The Kiwi’s didn’t get the results they wanted, but they all fought hard.

• Vorn Viva vs Steve Donaldson (Viva by TKO in the 3rd)
• Meas Chanta vs Joel Nadin (Chanta by TKO in the 4th)
• Nuon Soriya vs Andy Donaldson (Soriya by TKO in the 2nd)
• Eh Phoutang vs Tony Angelov (Eh by TKO in the 2nd)

Many people thought the Angelov fight could have gone on a little longer. Angelov had definitely won the first round. Early in the second Angelov and Eh Phoutang were trading punches in the corner. Eh seemed to be getting the better of the two when the referee jumped in and gave Angelov an eight count. Two quick 8-counts followed on seemingly lesser exchanges bringing the mandatory stoppage rule into play.

“I’m not saying I would have won,” said Angelov after the fight. “But I’ve taken a lot more punishment than that and come back.”

Sill, the New Zealand boys all left happy and all were extremely impressed with Cambodian hospitality. New Zealand coach Terry Hill said working with CTN and Paddy Carson was one of the best productions he had ever been involved with. Many photos in the gallery.

The undercard also lived up to expectations, with fifteen rounds of hard-fought action.

• Thy Narin vs Cheng Rithy (decision to Rithy)
• Keo Rumchon vs Nuon Setsong (decision to Rumchon)
• Wan Chanvey vs Sarim Vonthon (decision to Vonthon)

Four New Zealand fighters will face off against four Cambodian fighters on Friday April 25 at CTN in a special night of international fights to celebrate ANZAC Day.

The four international matches will be:

• Meas Chanta vs Joel Nadin
• Vorn Viva vs Steve Donaldson
• Nuon Soriya vs Andy Donaldson
• Eh Phoutang vs Tony Angelov

Aaron Dixon was a last minute scratch. Andy Donaldson, Steve Donaldson’s twin brother, will replace him. The two look so much alike that the CTN television promos for their fights inadvertently switched the two. There’s an artsy promo up on YouTube, and some pics from tonights press conference in the photo gallery. Paddy Carson, working with CTN and Terry Hill on the NZ side, is the promoter who brought the guys out.

Rogue Magazine,a New Zealand boxing fight rag, tells the story from the Kiwi side.

The ANZAC undercard will be just as good.

• Ti Narin vs Chay Rithy
• Wan Chan Way vs Sarim Vonthon
• Kai Rumchon vs Nuon Setsong

Narin and Rithy have fought twice before, with each one getting a win. These two are probably the very best Cambodian fighters at 51kg. Wan Chan Way and Sarim Vonthon have fought 3 times recently. Vonthon won the first two times in very, very close decisions. Wan Chan Way got the last decision. Under the international spotlight, these guys are expected to fight like demons. Kai Rumchon is a relatively new up-and-comer, breaking onto the scene last November during the Nationals. Nuon Setsong is the methodical veteran, super strong in the clinch. Both fighter are coming off recent loses — Setsong to Nuon Mony and Rumchon to Yim Deap.

PREDICTIONS: Rithy and Wan Chan Way both by decision. The third fight is a little tougher to predict. Setsong is probably the favorite, but I’ll go with Rumchon, who has a much higher work rate than the older, slower Setsong. The key for Rumchon will be staying out of the clinch, where Setsong is lethal with the knees.

Angkor Youth Boxing Club Western boxer Saeng Ratana will rematch against Chorm Kosal on Sunday April 27th at the CTN boxing stadium. The two fought three weeks at TV5 and after four extremely close rounds the decision went to Chorm Kosal. Saeng Ratana expects to even the score on Sunday.

PHNOM PENH, April 24 (Xinhua) — Cambodia will host an international female boxing match between Japanese boxer Kayoko Ebata and Thai boxer Samson Sor Siriporn on April 26, a press release from the World Boxing Council (WBC) said Thursday. The two boxers wanted to compete in a neutral country, therefore WBC selected Cambodia as the host country for their match, the press release said.

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

In round 5 of the Kun Khmer Championship series, Cheam Adam KO’d Cheng Thithi in the 4th. That leaves Ai Kosal and Khon Reach to battle it out this Sunday for the last remaining spot in the first round. This should be the best fight yet. And the winner here could very likely go on to win it all.

Seung Kansang vs Morn Kimlong. Kangsan, with twice as man fights as Kimlong, is the favorite.

Suang Panhya and Michael Aranton are both fighting this weekend at CTN.

Suang Panhya fights Sunday on the undercard of Kun Khmer Champion. Michael fights Saturday against Tim Veasna, a Kun Khmer Champion contestant knocked out in the second week by Rak Vichay.

SATURDAY UPDATE
Michael by TKO in the fifth. A flurry of hands got the first 8-count, and then a brutal low kick put Veasna down for good.

SUNDAY UPDATE
Panhya 8-counted Tith Samone in the 4th on his way toward getting the decision.

Highlights from fight two — Rak Vichay KO win over Tim Veasna — and previews of fight three scheduled for Sunday, Nean La vs Pon Sophean.

April 25 at CTN.

• Tony Angelov versus Ei Phouthang
• Aaron Dixon versus Nuon Soriya
• Steve Donaldson versus Vorn Viva
• Joel Nadin versus Meas Chantha

Names confirmed 29 March 08.

(Referee Meas Sokry gives Tim Veasna a standing 8-count.)

Rak Vichay TKO’d Tim Veasna in the second third, bringing the 3-knockdown rule into account. The third fight, scheduled for this Sunday, will be Nean La vs Pon Sophean.

Same background information from the video below plus preview of this Sunday’s fight, Tim Veasna vs Rak Vichay.

Some background on the show and highlights from the first fight — Khun Makara KO’d Sok Vichay in the second round.

(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.

 

The first fighter to fall in the CTN reality series Kun Khmer Champion was Sok Vichay, who got stopped in the second round Sunday by Khun Makara. After an uneventful first round Khun Makara turned it on in the second, scoring his first knockdown after pinning Vichay against the ropes and unleashing a flurry of hands. Seconds later a straight right hand scored another knockdown. And seconds after that another straight right sent Sok Vichay tumbling into the ropes, ending the fight as well as Sok Vichay’s hopes of becoming Cambodia’s next great champ.

Angkor Youth Boxing Club fighter Phal Seyha, 57kg, will face Pailin fighter Vung Noi Saturday March 15 at the CTN boxing stadium.

Vung Noi trains out of the RCAF gym near Paddy’s and occasionally drops into the club to hang out. Noi was in Saeng Ratana’s corner when he fought Reth Veasna, and again last weekend when Ratana fought Chan Vibol. Like many active fighters, Noi is a fixture on the weekend fight scene.

In his last outing Noi KO’d Naim Chenda in the third with knees. The fight before that was an impressive KO victory over Em Vutha with a straight right hand in the 4th. He uses both knees and elbows effectively. His main weakness is he tends to cut easily. Noi is also just returning from some minor surgery on his lower right shin, which could play a factor.

RESULT: Seyha lost on points. The difference was probably the clinch, where Noi landed more effective knees.

(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.

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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.)

Paddy has four guys fighting this weekend. Saeng Ratana fights Friday at TV5, Western boxing. Suong Panya will be on the inaugural card Saturday at Bayon TV. Michael Aranton — a former body builder from the Philipines whose sir name I don’t know — will debut Saturday at CTN. And, lastly, little Hoang Ramone, 48kg, will fight Sunday at TV5. With a little luck, Michael will fight early at CTN and afterwards everybody will rush across town to TV Bayon.

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.

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