Footage shows two five-year-old boys learning boxing as they take part in a Muay Thai fight.

The young lads - Gampan in red shorts and Biggop in Blue - were on the undercard during a fight night in Roi Et, Thailand, last Thursday night.

Footage shows them fighting without head guards as they throw their arms at each other.

The referee watches them to ensure they are safe in the under 17kg weight division bout.

Some viewers praised the boys' strength and technique saying they would grow up to be ''excellent fighters''.

Anuchit Chansompong said: ''These two boys will be proud representatives of our nation.''

But others claimed that they were too young to be taken part in contact sports.

Cherry Aomkuan said: ''This is so brutal. They are only children and can be seriously injured. They are not even old enough to have a proper choice.''

Boxing trainer Yutapoom Kunseuk who filmed the video: ''I have worked in boxing a long time and it was good to see young boys doing the sport.

''They were hitting each other a lot but that is sport and they were safe. The boys were good friends after the match. They will have a very successful and lucrative career.''