Government to probe girls' kickboxing match

The Queensland government has ordered an investigation into a kickboxing bout between two young girls on the Gold Coast for $100 in prizemoney.

Premier Anna Bligh said many people who saw images of seven and eight-year-olds kickboxing for money would be concerned.

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"The minister has called for a review for this sort of sport to see if we should be regulating it, and I'd be interested in the views of other mums and dads," she told reporters on the Gold Coast.

The fight, between eight-year-old Jasmine Parr and seven-year-old Georgina "Punch-Out" Barton, was held at Broadwater PCYC on Saturday night for $100 prizemoney.

Jasmine cried and later admitted to being afraid of her younger opponent while she was being kicked.

But the youngster's father, kickboxing champion John Wayne Parr, has defended the bout, telling Channel Nine  he did not want to "wrap her up in cotton wool'' despite medical experts warning of the risk of brain injury.

"I think everyone's got one life, so you may as well go it 100 percent," Mr Parr said, likening the bout to "pillow fighting".

He has also said the sport helps to combat bullying.

Minister for Child Safety and Sport Phil Reeves said the government may have to regulate combat sports between children.

Mr Reeves, who has three young children, said he was shocked at images of two young girls slugging it out for cash.

"I have three daughters aged under 10 and like many mums and dads across Queensland, I was absolutely appalled at the image of children of this age being put in a boxing ring," Mr Reeves said in a statement.

"If reports about a $100 cash prize for the winning child are correct, then I find the whole situation even more disgraceful."

Mr Reeves said he had instructed the director-general of the Department of Communities to investigate the fight.

"I also want the director-general to provide recommendations on actions the government should consider to ensure the best interests of children are first and foremost when these types of events are being conducted."