Jailhouse rocks to Thai boxer

Thai boxer and ex-jailbird Amnat Ruenroeng said he felt sorry for his prisoner friends who watched him bow out of the Olympics on Tuesday.

Ruenroeng, who was locked up for a street robbery but released early, faulted the judging as he went down 5-2 to Mongolia’s Serdamba Purevdorj in the light flyweight quarter-finals. “I know everyone in jail will be sad when they saw that,” said the tattooed Amnat, 28.

“I did my best today. I made a lot of hits but didn’t get any points, so no matter how hard I tried I still lost.”

The former kick-boxing champion was released on a special pardon for King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s birthday last year after being jailed in 2004. He described his criminal behaviour as a dark period in his life and said he was delighted to be free and fighting again.

“I stole a necklace but then I turned myself in to the police. It was better for me to live in jail at that time,” he said.

“I’m really happy to be here after jail. It’s great to have all my fans back.”Amnat had thought his fighting career was over when he was jailed.

BEIJING, AFP