Meas Chanta and Vorn Viva will fight for ISKA World Titles August 28th at Olympic Stadium. Word around ringside is Thun Sophea vs Chay Kosal will be on the undercard.

…..

Cambodian Kickboxers to fight for World Title

Two Cambodian kickboxers will fight for World Titles at an ISKA World Championship event to be held at the Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh on Thursday August 28th 2008.

The event is being promoted by Paddy Carson Promotions and is being staged by CTN (Cambodian Television Network). It will take place at 7pm on August 28th at the Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh.

It is the first time ever that Cambodian kickboxers will have the chance to be world title holders in their weight class, in what is the country’s national sport. The fights are being sponsored by Cellcard, Total, Ginseng Wine, Cambodia Lottery and Indochine Resources.

“There is no reason why a Cambodian should not be a world champion in kickboxing – it is our national sport,” says CTN Deputy General Manager Po Vibol (Neat). “We are giving some of Cambodia’s kickboxers the chance to be recognized by the world of international kickboxing. We believe they will be the champions.”

Each of the world title fights are official and are sanctioned by the International Sport Kickboxing Association (ISKA). They will be jointly hosted by the Cambodian Amateur Boxing Federation (CABF) and the ISKA. International and Cambodian officials will be on hand to officiate and judge.

“I have been involved in the fight game for 40 years and I have seen a lot of kickboxers,” says Paddy Carson of Paddy Carson Promotions. “In my opinion Viva and Chantha are world class – they stand a very good chance of winning the ISKA belts but they will be tough fights.”

Cambodian fighter Vorn Viva will challenge Alban Ahmedi, who lives in Germany but is originally from Kosovo, in the 75kg weight class. Cambodia’s other contender is Meas Chantha, who will be fighting title holder Frankie Hudders from the UK in the 68kg weight class. As bonus fights 65kg ISKA former-World Champion Tim Thomas from the UK will take on Cambodian boxer Pich Sophan and 57kg Australian Champion Jacob Marks will fight Cambodian Em Vutha.

The International Sport Kickboxing Association was founded in 1986 in the USA. Since then it has expanded into 76 countries, organizing and sanctioning kickboxing fights, fighters and officials for fighters who prefer traditional South-East Asian kickboxing to western boxing in over 200 title events a year, including the US Open, held annually in Florida, the world’s largest kickboxing tournament.

Cambodian World Title Contender Kickboxer Profiles:

Vorn Viva
Place of Birth: Batheay, Kampong Cham
Age: 21
Fights: 23
Wins: 15
Draws: 1
Knockouts: 10
Club: Royal Gendarmerie, Trainer: Treung Sossay

Meas Chanta
Place of Birth: Rokah Kong, Kandal
Age: 23
Fights: 48
Wins: 34
Draws: 2
Knockouts: 15
Club: Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, Trainer: Chhit Sarim

International World Title Holder Kickboxer Profiles:

Alban Ahmedi
Place of Birth: Kosovo
Age:  29
Fights: 39
Wins: 27
Knockouts: 16
Draws: 2
Club: Scorpion Gym, Regensburg, Germany

Frankie Hudders
Place of Birth: UK
Age: 32
Fights: 56
Wins: 48
Knockouts: 21
Club: Frank’s Gym, Manchester, UK

(SOURCE: Press release from CTN)