .
Meanwhile, at the training session in the boxing camp, the other fighters take their painkilling oils and vitamin pills out of their bags ready for another bout. Tum, however, lines up his lipsticks and cosmetics ready for a quick touch-up between rounds.
Thai kickboxing will never be the same again.
[Bangkok Post, 4/19/98, by Nilubol Pornpitagpan
Thailand's cross-dressing kick boxer wants to go one step further
Prinya Kiatbusaba, better known as Nong Tum, the undisputed "queen" of Thai boxing, made headlines again this week when he sought a sex change operation. It was bound to be a story that titillates. It's the sort of story most people can read and enjoy, but there are issues involved worthy of serious consideration.
Psychiatrists and physicians at the Thon Buri hospital, following lengthy interviews with the boxer, decided he was not ready for the change. It was not that he makes a living knocking 80 percent of his opponents out of the ring, but the fact that though he wears make up and has had a feminine disposition since his childhood, Nong Tum is still anxious about the change.
[Editorial Bangkok Post, Pichai Chuensuksawadi; 3/5/99; p.10]
To become a boxer is a dream for many boys in the countryside, while girls for their part hoped to become beauty queens. Parinya must have realised last week that it is hard to be both. He lost to Japan's welterweight champion, Hiroyuki Doi, by a decision. But he bears no ill-will, though it was not a graceful defeat by his standards. He admitted that despite his effective kicks and vicious punches he lost concentration during the fight as he had to take special care of his hormone-injected breasts.
[The Nation, by Jeerawatna Thalang reads, 6/13/99]
After having kicked and punched his way to becoming a woman, Prinya Charoenpol will not give up boxing as many may have predicted. The successful sex-change operation has opened the door to a flood of opportunities, but Prinya, better known as Nong Toom, still harbours his ambition of setting up a boxing camp of his own.
Dressed completely like a woman, unlike in the past when his two identities -- as a boxer and a ****sexual -- often caused bewilderment, Prinya, 18, looked relaxed and happy.
"I don't know how society thinks about this whole thing, but I never regret it. All I have ever wanted is to be myself."
The operation cost about Bt 40,000. Money earned from recent fights easily took care of that.
When it was clear he was serious of his sex-change operation, a lot of people wanted Nong Toom to change his mind. There was pressure from the boxing community, which was afraid of losing a main star attraction. In Thailand, women are not welcome in the ring for any occasion, let alone fight in it.
Finally he made up his mind. Fearing a media frenzy, Nong Toom kept his operation plan secret, informing only his parents and close friends.
Nong Toom hopes to continue boxing at low-profile events, perhaps upcountry where the no-woman-in-the-ring rule is not so strict.
An avalanche of offers has filled up his schedule. There are TV appearances, modelling opportunities and interviews. He can also sing and is much sought as a special guest for provincial concerts.
[12/11/99; by Anan Paengnoy; ;the Nation]