Pheearanut Saleephol, 14, spars against his trainer, Jamlong Jaipakdee,50, at the Sor. Pullsawas Gym in Bangkok, Thailand on Monday April 8, 2019. Thai Boxing, locally known as Muay Thai, is considered to be the national sport of Thailand, with children as young as 8 years old competing professionally. In recent years, allowing children under the age of 15 to compete has become controversial due to potential health risks. Pheearanut has been boxing since age 12. His adoptive father and grandfather boxed professionally in their youth and he decided to follow in their footsteps. Photo by Lauren DeCicca

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Muay Thai boxer

Pheeranut Saleephol, 14, spars with his trainer, Jamlong Jaipakdee, 50, at a Bangkok gym. Thai boxing, known as Muay Thai, is considered to be the national sport of Thailand, with children as young as 8 competing professionally. Pheeranut has been boxing since he was 11. (Lauren DeCicca / For The Times)

Pheearanut Saleephol's father, Tapanut Thaisamran, watches his son during boxing practice at the Sor. Pullsawas Gym in Bangkok, Thailand on Monday April 8, 2019. Thai Boxing, locally known as Muay Thai, is considered to be the national sport of Thailand, with children as young as 8 years old competing professionally. In recent years, allowing children under the age of 15 to compete has become controversial due to potential health risks. Pheearanut has been boxing since age 12. His adoptive father and grandfather boxed professionally in their youth and he decided to follow in their footsteps. Photo by Lauren DeCicca

Tapanat Thaisamran watches as his son Pheeranut Saleephol trains. (Lauren DeCicca / For The Times)

Pheeranut spars with his trainer, Jamlong Jaipakdee.
(Lauren DeCicca / For The Times)

Pheearanut Saleephol, 14, lifts weights after boxing training at the Sor. Pullsawas Gym in Bangkok, Thailand on Monday April 8, 2019. Thai Boxing, locally known as Muay Thai, is considered to be the national sport of Thailand, with children as young as 8 years old competing professionally. In recent years, allowing children under the age of 15 to compete has become controversial due to potential health risks. Pheearanut has been boxing since age 12. His adoptive father and grandfather boxed professionally in their youth and he decided to follow in their footsteps. Photo by Lauren DeCicca

Pheeranut lifts weights after his boxing routine.
(Lauren DeCicca/ For The Times )

Pheearanut Saleephol, 14, jumps rope to warm up before boxing practice at the Sor. Pullsawas Gym in Bangkok, Thailand on Monday April 8, 2019. Thai Boxing, locally known as Muay Thai, is considered to be the national sport of Thailand, with children as young as 8 years old competing professionally. In recent years, allowing children under the age of 15 to compete has become controversial due to potential health risks. Pheearanut has been boxing since age 12. His adoptive father and grandfather boxed professionally in their youth and Pheearanut decided to follow in their footsteps. Photo by Lauren DeCicca

Pheeranut warms up for his workout. (Lauren DeCicca / For The Times)

Pheearanut Saleephol, 14, has water poured down his face to cool down after boxing practice at the Sor. Pullsawas Gym in Bangkok, Thailand on Monday April 8, 2019. Thai Boxing, locally known as Muay Thai, is considered to be the national sport of Thailand, with children as young as 8 years old competing professionally. In recent years, allowing children under the age of 15 to compete has become controversial due to potential health risks. Pheearanut has been boxing since age 12. His adoptive father and grandfather boxed professionally in their youth and he decided to follow in their footsteps. Photo by Lauren DeCicca

Pheeranut cools down after a workout.
(Lauren DeCicca / For The Times)

Pheearanut Saleephol, 14, and his mother, Aoy Chumsri, in their family's home in Bangkok, Thailand on Monday April 10, 2019. Thai Boxing, locally known as Muay Thai, is considered to be the national sport of Thailand, with children as young as 8 years old competing professionally. In recent years, allowing children under the age of 15 to compete has become controversial due to potential health risks. Pheearanut has been boxing since age 12. His adoptive father and grandfather boxed professionally in their youth and he decided to follow in their footsteps. Photo by Lauren DeCicca

Pheeranut and his mother, Aoy Chumsri, in their Bangkok home.
(Lauren DeCicca / For The Times)

Tapanut Thaisamran, father of Pheearanut, prepares for work in his family's home in Bangkok, Thailand on Monday April 9, 2019. Thai Boxing, locally known as Muay Thai, is considered to be the national sport of Thailand, with children as young as 8 years old competing professionally. In recent years, allowing children under the age of 15 to compete has become controversial due to potential health risks. Pheearanut has been boxing since age 12. His adoptive father and grandfather boxed professionally in their youth and he decided to follow in their footsteps. Photo by Lauren DeCicca

Pheeranut’s father, Tapanat Thaisamran, gets ready for work. (Lauren DeCicca / For The Times)

Pheearanut Saleephol, 14, and his trainer Jamlong Jaipakdee, 50, in their dorm room behind Max Muay Thai Stadium in Pattaya, Thailand on Monday April 10, 2019. Thai Boxing, locally known as Muay Thai, is considered to be the national sport of Thailand, with children as young as 8 years old competing professionally. In recent years, allowing children under the age of 15 to compete has become controversial due to potential health risks. Pheearanut has been boxing since age 12. His adoptive father and grandfather boxed professionally in their youth and he decided to follow in their footsteps. Photo by Lauren DeCicca

Pheeranut and trainer Jamlong Jaipakdee settle in to their dorm room before a big match at a Muay Thai stadium in Pattaya, Thailand. (Lauren DeCicca / For The Times )

Pheearanut Saleephol, 14, weighs in at the Max Muay Thai boxing stadium in Pattaya, Thailand on Monday April 10, 2019. Thai Boxing, locally known as Muay Thai, is considered to be the national sport of Thailand, with children as young as 8 years old competing professionally. In recent years, allowing children under the age of 15 to compete has become controversial due to potential health risks. Pheearanut has been boxing since age 12. His adoptive father and grandfather boxed professionally in their youth and he decided to follow in their footsteps. Photo by Lauren DeCicca

Pheeranut weighs in before his April match in Pattaya. (Lauren DeCicca / For The Times )

Pheearanut Saleephol, 14, performs a pre fight ritual before his match at the Max Muay Thai Stadium in Pattaya, Thailand on Monday April 11, 2019. Thai Boxing, locally known as Muay Thai, is considered to be the national sport of Thailand, with children as young as 8 years old competing professionally. In recent years, allowing children under the age of 15 to compete has become controversial due to potential health risks. Pheearanut has been boxing since age 12. His adoptive father and grandfather boxed professionally in their youth and he decided to follow in their footsteps. Photo by Lauren DeCicca

Pheeranut prepares before the match in Pattaya.
(Lauren DeCicca /For The Times )

Pheearanut Saleephol, 14, competes in a boxing match at the Max Muay Thai Stadium in Pattaya, Thailand on Monday April 11, 2019. Thai Boxing, locally known as Muay Thai, is considered to be the national sport of Thailand, with children as young as 8 years old competing professionally. In recent years, allowing children under the age of 15 to compete has become controversial due to potential health risks. Pheearanut has been boxing since age 12. His adoptive father and grandfather boxed professionally in their youth and he decided to follow in their footsteps. Photo by Lauren DeCicca

Pheeranut battles his opponent at the Pattaya stadium.
(Lauren DeCicca / For The Times)

Pheearanut Saleephol's father, Tapanut Thaisamran, watches his son's match at the Max Muay Thai Stadium in Pattaya, Thailand on Monday April 11, 2019. Thai Boxing, locally known as Muay Thai, is considered to be the national sport of Thailand, with children as young as 8 years old competing professionally. In recent years, allowing children under the age of 15 to compete has become controversial due to potential health risks. Pheearanut has been boxing since age 12. His adoptive father and grandfather boxed professionally in their youth and he decided to follow in their footsteps. Photo by Lauren DeCicca

Tapanat Thaisamran watches son Pheeranut’s match. (Lauren DeCicca / For The Times)

Pheearanut Saleephol, 14, rests after round one of his match at the Max Muay Thai Stadium in Pattaya, Thailand on Monday April 11, 2019. Thai Boxing, locally known as Muay Thai, is considered to be the national sport of Thailand, with children as young as 8 years old competing professionally. In recent years, allowing children under the age of 15 to compete has become controversial due to potential health risks. Pheearanut has been boxing since age 12. His adoptive father and grandfather boxed professionally in their youth and he decided to follow in their footsteps. Photo by Lauren DeCicca

Pheeranut rests in his corner after the first round of his match.
(Lauren DeCicca / For The Times)

Pheearanut Saleephol, 14, takes a victory lap at the Max Muay Thai Stadium in Pattaya, Thailand on Monday April 11, 2019. Thai Boxing, locally known as Muay Thai, is considered to be the national sport of Thailand, with children as young as 8 years old competing professionally. In recent years, allowing children under the age of 15 to compete has become controversial due to potential health risks. Pheearanut has been boxing since age 12. His adoptive father and grandfather boxed professionally in their youth and he decided to follow in their footsteps. Photo by Lauren DeCicca

Pheeranut celebrates his victory in the Pattaya stadium.
(Lauren DeCicca / For The Times)