Khon Reach, blue, just barely eked out a victory over Kun Khmer Champion Season One winner Cheam Adam on Sunday Nov 16. The loss knocks Cheam Adam from the 65kg title tournament. Khon Reach joins Ty Bunhan, Pich Arun and Him Saran in the semifinals.

Full story from The Phnom Penh Post.

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.

Mai Chaimov is coming of a first place finish at the nationals, having scored a victory over Sen Bunthen in the finals when Bunthen had to abandon the fight due to a dislocated shoulder. Kam’s last outing was a decision victory over Australian Harley Avison.

A good night of fights all around. Prime Minister Hun Sen gave main event fighters $1,000 each, and undercard fighters $500 each, including the two little guys, Rith Kao and Mtes Kmang, both about 14 years old. A Russian named Mitery, who was originally scheduled to fight Thun Sophea, did not make it for unspecified reasons. He was replaced by 27-year-old Ugandan fighter Muhammad Nsubuga, who trains at Rompo Boxing Gym in Bangkok.

Rith Kao v Mtes Kmang (draw)

Khan Sovan v Lim Bunna — Khan Sovan scored a knockdown in the 4th round with an elbow on his way toward earning the decision.

Chim Sarath v Cheng Rithy — Rithy winner by decision

Bheut Kam v Harlee Avison — Bheut Kam by unanimous decision. “Shit fight,” said Avison, who struggled to find his comfort zone in absence of his regular corner team.

Nuon Soriya v Yukiya Nakamura — Nakamura by majority decision. Soriya took the early rounds easy, but faded down the stretch as Nakamura came on strong.

Thun Sophea v Muhammad Nsubugu — Sophea by 1st round TKO. Nsubugu, who is predominantly an English boxer was a last-minute replace. He went down at the first low kick. Two kicks and two knockdowns later, the fight was over. Sophea hardly broke a sweat. “It felt like it was going to break,” Nsubugu said, as he poked gingerly at his left thigh afterward. “I prefer English boxing.”

Bheut Bunthoeun v Sarim Vonthon — Thon by decision.

Him Saram v Les Tuk — Les Tuk by decision. This was a rematch of the 63.5 national championship match, and it unfolded nearly the same way. Him Saram came out strong and looked good in the early rounds, but faded down the stretch. By the fourth round Les Tuk was throwing him around the ring like a rag doll.

Bheut Kam, 14 March 09, France.

Thun Sophea,  May 23 09, Belgium. Photos courtesy of Fifi.

http://www.kunkhmer.tv/ has great video highlights of Chey Kosal v Charlie Bechwaty in Australia.

[PHOTO: The price of victory: Sen Bunthen gets four stitches after defeating Chey Kosal on points Sunday at TV5]

Sen Bunthen will face Chey Kosal today at TV5. Sen Bunthen is the favorite.

Two nights of fights at the famed Radio Koh Kong arena, home to the equally legendary Club Kong Angreach.

Some photos here. More details in the next few days. Most notably, Angkor Youth Boxing Club’s Suong Panya lost on points to Koh Kong’s Somruth Sopheap.

Tuesday April 14, 2009

Put Hut v Ly Chin Hour ( Ly Chin Hour by decision)
Kao Sopheak v Kong Chanta (Kao Sopheak by 3rd round TKO)
Sarim Nga v Ra Narong (draw)
Chan Vireak v Sok Sovan (Chan Vireak by decision)
Soy Phirum v Chlam Saw (Chlam Saw by 3rd round TKO)

Wednesday April 15, 2009

Put Mony v Isle Yeah (Put Mony by decision)
Ok Sarun v Mat Chwaing (Mat Chwaing by 2nd round TKO)
Bin Kosal v Leang Sipich (Leang Sipich by 1st round TKO)
Khun Ratha v Phorn Panna (Phorn Panna by 2nd round TKO )
Put Samone v But Pa (Thailand) (Put Samone by decision)
Suong Panya v Somruth Sopheap (Somruth Sopheap by decision)

• Suong Sovantha v Khun Sichan
• Hul Dara v Chhlam Saw
• Sao Bunnouen v Dun Ratha

CTN: Saturday April 4; 2:30 p.m.

• A: Cheam Adam v Yak Yakil
• B: Him Saran v Sung Sovan (TKO4)
• (A) Yak Yakil v (B) Sung Sovan (TKO1)

BAYON: April 3; 4 p.m.

• Ly Chin Hour v  Mao Rithy
• Nam Neun v Lao Sinath Sinan (TKO5)
• Chea Samneang (25-7-1) v Les Tuk (53-10-1)

CTN: Sunday April 5; 2:30 p.m.

• Leap Samnang v Cheng Rithy
• Meak Sokra v Somruth Sopheap
• Phorn Sothea v Sang Sitha
• Chan Vireakpheap v Poy Noy

TV5: Sunday April 5; 3.30 p.m.

• Phorn Soknim v Long Mony
• Heng Samrang v Phun Sophorn
• Voy Sothun v Meas Chanta Um Dara

BAYON: April 5; 4 p.m.

• Khun Ratha v Put Samone
• Som Piseth v Heng Vichay
• Pich Seyha v My Chaimov (TKO3)

A lot of good fights this weekend, with some big names in the mix: Meas Chanta, Lao Sinath, Pich Seyha. Fights are good everywhere. It’s hard to pick the best this weekend.

… Meas Chanta, probably wisely, pulled out at the last minute. Som Piseth, from Angkor Youth fought well on Sunday, landing with heavy hands and opening up a nasty cut early against Heng Vichay, who somehow managed to hang around for all five rounds. The frequent stops to mop up the blood on his face probably helped.

On Saturday Paddy’s youngest fighter, Hoang Ramone, 48kg, powered past a lesser experience Kao Kotsal at CTN, scoring a 4th-round knock out with leg kicks.

“I’m afraid to fight,” Sen Bunthen joked before the fight. “I just came here to watch.” The decision, however, was real. After five rounds, Sen Bunthen, the 27-year-old Kompong Cham native, had earned a huge upset decision over veteran Ot Phutang.

That’s the cover of the April edition of The Globe. (It’s Thun Sophea.) Virginie Noel has the photos and story.Unfortunately, The Globe doesn’t have a web site. The only way to get the story is to download the pdf. It’s a big file: 12MB. If you’re outside Cambodia things like that don’t matter so much.