Mat Chwaing (Koh Kong) v Reachesay Chaokdeap … Mat Chawaing by decision. The fight ended very weirdly. With 10 seconds left in round 5 Deap stumbled and fell to one knee on his own accord. While down, Mat Chwaing kneed him in the head. Deap stood up quickly but a little bit dazed and Chawing nailed him with an elbow to score an 8 count. Deap probably won the first 3 rounds. Chwaing the 4th, and the 5th was up for grabs until the 8-count.

Pi Oy v Put Samone … Pi Oy by decision

Long Sophy v Kao Bunheng … Long Sophy by decision

Pich Sombath v Vy Sotun … Pich Sombath by decision

SATURDAY:

At CTN: Samone Luong decision over Kao Savy, Van Savy decision over Meas Sokra, and Aem Klimkhmao decision over Mun Seyla.

At Bayon: Ong Sina decision over The Samkhan, Phal Sophat decision over Heng Samrang, and Sek Kimphan lost a razor-thin decision to Aem Vichet.

SUNDAY:

At CTN: Chey Vannak decision over ???, Khim Pichchenda decision over Khon Sichan, Sung Sovan decision over Him Saran, and Rith Arun decision over Hul Dara.

At Bayon: Put Hut decision over Mat Chaya, Aem Lihto decision over Chim Sarat, and Chan Ratanak (aka the Bokotor Kid) over Sol Say.

NEXT WEEK:

Aem Vutha returns to the ring against a very tough Phon Sophana (aka Phan Phantith from Club Koh Kong) at Bayon on Sunday (57kg), and Lao Sinath faces Van Chanvey for the 60kg title at CTN, also on Sunday.

Vung Noy against Van Chanvait (60kg) at Bayon on Saturday should also be interesting, as should Morn Samet v Reachesay Chandy, two very tough fighters at 57kg,  on the same card.

• Chey Vannak v Mao Rithy
• Suang Barang v Sarim Rithy
• Khon Reach v Long Sophy

BAYON: Saturday April 11; 4 p.m.

• Aem Vichet v Rith Arun
• Meas Vichet v Morn Bopha
• Kao Lek v Peov Soksut

CTN: Sunday April 12; 2 p.m.

• Leang Sepich v Sok Visay
• Muteh Kmang v Sambath Vanna
• Phal Phananth v Chai Oy

BAYON: Sunday April 12; 4 p.m.

• Chea Sarak v Nop Vanteth
• Chao Phalduon v Chey Sinith
• Morn Kimlong v Khon Makara

No fights at TV5 this weekend. TV5 fights next weekend will be held in Takeo, not exactly sure where. It’s supposed to be televised.

Khon Reach v Long Sophy is the big fight of the weekend. Reach is one of the few who have have knocked out Long Sophy. The pair’s last fight ended in the third (maybe fourth) roundwith a side kick — a relatively rare move.

At the lighter weights, Aem Vichet v Rith Arun could aslo be interesting. Rith Arun is a relative newcomer, with less than 20 fights. But he rarely loses. Aem Vichet will be tough for him, and a win would help propel him up the ranks.

Chai Oy and especially Chey Sinith are always enjoyble to watch.

Looking ahead to next weekend, Pich Seyha will face 67-kg title holder May Sopheap at the TV5 Takeo stadium next Friday, the 17th. The Takeo staduim is new territory for TV5 boxing, and it’s not quite clear what the station wants to achieve holding fights so far away from the city.

In previous Khmer New Years, the station has held fights at Mondial Center, a pretty sorry place to hold fights. Outdoors, Modial was incredibly hot, crowded, no place to sit and hard to see the action without. Takeo will probably be similar. It really makes no sense.

Nuon Soriya, Vorn Viva, Meas chanta and Chlam Saw will all face some French fighters of unknown pedigree. No TV coverage. You gotta be there.  More details as the become available.

UPDATE DEC 13. Nope! Chanta is not on this card. There will be a female fight between a Khmer and French fighter.

RESULTS:

• Alain Schiffer lost by TKO 3rd round to Chlam Saw.
• Sok SreyTouch lost by 1st round TKO to Lelo Page (girls)
• Derdega Sofiane drew with Nuon Soriya.
• Chaibi Hicham drew with Vorn Viva.

John Vink has great photos, like this one.

More photos below the fold.

The press meets Sok Srey Tuoch.

Rith Arun lost to Poeu Pauline, younger brother of Poeu Paulie, on points. The pair fought last Saturday at Bayon to the same decision.

Trainer and referee Treung Sossay holds the flag. Behind him is RACF fighter Yim Deap, and Club Koh Kong boxers Chlam Saw and Suarang Ly.

French trainer and promoter Philippe Sibire and Lelo Page, who outclassed Sok Srey Tuoch in a decisive first round TKO.

The “White Shark”.

Alain Schiffer gets the first of three 8-counts from referee Meas Sokry in the 3rd.

ISKA Middleweight Champion of the World Vorn Viva.

Undercard

• Aem Lihto v Chim Sarath (Lihto by decision)
• Kao Bunheng v Pich Sombath (Sombath by decision)

International matches

• Meas Chanta v Ahmed Sadi (Chanta by TKO, 3rd)
• Abbas Ahmadi v Nuon Soriya (Soriya by decision)
• Vorn Viva v Ken Tsubosaka (Viva by decision)
• Benjamin Cahe v Eh Phoutang (Cahe by decision)

Soriya has been working on his boxing skills with Paddy over the last few months. It will be interesting to see how this translates into the ring. In his last fight, March 1 against German Valdet Gaishi, Soriya scored two knockdowns, both with punches. Perhaps a TKO today?

The Bayon TV stadium is located 2 kilometers past the Monivong Bridge on Route 1. The show starts at 43 p.m. and includes music performances by local pop stars. Tickets are 10,000 reil. Seating is open. Gates open a 2. Get there early.

UPDATES: Decisions added.

(Khun Makara, blue, on his way to a second round knockout over Sok Vichay in the first match of the CTN reality series Kun Khmer Champion.)

From the weekend of March 15-17: There were just too many fights to keep track of this weekend. TV5 had fights Friday at the stadium at then Saturday and Sunday at Mondial Center. Why I couldn’t say. Those were in addition to Saturday and Sunday at CTN and Saturday at TV Bayon.

The biggest event of the weekend was the first Kun Khmer Champion fight at CTN on Sunday, when Khun Makara KO’d Sok Vichay in the second round. In other weekend news, Nuon Mony got a decisive point decision over Yim Deap at TV5 on Friday. At CTN Chim Sarath beat Em Punlork on Saturday. On Sunday Vung Noi beat Phal Seyha and Dun Ratha got another, even more convincing win over Phik Ek than the week previously at TV5. On Saturday at TV Bayon, My Sopheap beat Vy Sothun.

Looking forward to this weekend, the second Kun Khmer Champion match be Tim Veasna vs Rak Vichay, both from Cambodia’s pradal serey heartland, Battambang.

(Thun Sophea got back in the ring Saturday March 8th in a Western boxing match-up against Seung Samdy. Sophea won by TKO in the 2nd.)

FRIDAY, TV5

Khan Sovann beat Sung Sovan on points. Pich Rasmey KOd Long Asie in the 5th. And Club Eh Phoutang fighter Dun Ratha beat Phik Ek on points.

SATURDAY, CTN

Chlam Saw beat Hul Dara, Phun Sophorn beat Pov Sothea and up-and-coming Siem Reap star Sek Ratana beat Sang Sitha, all by decision.

SATURDAY, TV Bayon

Em Vutha got the decision over Chan Vireak. Sarim Vonthon won a very very close decision over Wan Chan Way. Heng Samran got a convincing point victory over Les Tok. And Club Eh Phoutang fighter So Saruth fought hard and smart but it wasn’t enough to beat the virtually unbeatable Bheut Somkhan.

SUNDAY, CTN

RCAF favorite Long Sophal got a point decision over Rev Pisey and Ma Chai Mov got the decision over Long Phin.

SUNDAY, TV5

On Sunday at TV5 Leap Samnang got the decision over Suarang Ly and heavy handed My Socheat got the point decision over a tough Long Kimsan, despite getting 8-counted in the fourth by a sneaky head kick.

More photos below the fold.

Long Asie between rounds, TV5.

Club Eh Phoutang fight Dun Ratha before his match with Pich Ike on Friday at TV5.

Chlam Saw in the striped shirt before his match up with Saravan Keila fighter Hul Dara on Saturday at CTN. Suarang Ly and Long Sophal talk strategy.

The new TV Bayon staduim.

Suong Panya (blue) vs Lang Bunlin (red). Blue got the decision.

Wan Chan Way (red vs Sarim Vonthon (blue). Blue got the decision.

In four fights over the March 7-9 weekend Angkor Youth Boxing Club fighters went a respectable two and two.

On Friday at TV5 Saeng Ratana got 8-counted in the second when he stepped into a left hook from Chan Vibol. Ratana tried to stage a comeback, but Vibol worked the combinations a bit better and carried the decision.

On Saturday at CTN Michael Aranton debuted with a TKO victory over Taprum Meanchey fighter Nuon Samnang. (photos) Aranton 8-counted Samnang in the third and opened up a cut over his right eye in the final minute of the round. In the fourth Aranton came out swinging and it wasn’t long before he caught a tired Nuon Samnang with a right hand that landed flush and knocked Samnang out cold.

At the new Bayon TV stadium on Saturday, Suong Panya 8-counted Lang Bunlin in the 4th on his way toward earning the point decision (photos). On Sunday at TV5, little Hoang Ramone, 45kg, lost on points to a bigger, stronger, more experienced Sok Visal. The difference was in the clinch, where Visal landed a lot of knees.

(PHOTO: The Suong Brothers, Sovantha and Panya, back stage at the new Bayon TV stadium.)

UPDATE MAR 5: Michael fights 3rd at CTN, which means it should be possible to see him fight and then hustle over to Bayon to support Panya.

(Photo: Pi Narin, 51kg)

Friday Feb 29, TV5

In a rematch from late January, Chhay Rithy established himself as the man to beat at 51kg with a decisive point victory over Pi Narin. In the second main event, another rematch, Nuon Mony won a decision over Nuon Setsong. Nuon Setsong got the victory in the pair’s first match two weeks ago.

Saturday Mar 1, CTN

Fighting for a cash prize of 1 million riel, Chim Sarat, Chan Vireak, Som Chanta and Nuon Likho faced off in a four-man sudden-death tournament at CTN. In the first match, Chan Vireak beat Chim Sarath. In the second, Som Chamta beat Nuon Likho. In the final, Chan Vireak beat Som Chanta. In undercard news, Suong Sovantha beat Soy Seyha on points. (Sovantha is the brother of AYBC fighter Suong Panya.)

Olympic Stadium, TV Bayon

Bayon TV is getting into the weekend fight action. The TV station kicked off their Saturday afternoon program with a gala affair at the indoor arena at Olympic Stadium. The stadium holds 7,000. When Eh Phoutang entered the ring about 5:30 p.m., the place was 95% full. That’s a huge turnout. Bayon TV had to be happy. CTN maybe not so much.

In undercard action, Sok Sovan dropped a decision to Nuon Lihto and Nuon Sokheng lost on points to Nuon Phireak, despite getting an 8-count in the fifth.

In main event action Vorn Viva won a decision over Scottish fighter Craig Jose at 75kg. Nuon Soriya 8-counted German Valdet Gaishi once in the first and again in the fifth on his way toward winning the decision at 63kg. Ot Phoutang cruised to a point victory over Russian Dimitry Ushkanov at 67kg. And in the upset of the night Australian Adam Shahir Kayoon outpointed Cambodian fight legend Eh Phoutang for a second time.

Photos from the night are here.

Sunday Mar 2, CTN

In Sunday action at CTN, Angkor Youth Boxing Club fighter Phal Seyha fought to a draw with Singha Keila fighter Chae Euy at 57kg. Chheng Kna lost on points to Nam Neurn at 60kg. At 65kg Kong Cheayden, whom I’ve never seen before, KO’d Rith Pisey in the second with industrial strength roundhouse kicks to the body. Very impressive. Cheayden is one to watch.

TV5

And finally, in Sunday action at TV5, Mul Ratha beat Long Bunin (??) on points in the first main event. In the second, golden boy Lao Sinath rematched with Saravorn Sports top cat Long Sophy. Lao Sinath got the decision in the first match-up three weeks ago. Sinath removed any doubts this time with a wicked kick to the head in the third that all but ended the fight. Sophy managed to get back up and fight on, but not for very long. A knee to the body seconds later ended the fight for good. Lao Sinath by TKO in the 3rd.

A few photos below the fold.

Bheut Kham, working the corner for Chhay Rithy.

Pi Narin vs Chhay Rithy

Bong Eh between rounds.

A great pair: CTN teams up with Sra Saich Dom to give away a TV.