WE, like many people in the Bolton area today, will be alarmed at the prospect of a five-year-old girl taking part in a kick boxing contest.

Little Laurelle Fitzsimmons is set to step into the ring at Liverpool in February to fight another similar young girl, and make sporting history as the youngest ever. Last May, a fight was scheduled at Horwich Leisure Centre between Laurelle and a six year-old girl from Leicester but this was called off.

At the time, there were accusations of encouraging violence, and heavy criticism from child psychologists and Christian groups.

The Fitzsimmons' family has a long and successful link with Thai Boxing; all their children take part in the sport and parents Marie and Barry have always been caring and supportive.

But, the sight of a very young girl of just three stone stepping into a ring to use violence against another similarly young girl is not our idea of entertainment.

We accept that both exponents will be well-trained and disciplined as well as probably highly talented in their sport. We also acknowledge that they will be well-padded and that the bout will involve what is curiously called "semi-contact."

But ... we, as a local newspaper reflecting the myriad views of a majority of the Bolton public, still firmly believe that arranging for little girls like Laurelle and her opponent to fight in public in this way is at least unsavoury and at worst morally wrong.

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