"When I first started I was nervous, but when you fight a lot the fear goes away," says Omsin. The career is not without its risks; after losing an eye in a fight, the former champion, Wannarong, is now faced with a life of disability. Yet Omsin is not deterred by the brutal reality of the sport. Having fought in over two hundred fights, Thai boxing has become both a lifestyle and a lifeline for him. His fighting provides half a month's wages for his family. He dreams of being a champion like his uncle, who boasts, "I have made a lot of money. I was able to buy land and am building a house." In impoverished Northern Thailand, children like Omsin must literally fight their way out.