Teenage Thai boxer picking up the plaudits – and valuable life lessons

Thai boxer Harley Lee might just have turned 14, but he's already built a solid record of achievement as shown by the haul of medals and title belts he's won since he started to compete three years ago.

- by James Bovington

"I've won seven belts in total," he said. "My most recent win was at Barnsley Metrodome where I picked up the WKO world title belt at 54kg.

"I love attending the competitions and especially when I come home the winner. I love everything about Thai boxing, Muay Thai as it's officially called."

Dad Oliver, 34, added: "Harley started with karate aged seven. He switched to Muay Thai and hasn't looked back. Harley trains at Jompop Kiatphontip's gym near Leeds city centre so it's a bit of a trek from where we live in Harrogate up to five days a week. But children train there from even further away.