From Virginie Noel:

Dear Friends,

I would like to invite you to my photography exhibition “Bonkoul Krohorm - Red Corner” at Living Room, which is part of the PhotoPhnomPenh Festival 2008.

Images can be viewed from the 29th of November on, but the opening event will take place on

Saturday the 6th of December, at 5pm.

*.*.*

Bonkoul Krohorm - Red Corner

Looking into the eyes of Cambodian kickboxers

Capturing moments of extreme intensity, this is a unique series of portraits of Cambodian kickboxers.

Between rounds of a competitive fight, the boxers retreat to their corners and are surrounded by their trainers - pulling, splashing, fanning, shouting at them - as they try to regain energy.

Yet for a brief moment, the boxers leave the ring as they gaze at the camera, and an exchange takes place.

These portraits not only capture the boxers’ mental state, but also reflect on the role of the photographer in creating images that convey a highly subjective reality.

Notable weekend decisions:

Vung Noi beat Van Chanwait on points. Pich Arun beat Khon Reach on points. Long Sophy KO’d Po Vansak in the third with knees. Hang Samrin earned a very narrow decision over Kao Rumchang.

Sok Sovan got a close decision over Leap Samnang.

May Sopheap got the decision over Long Chhay Sophal.

Po Pauline got the decision over Aem Punlok.

May Chai Mo vs Sol Say. Sol Say gave MCM two 8 counts in the first, both right hooks. After another 8 count early in the second, two body shots, referee Meas Sokry called the fight a no decision, with the explanation that MCM was not fighting to his ability.

Today starting at 3 p.m. at TV5 stadium — Bheut Kham, Lao Sinath, Vorn Viva and Ot Phoutang will fight against foreigners. On the under card is Chlam Saw v Ti Narin, Sao Bunnueon v Sol Say, Sen Bunthen v May Sopheap and one more but I don’t know who.

In club news Seung Panya fought in a four-man tournament Saturday Nov 1, 2008, at CTN. He was eliminated in the first round, KO’d in the fourth. Bummer.

The main event on Saturday was Em Vutha vs Van Chanwait. These two fought for the 57kg title in The Nationals just a couple of weeks ago. Chanvait put up a better fight on Saturday than he did in The Nationals, and as a result he didn’t get knocked out — but still lost on points.

In 60kg tournament news, Long Sophy beat Phun Sophorn on points. Heng Samrang was scheduled to fight Em Samnang but for reasons unknown the fight didn’t happen.

On Sunday Nov 2, Chan Ratana and Seung Kangsan fought a rematch at TV Bayon. Same result as the first: Ratana won on points.

There is talk of Apsara TV getting into the fight game come January, bringing the total number of weekly sponsors of boxing to four. Nice.

Today was Po Vansak vs Chey Sinith and Kao Rumchang vs Nuon Mony. I am not sure if Sinith was sick or just convinced he couldn’t win, but he didn’t put up much of a fight and the referee called a stop to the fight in the opening seconds of the fourth round and awarded Vansak the winner. Rumchang and Mony was a pretty even and uninspiring fight, too. The difference was an elbow that KR landed in the fourth that sent Mony to the canvass with a terrible bloody nose.

I know Vansak has fought at least once before against Phun sophan, who he KO”d rather effortlessly in the third. And Heng Samrang has also picked up a victory, over whom I am not sure.  Unfortunately, that’s all the info I have. I’ll try to get more details.

I missed the last day of the finals in order to head to Maung, Battambang province, to see some boxing at the village level. Ot Phoutang, Chey Kosal, Kao Bunheng and Pich Sophan, among others, went to put on a show for the local crowds. It was, to say the least, an absolutely amazing experience. More photos in the gallery.

The fights were promoted by an Australian-Khmer at the local wat, Wat Paw, if I remember correctly. The Phnom Penh group include Eh Phoutang, Pich Seyha, Po Vansak and referees Trueng Sossay, Chhit Sarim, Sok Vichey and Chuon Samnang. They came with good gloves, proper shorts from CTN and a band.

For absolutely breath-taking photography of Cambodian village-level boxing, see ko-knea’s flickr set.

(PHOTO: Vorn Viva)

The semi-finals and finals are being held at the TV5 stadium, with the final fights and ceremonies on Sunday. Van Chanvay is out, beat by Long Sophy on points. Leap Somnang threw in the towel in the 2nd against Chan Vireak due to sickness. Vorn Viva and Sen Bunthen both advanced. Today’s notable fights include Bheut Kam against Kao Bunheng at 63.5, Em Vutha vs Van Chanvait at 57,  and, AND! Ot Phoutang vs Chey(ng?) Ratana, who with flamboyant spinning back kicks and ax kicks, beat veteran May Sopheap two days ago to advance.

RESULTS: Em Vutha stopped Van Chanvait in the 4th with relentless low kicks. Bheut Kam cruised passed Kao Bunheng in 5 and Chan (not Chey or Chang) Ratana lost to Ot Phoutang by decision — Kam  and Ot treading mostly on reputation as nether of their opponents put up a terribly convincing fight.

In other news, Ot is fighting Chey Kosal tomorrow night in Battambang — Pich Sophan is also on the card, not sure against who — for a big Katun festival in Maung.

The Nationals are being held at Olympic Stadium this year. Same as last year, there’s two rings, one for the A division and one for B. B-division is in a hot, cramped room just barely big enough for a ring. A-division is in a large, comfortable hall the size of an airplane hanger. Day 1 and 2 have seen 48, 51, 54, 57, and 60 kg divisions. The coming days will see the heavier weights. Unlike last year, Bheut Kam is fighting this year. In his first match, his opponent failed to show. In the rest of the field no surprises so far.  All th ebig names have made it through.

Angkor Youth is so far 3 and 2, with both losses coming by way of moto accident.

Golden Muscle Wine is promoting a 12-man tournament for a sponsored 60kg belt. The 12 contenders are:

1. Van Chanvey
2. Po Vansak
3. Nourn Phirak
4. Em Samnang
5. Phun Sophorn
6. Sang Sarith
7. Heng Samrang
8. Nourn Mony
9. Keo Rumchang
10. Long Sophy
11. Chey Sineth
12. Sek Kimphan

All 12 fighters are from different clubs. It’s a tough field. Noticeably absent from the field is Bheut Kham (instead, representing Club Saravan is Long Sophy). It would be great to see the winner of this tournament go against BK.

I’ll go out on a limb and make a prediction: Van Chanvey. Po Vansak, Keo Rumchang and Chey Sinath have to be favorites, too. I’m pretty sure everybody will fight everybody and the winner will be the guy with the most points, second place to second number of points, and so on. One or two fights per weekend, I am not sure.

(PHOTO: Mr Van Chanvey, backstage at Bayon TV.)

Inside of three weeks, Chey Ratana, pictured, has beaten two of the top four Kun Khmer champions. Two weeks ago it was a point decision over Seung Kangsan at CTN. This past weekend, Ratana stopped Khun Makara in a stunning first round KO.

(PHOTO: Don’t know the guy’s name. He fought a good fight. Lost on points. As per usual, stitches with no anesthesia.)

In other notable news, it appears that Bheut Kam is back on the circuit. After losing to Lao Sinath a few weeks back, Kam came back for a rematch two weeks ago, which he won on points. Not quite the KO that Sinath got in their first matchup, but an evening of the score all the same. On Friday, September 11, Kam was back in the ring and put a fast end to Khon Reach’s recent surge. Reach was on a three or four fight winning streak, with impressive victories over such notables as Sarim Vonthon, Long Sophy and Phal Sophat. Reach’s streak came to an abrupt end with a vicious body blow in the second.

Meas Chanta will fight in MacKay, Australia, on the 27th of September, against Andrew “KO” Keogh for the vacant ISKA Oriental Rules Welterweight title. Good luck, MC!

The ISKA web site has a rundown of last month’s world title fights, (hat tip Tazz at kunkhmer.org), including lots of great photos.

(PHOTO: ISKA UK President Paul Hennessy and Larry, whose last name I don’t know, a popular fight announcer.)

And sadly, there is a pretty big but (get it?). The battery in my camera died after the Viva fight. So I got nothing of Tim and Sophan or Chanta and Frankie. There were literally a dozen or more shutterbugs poking their lenses through the ropes that night, so there’s definitely more stuff out there. Where, I don’t know. If you do, please share.

As for video, Kun Khmer’s gift to Youtube, Thoeunny, says “I should have those fights soon.”

http://www.paddysgym.com/photos/main.php?g2_itemId=531

The ISKA crowned two new world champions tonight.

1. Cheam Adam lost to Seung Kangsan on points
2. Chay Kosal lost to Thun Sophea on points
3. Em Vutha beat Jacob Marks on points
4. Alban Ahmedi lost to Vorn Viva on points (World Title Fight)
5. Pich Sophan lost to Tim Thomas on points
6. Frankie Hudders lost to Meas Chanta on points (World Title Fight)

Tim scored an 8-count against Sophan in the third. Chanta scored two 8-counts against Frankie also in the third, both  times with knees. I’ll have some photos up in the next few days.

The Cambodia Daily, quoting Ma Serey, says the fights will be broadcast live on CTN tonight, which means CTN International viewers will get a rebroadcast sometime later in the day.

Everybody made weight.

1. Cheam Adam (64.5) vs. Seung Kangsan (65.4)
2. Chay Kosal (72.8) vs. Thun Sophea (72.7)
3. Em Vutha (56.3) vs. Jacob Marks (56.4)
4. Alban Ahmedi (73.8) vs. Vorn Viva (72.1)
5. Pich Sophan (64.9) vs. Tim Thomas (65.4)
6. Frankie Hudders (66.8) vs. Meas Chanta (66.6)

Fights are in the indoor arena at Olympic Stadium. Doors open tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. A few more photos.

PHOTO: Frankie Hudders, with the ISKA World Title Belt, at Paddy’s Gym.

All the international fighters have arrived. Everybody worked a couple of rounds for the television cameras this evening at Paddy’s gym. The Khmer boys worked out at the CTN stadium in the afternoon. There’s a few pics in the photo gallery from both session, and more to come from tomorrow night’s press conference and weigh in, and then of course, the fights.

Aaron Leverton sizes up the four Khmer fighters on the fight card Thursday night, the men who will literally be putting their bodies on the line in the name of national and personal pride.

“The Dragon”

Nicknamed “The Dragon” due to the full-canvass tattoo covering his back, Meas Chantha has the reputation of a killer, figuratively, if not literally. Currently the most dominant kickboxer in his weight class, Meas Chantha is the guy listed as “the only one who can beat Chey Kosal”. It helps if you know who Chey Kosal actually is, but, then again, that kind of title is fairly self-explanatory.

Read the rest of this entry »

Aaron Leverton sizes up the fighters on the undercard Thursday night: Cheam Adam vs Seung Kangsan and Chay Kosal vs Thun Sophea.

. . . . .
By now everybody knows that 2 Cambodians are going to earn themselves eternal glory or unending humiliation on August 28th when they ever-so-humbly stand up in the Olympic Stadium and say “I think I’m good enough to be World Champion.”

But two fights make for a pretty boring night. There are also two non-title fights to support the main feature, but four fights only make for a not-quite-so boring night.

Filling out the undercard will be one of Cambodia’s favourite pastimes, watching two grown Khmers try and elbow, knee, punch and kick each other into submission.

The top of the undercard is one of the most anticipated fights in a long time. Quite literally years, in fact.

Read the rest of this entry »

In a word: no. Sorry.

UPDATE: According to the Cambodia Daily, CTN will broadcast the fights live tonight.

I believe Eurovision Sports is negotiating for the rights to rebroadcast some or all of these fights at some point in the future, but not for a live broadcast. check your local listings, as they say.

I’ll post results here Thursday night when the fights are over.

REMATCH: This weekend(Aug 30-31), not sure Friday or Sunday, at TV5.

Local fight legend Bhuet Kam returned to the ring Friday night to face one of the country’s most promising rising stars, Lao Sinath.

In the first two rounds the young man from Battambang looked every bit the untouchable fighter he has always been. Kam pushed the action through round one, landing lightening-fast combinations and once sweeping Sinath to the canvass and then completing the 360 spin with a quick bow and a boyish grin.

Midway through the second Kam landed a solid one-two that prompted referee Meas Sokry to stop the action and give Sinath a standing eight. It looked then like Sinath would be yet another KO statistic in long line of losers, but after the bell rang it was Bheut Kam in the red corner breathing heavy. Over in the blue corner, Sinath looked like he might be at home watching television.

In the third it was Sinath moving forward, pushing the action, and as Kam started tiring, Sinath started landing.

Kam opened the fourth with everything he had left. Sinath took it all and kept moving forward, leaving Kam with nothing left. Sinath pushed Kam against the ropes and landed a knee that doubled the legend over, then another to the head that sent Kam crumbling to the canvass.

Bheut Kam got back up only to get pushed back into the corner, take a few more shots, and collapse for good.

One of the ringside regulars, Yay Mop, said Kam’s only other loss was his very first fight more than a decade ago.

Outside the stadium a crowd gathered around as Lao Sinath, wincing in pain, massaged oinment into his legs. Bheut Kam’s younger brother Samkhan pulled off his long-sleeved shirt and wrapped it around the waist of his brother, who was outside in just his underwear, being carried off to waiting car.

Kam turned to Western boxing about a year ago after winning yet another kickboxing title at 60kg, a division he has owned for the better part of a decade. At the end of 2007 he fought a couple of boxing matches against unheralded imported talent, winning, but only just. He had not fought at all in 2008.

(* I’ve got round 3 and 4 on video. I just need to find a decent internet connection.)