By Dominic Whiting

By Dominic Whiting

BANGKOK (Reuters): As a boy, Parinya Kiatbussaba dreamed of
becoming a famous kickboxer, and went on to fight regular bouts
in Bangkok's big stadiums until the authorities imposed a ban --
with a rule to exclude women from the ring.

Parinya is what Thais call a katoey -- a term that loosely
covers camp men, transvestites and transsexuals.

She is also a good kickboxer, who regularly drew big crowds
until a sex change two years ago stopped her fighting men in
Thailand's main boxing halls.

But becoming a woman, rather than putting an end to her
career, brought Parinya new, lucrative opportunities abroad.

At 20, Parinya is a star in Japan, where the rules are more
flexible. She has also fought in the United States.

"In Japan, like here, people recognize me in the street and
ask for my autograph," she told Reuters after a sparring session.

"Thousands of people come to watch the fights and they're also
televised," Parinya said. "It's better money than in Thailand, so
it's worth it -- even if it hurts."

Katoeys are so much a part of Thai life that some young boxers
at Parinya's training camp do not think twice about getting in
the ring with her.

But Parinya, her hair in a long ponytail and wearing mascara,
lipstick, boxing vest and shorts, gestured at the teenage boys
hitting punch bags and said some feared being embarrassed.

"When I was young, other boxers teased me a bit but when they
saw I was a good boxer they respected me," she said. "Now they're
scared of getting beaten by a woman."

Parinya took up boxing after being taunted for being too
effeminate when a 12-year-old boy.

"I wanted to box because people used to tease me for being a
katoey and I wanted to get back at them," she said.

"I was like a normal Thai boy -- very quiet and shy -- but my
dad trained me and taught me to be strong."

Moving to Bangkok changed her life.

"Really, she was quite a good boxer and the public liked her
because she was colorful," said Kittiphong Kuiyapong, a columnist
at Muay Siam (Thai Boxing) magazine.

"After five or six fights in Bangkok she got a lot of money,
and had silicone breast implants and then the operation."

Then her problems began, Kittiphong said.

"Aside from the rules against women fighting, it would have
been dangerous for her to fight with silicone breasts," he said.

"There was also the problem, even before her operation, that
she refused to take her clothes off for the weigh-in."

Box and make-up

Thai katoeys are famously almost indistinguishable from women,
and Parinya is no exception.

"After the operation some boxers came to chat me up. But you
can't trust men. I'm always a bit suspicious," Parinya said.

She said her pre-bout ritual included putting on make-up as
well as the usual psyching-up.

"It's normal for women. Even as a boxer I still want to be
beautiful."

But Kittiphong said Thai audiences would probably not see
Parinya's talent again.

"She's got a problem now because women don't want to fight her
-- she's too strong -- and since the operation she's become too
weak to fight men," he said.

"But I guess in Japan the level's not so good."

Parinya said her job options would be limited.

Although katoeys are largely accepted in Thai society -- and
have traditionally played a major role in the entertainment
industry -- they are still not taken seriously.

"I'd say that women are at a disadvantage in Thai society, and
katoeys are even further down the scale," Parinya said.

"It's difficult for us to become civil servants and most
companies won't take us on. You don't get policemen or nurses who
are katoeys," she said.

Parinya said she wanted to pass on her skills to a new
generation of boxers.

"I want to teach Thai boxing to kids, and get them playing
sport so they don't get into drugs," she said.