[MrDK]

My comment to this is based on a western mindset I also have to admit that I do not know the actual risk of Muay Thai to children. I will assume that the risk is equal or greater than the boxing that I know.

I think it is wrong to engage children in a "professional" sport, where physical harm (including brain damage) is a distinct possibility; regardless of potential prize and regardless of the level of poverty . Certainly the child does not have the capacity to make an informed decision and it would stand to reason that the poor parents are distracted by the potential earnings.

In discussing right or wrong in this matter the only point that I will accept as a counter argument to mine, is that westerners should not try to too involved in setting policies or influencing the culture in (for example) Thailand. In principle (IMO) the government should exert powers to protect children.