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.

In Friday night action at TV5, Pov Soksut cut Kao Lek (above) with an elbow in the fifth to clinch the decision at 69kg . In the early match, Aem Lihto outclassed Chay Oy through five, picking up the decision at 57kg.

On Saturday at CTN, Cheng Rithy (above), 22, improved to 61-9-1 with a win over Brigade 70 fighter Leap Samnang, 25, who dropped to 25-6. The pair had fought twice previously, with each fighter winning one decision. At Bayon TV, Phun Sophorn picked up a decision against Kleang Meung fighter Chey Sinith and Les Tuk scored an 8-count  against Division 911 fighter Chea Samneang in the first round on the way toward earning a decision. Chea Samneang came back in the later rounds but by then it was too late.

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.)

A good media crowd turned up this morning for a press conference announcing the upcoming ISKA World Title fights. Warriors in the ring, both Chanta and Viva were uneasy behind the microphone.

In other boxing news, Pich Seyha and Bheut Kam will both return to the ring this weekend after many months away. Pich Seyha will square offagainst heavy-handed May Socheat on Friday, and Bheut Kam will face current golden boy Lao Sinath in a highly anticipated match.Both fights at TV5.

They will fight 10 rounds in flyweight match, it said, adding that Samson has to defense her belt from WBC.

The match will have three judges and an American arbitrator called Gene Debianco, the press release said.

Cambodian Television Channel 5 is the event organizer and the boxing match will conduct at the old stadium in Phnom Penh, it added

SOURCE: China View

(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.)