Virginie Noel has a nice piece in the Phnom Penh Post this week about Sen Bunthen and what he’s been getting up to in Europe. Unable to fight because of a shoulder injury, Bunthen has been touring Europe as a star Kun Khmer trainer.
Announced at TV5. Eight fighters. Not sure of the format — single elimination or round robin. In no particular order:
- Kao Roomchang
- Long Sophy
- Sarim Vonthom
- Pom Saray
- Nuon Phireak
- Luk Vibol
- Les Tuk
- Kao Bunheng
Starts Sunday Jan 10, 2010.
Friday TV5:
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.
Friday TV5:
- An Samath decsion over Sarim Nga
- Chan Ratana lose on points to Cheam Hong
- Van Chanvait by 3rd round TKO Khann Sovan
- Khon Reach loses razor-thin decision to Pich Arun
Cambodia’s international boxers are doing well in the SEA Game in Laos. According to the Phnom Penh Post, Phal Sophat, 57kg, will fight for the gold medal on Thursday against Filipino Charley Suarez.
On Tuesday, Ven Diaman lost 2-13 in his 45kg semifinal bout, finishing third in the division and earning a bronze medal. Svay Ratha also settled for bronze after losing 6-4 to Pham Son Trung of Vietnam in the 64kg semifinal.
The Big Man, Eh Phoutang, picked up his bronze medal Sunday, losing to Malaysian Muhd Fairus Azwan.
Angkor Youth boxer Saeng Ratana stopped somebody yesterday in the third round. Ratana scored one count in the first, two in the second. The fight was finally called in the third.
Sam Ounluong stopped Sung Kangsang in the third in their rematch Saturday at CTN. Ounluong won the first bout by 3rd round tko, too. In the main event Saturday at CTN, Cheam Adam stopped Morn Kimlong in the third.
sunday ctn currently underway…
reachesay chaokdeap from Soriya’s club against Chut Ngoy from RCAF. chaokdeap on points.
chey sros 63.5 phun sophean … sophean by decision
bheut bunthoeun v sek kimphan … kimphan by decision
mul ratha v sung sovan … sovan by decision
TV5 SUNDAY
cheng rithy v chim sarath … rithy on points
sol say v pov sothea … sol say via 3rd round TKO
Pom Saray v Sarim Vonthon … vonton on points
BAYON SUNDAY
Sunong Sovantha v Khum Dina … Dina on points
Em Vutha v Lee Lu … Vutha by 1st round TKO
chan ratana v pao puot …
Angkor Youth Boxing Club fighter Suang Panya is fighting tomorrow at CTN in the 4-man tournament. The winner gets 1 million riel.
A: Suang Panya v Chey Sinith
B: Rith Arun v Nam Neurn
Winner A v Winner B
Should be good fights all around. On Sunday, it’s the lightweight final: Van Chanvey v Kao Roomchang. This should be a good fight too, with the potential to be fight of the year.
Sunday November 29 at TV5. Not sure of the weight, but probably around 68kg.
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.
Photo courtesy Duong-Tevi Sebire.
Australian Nick Power, who has been training in Australia, Thailand and Cambodia, finally got his chance inside a Cambodian ring today when he faced Meas Phirum. Power scored an 8 count in the first. Phirum scored his own 8 count in the second. But Nick responded with big hands, catching Phirum with hard if slightly wild left-right to end the fight with a 2nd-round KO.
Also on the card:
Rith Arun beat Hul Dara on points. Chey Sinith stopped Nuon Likho in the 3rd with low kicks. And Kao Savy outpointed Ty Bunhean.
At Bayon: Aem Klim Khmao beat Bheut Bunthoeun on points and Khann Sovan beat up returning veteran Pich Bunthoeun to earn a points victory.
Nuon Soriya beat Dutch fighter Yassine Lahmidi on points Saturday night in Belgium.
The Phnom Penh Post has the story: Cambodian kickboxing veteran Nuon Soriya makes a triumphant debut to the European scene, hammering Morrocan Yassim Lamidi in Frameries, Belgium
By Virginie Noel
Charleroi, Belgium — When Sen Bunthen arrived in Charleroi, Belgium, he was in good spirits. He had been training hard with Philippe Sebire, French trainer and president of the National Kun Khmer Commission of the FFSCDA, for the past two weeks, and he was feeling fit and strong. “I have never trained this hard in my life”, he said, looking back on daily hour-long cross-country runs, and endless sessions of 7-minute rounds with the French trainer. “Sen Bunthen has worked very hard”, said Sebire, adding, “no other fighter ever hurt me so much during training.”
The October 31 fight he was preparing for was his first stab at an international career. Facing Ali Abrayem, holder of six titles, including the WFCA K1 World Champion title, Sen Bunthen was not intimidated. “I’m not afraid of him. I am going in to win tonight”, Sen Bunthen asserted before the fight.
The night started off well. Bunthen won over the audience with his elegant Kun Kru. And while Ali started explosively into the first round, Bunthen was ready. He avoided Ali’s renowned flying knees and answered every kick and punch. One of Bunthen’s middle kicks landed so loudly on Ali’s side that it resonated through the large hall, prompting cheers from the audience. Toward the end of the first round, however, Bunthen’s luck turned.
While avoiding a head kick, Bunthen somehow dislocated his left shoulder. Suddenly his arm hung limply from his body and the fight had to be stopped. Ali kept his title without having fought for it. It was a disappointment for all. But trainer Philippe Sebire stayed positive. “What matters is that we brought a Khmer fighter to a WFCA K1 World Championship in Europe. He is the first Cambodian to fight for a title in Europe. The people saw a Khmer boxer, and he showed them what he was capable of. The injury is an accident, it could happen to anyone.”
Sen Bunthen will stay in France and Belgium for his recovery, where he will also give workshops at a Belgian Muay Thai club. Nuon Soriya will replace him for scheduled fights on the 14th November in Brussels, and on the 27th November in Rennes, France.
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.
Song Saruth v Bheut Bunthoeun and Van Chanvey v Nuon Mony in the lightweight tournament. Including today’s card, there are just two weeks left in the round robin tournament. The top four finishers will advance to the semifinals. At the moment, the current top 4 are:
- Kao Roomchang (6-0, 2 KOs)
- Van Chanvey (5-1, 4 KOs)
- Long Sophy (5-1, 1 KO)
- Vung Noy (3-3, 2 KOs)
Kao Roomchang v Long Sophy happens next Sunday and could shuffle up the rankings. If Long Sophy wins, Van Chanvey will jump into first place, with Kao Roomchang, Long Sophy and Vung Noy behind him. Should Sophy KO Roomchang — a virtual impossibility, however — that would force a second place tie. I am not sure what happens in that case. But, the odds are on Kao Roomchang outpointing Long Sophy to maintain first place and his undefeated tournament record. Assuming that, the semifinal matchups look like this:
- Kao Roomchang v Vung Noi
- Van Chanvey v Long Sophy
Roomchang and Sophy are the favorites, although Van Chanvey has upset Long Sophy before. A Van Chanvey Kao Roomchang rematch for first place would be off the charts. Stay tuned.
TV5 is hosting international fights October 30th at the Old Stadium arena. Bheut Kam, Nuon Soriya and Thun Sophea are fighting. Kam is facing a Canadian, Soriya and Japanese guy, and Sophea a Russian. No names as of yet. Thun Sophea is a replacement for Sen Bunthen, who dislocated his shoulder during the nationals in his finals bout against Mai Chaimov. Not that it mattered. Sen Bunthen left to France this morning, where he will spend 3 months teaching and training and, perhaps, fighting, under the auspices of French Kun Khmer promoter Philippe Sebire.
MORE: The undercard is Him Saran v Les Tuk and Van Chanvey v Kao Roomchang. Van Chanvey and Kao Roomchang are easily the two most explosive, exciting fighters around at the moment. Not to be missed. The pair’s first matchup Aug 2 is the leading contender for 2009 fight of the year.
Results are a little scattered for this weekend because I do not have the full schedules. I know Khon Reach KOd Seng Makara yesterday at TV5. On Saturday at CTN, Nuon Vichet just barely beat Som chanta, Nuon Likh KO’d Yul Samal with a wicked head kick in the fourth, and Lim Bunna got the TKO over Chey Sinith because of a cut in third.
At Bayon on Saturday, Pao Puot outpointed Sol Say, and Phirum Pheakkdey beat somebody whose name I cannot remember.
CTN: Saturday Oct 3; 2 p.m.
- A: Rith Arun v Lao Sinan
- B: Hul Dara v Reachesay Baba
- Chey Sinith v Khan Sovan
- Rith Arun v Reachesay Baba
BAYON: Saturday Oct 2; 4p.m.
- Phirum Pheak Kdey v Rung Vannak
- Luom Chomrong v Man Bopha (females)
- Pich Sombath v Sen Bunthen
CTN: Sunday Oct 4; 2 p.m
- Sombath Vanna v The Somkhan
- Bheut Bunthoeun v Nuon Mony
- Van Chanvey v Naem Chenda
BAYON: SundayOct 3; 4p.m.
- Michael Aranton v Saeng Kimsot
- Mut Srey Kea v Sok Srey Mao (females)
- Aem Vichet v Lim Bunna
TV5 is hosting the nationals at Olympic Stadium. Hundreds of fights there over the next 12 days. Check it out.
The annual national tournament started yesterday. More then 200 boxers and 300 kickboxers. Fights last for 13 days with about 100 fights per day. Starts at 1 p.m. at the Tae Kwon Do facility at Olympic Stadium complex. Please come support local fighters.
The photo is Seng Makara, just before his match with Pich Arun. A great fight. Pich Arun won.
Nineteen-year-old Vy Savuth from Kandal stopped Filipino boxer Paul Apolinario in the sixth round to win the vacant interim WBC international super bantamweight title and give Cambodia its first world boxing title.