Billy Moore (born c. 1973) is a British former professional boxer, author, and subject of the critically acclaimed 2017 film A Prayer Before Dawn. He is primarily known for his struggles with drug addiction, his incarceration in a notorious Thai prison, and his subsequent efforts toward recovery and advocacy.
Moore began his professional boxing career in the United Kingdom. Competing in the welterweight division, he achieved a modest record, though his career was significantly hampered and eventually overshadowed by his escalating addiction to heroin and other substances. His fighting style was characterized by a gritty, aggressive approach, often reflecting the turbulent nature of his personal life outside the ring.
By the early 2000s, Moore's addiction led him to Thailand, a country he initially visited seeking a new start and to escape his past. However, he quickly became entangled in the country's drug scene. In 2005, he was arrested for drug-related offenses and subsequently sentenced to three years in Klong Prem Central Prison, also known as the "Bangkok Hilton," a notoriously harsh facility.
During his imprisonment, Moore continued to battle his addiction and cope with the extreme violence and conditions of the prison. He found a measure of solace and purpose by participating in the prison's Muay Thai boxing program. This provided a framework for survival, discipline, and a means to earn respect and, at times, better treatment within the brutal hierarchy of the prison system. His boxing skills, though adapted from Western boxing to Muay Thai, were instrumental in his ability to navigate this environment.
Upon his release and return to the UK, Moore documented his harrowing experiences in his 2014 memoir, A Prayer Before Dawn: A Nightmare in Thailand. The book vividly details his descent into addiction, the horrors of his incarceration, and his struggles for survival and redemption through fighting. The memoir gained significant attention and was adapted into the 2017 biographical drama film A Prayer Before Dawn, directed by Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire and starring Joe Cole as Moore. The film received critical acclaim for its raw portrayal of prison life and addiction.
Today, Billy Moore continues to share his story, often speaking about addiction, recovery, and the challenges of reintegration into society after incarceration. His boxing background, while not leading to championship titles, remains a significant thread in the narrative of his resilience and ability to fight for survival, both literally and figuratively.