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Niamh Griffin

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  1. Just to pick up one part of your thoughts Emma - interim titles A female pro-boxer here Christina McMahon recently won an Interim WBC title, and I had to write about it for work so learned A LOT about titles :) So basically an interim world title is a world title and is held simultanously with a world title in that weight category It is offered only when the holder of the world title, who is ranked No 1 in that category is unavailable for a title defence due to serious illness or legal difficulties (I think because of travel). An interim title can only be fought for between the No 2 in that division and a serious contender ie someone ranked in the Top Ten of that division. Both the interim world title and the world title then co-exist for a short period (not defined) until the No 1 either vacates her title or fights the winner of holder of the Interim Title. If the No 1 vacates, then it is considered that the Interim title-holder is the sole World Title holder for that division. And then the normal procedure happens for challenges etc It caused a lot of headache for McMahon here as people were talking down her achievement (she won on points against a Zambian opponent, ranked No 2 and the fight was in Zambia - think we all know how hard it is to win on points in the opponent's home!) but she actually is a World Champion under the rules. Hope that helps :)
  2. this is transposed from a Facebook conversation Hey Kevin, the more the merrier! Yeah, of course I think like a Westerner - I am one I guess my point is a lot of Thais think like I do, even about children fighting - it's about money not just culture. I watch kids fight, love it when they're talented - I just wish they didn't have to do it for money, that coudl just do it for improving and getting ready for making money out of it as a adult.
  3. this is transposed from a Facebook conversation Hey Sylvie, I don't disagree with any of that.I'm just asking is it right - in my original blog post I drew exactly the same comparisons you're making here between MT and regular work. Also drew a distinction between being against kids fighting (which you seem to think I am?) and being against having to fight for money from a very young age. I'm being an idealist I guess and you're coming at it ( I think!) from describing what you see.
  4. this is transposed from a Facebook conversation Hi Sylvie, finally getting to continue our Twitter chat! Those readings you sent me were very interesting – I don’t think we are disagreeing actually. You’re coming I think from an anthropological place describing the system, and I’m more asking is this system really providing the best outcomes for people. It’s a strong strain in Thai thinking, going back to the 1932 constitution, and carried on by people like Pira Sudham (Monsoon Country), Aed Carabao (protest singer, you definitely know him!) or Voranai Vanijaka (columnist). My issue with children fighting is not with the fighting it’s with the urgent need kids from some backgrounds have to earn money so their families can eat. I understand your point this fulfills the Buddhist precept of filial duty, but question the convenience of that construct in maintaining a very unequal society. If you are poor that’s your ‘bap’ or lack of merit speaking, so you and your children must fix this. If you are wealthy that’s your accrued merit speaking, and if you and your children continue to make merit you will stay rich. MuayThai has a role in this of course. It’s fascinating to see how BuaKaw’s success and foreign fighters like yourself have brought the upper levels of Thai society into gyms - but wealthy Thai children who train rarely compete. Their experience of MuayThai is not as an opportunity to make merit by paying their family’s rent. They find other less urgent ways of making merit. Even becoming a monk is dictated by finances –as it costs money for the ceremony and so on. (Women don’t have this option of course but that’s another story!) Buddhism is not alone here - Catholicism has ‘redemptive suffering’ which also encourages poor people to see difficulties as merit making. For poor boys and girls talented enough to make money from MuayThai of course they are going to do it, it’s life-changing! Just one example – an Isan boxer told me his dream is for his daughters to finish school, and not have to enter prostitution as his sisters did. He is proud of his stadium titles, proud he built a concrete home for his parents but he doesn’t want the same pressures for his children. I think we’re thinking about the same issues from different paths?"
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