The ring is taller than the 5-yr old all-stars who fight in it.

A blonde-haired girl with her hands strapped into boxing gloves sobs at the side of the ring.
In another image her twin brother takes a direct hit to the face from a sparring partner.
Miah and Kian Flanagan are just five years old.

But already they are seasoned fighters, taking part in an alarmingly fast-growing 'sport' that pits children against other children in the terrifying public arena of the boxing ring.

The opponents - some of them barely old enough to be at school - kick and punch in chilling scenes, while parents shout impassioned advice from the sidelines.
Incredibly parental 'advice' includes encouragement to "come on Princess, go forward, kick 'em, kick 'em."

Welcome to the world of child Thai boxing, one of the fastest growing martial arts in the UK with now over 500 registered clubs teaching this sport.
Children as young as four or five are becoming the latest recruits to organised fighting, where some people's attitude is: "If you're good enough to fight, you're old enough".

'Just enjoy yourself, baby' shouts her father as little Miah sobs
In the strictly governed world of conventional boxing youngsters must be at least 11 to compete.
But in MuayThai boxing there is no such limit. There is also no requirement for protective headgear, despite regular blows to the skull.

Parents have to sign a disclaimer before a fight, relieving promoters of any blame should their children be injured as they compete - sometimes in front of paying adult audiences.

Miah and Kian Flanagan live with their father Darren, a quantity surveyor, and mother Lisa, a nail technician, in Wigan.
The twins were enrolled in boxing lessons at their local gym seven months ago. Mr Flanagan is so passionate about the sport that he has converted the spare room into a gym so he can give the twins extra tuition.

Mr Flanagan believes that the training will help his daughter take care of herself.
"If someone grabs Miah when she's 15 what do you think is going to happen? She knows all the defence moves," he said.
"If I'd never taught my kids Thai boxing how guilty would I feel. Anyway Miah loves it - she's like a ballet dancer with boxing gloves at the moment," he told the the News of the World.

here's Miah, loving it.
"Every time she goes in that ring, there is always a worry she will start crying," said Mr Flanagan, who says he has told his daughter she can give up if she does not enjoy it.
Such is his determination for his children to succeed that he even alters her diet to 'bulk' her up if she faces an older opponent.

Meanwhile his wife coats her daughter with glittery make-up and hairspray before she enters the rings.