Khmer traditional boxing announcer table at the CTN station.
Pradal serey is making a strong comeback since its banishment back in the 70s. Cambodia is making an attempt to market their style of boxing to the same caliber of Muay Thai even though its status as a fourth world country renders a lack of financial funding. Numerous gyms have opened and large masses of students, local and foreign, have come to train in Cambodia. There are weekly matches held, the majority televised live, and many of Cambodia's best have traveled internationally to compete. There are currently approximately 70 boxing clubs nationwide.
Cambodian trainer Chiit Sarim had this to say about the difference between the boxing scene then and now, "I traveled from pagoda to pagoda to box at competitions during the water festival. Pagodas were the traditional venue for boxing matches... They (the current fans) act inappropriately. They raise up their hands and scream noisily. They gamble and do not respect the boxers. They think of only winning their bet. During my time, there was no such thing. Fights were organized nicely and were very popular. Now fans have no morality."
Pradal serey is administered in Cambodia by the Cambodian Amateur Boxing Federation (CABF). All referees, judges and fighters must be licensed by the CABF. Television stations which hold Khmer boxing tournaments do so under the supervision of the CABF. The individual stations are responsible for organising boxers, trainers, medical staff and musicians. The CABF supplies the match referees, judges and time-keepers. Abroad, Cambodian boxing is promoted by 4 organizations. These organizations include the European Khmer Boxing Federation based in Germany, the Fédération Française de Boxe Khmère based in France, the Anh Binh Minh Khmer Martial Arts Association in Vietnam and Kun Khmer Australia based in Australia. Other newly created organizations can be found in Spain and Italy, while Belgium is in the process of forming its own Khmer boxing organization.[7] Also, the International Sport Kickboxing Association based in the United Kingdom have held matches involving Cambodian boxers. Khmer boxers have fought abroad in countries such as Korea. [8]
Khmer traditional boxing announcer table at the CTN station.
Tournaments are screened live on national television. TV5 holds live tournaments on Friday and Sunday, CTN holds live tournaments on Saturday and Sunday.[9] Bayon Television holds live kickboxing tournaments on Saturday and Sunday.[10]
Recent exposure to pradal serey in the western world have come from travel journalists and tourists. In addition, Khmer boxing was featured on The History Channel's Human Weapon and mentioned on the Cambodian episode of Globetrekker.
In June 2005, number one promoter of Thailand, Songchai Ratanasuban, brought his S1 Promotion to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. In the Cambodian S1 World Championship, Bun Sothea won the tournament. He defeated Michael Paszowski, Dzhabar Askerov and Lor Samnang in front of 30,000 people at the Phnom Penh National Olympic Stadium.
In 2008 Cambodian Television Network (CTN) screened a Kun Khmer reality television series called Kun Khmer Champion. The show featured 65 kilogramme boxers and was produced by Ma Serey and co-hosted by Ma Serey and Eh Phoutong.
On August 28, 2008, Cambodian Kun Khmer fighters Vorn Viva and Meas Chantha won the ISKA Middleweight and Welterweight world titles in Phnom Penh. It is the first time a Cambodian has held a kickboxing world title.[11]
Cambodian trainer Chiit Sarim had this to say about the difference between the boxing scene then and now, "I traveled from pagoda to pagoda to box at competitions during the water festival. Pagodas were the traditional venue for boxing matches... They (the current fans) act inappropriately. They raise up their hands and scream noisily. They gamble and do not respect the boxers. They think of only winning their bet. During my time, there was no such thing. Fights were organized nicely and were very popular. Now fans have no morality."
Pradal serey is administered in Cambodia by the Cambodian Amateur Boxing Federation (CABF). All referees, judges and fighters must be licensed by the CABF. Television stations which hold Khmer boxing tournaments do so under the supervision of the CABF. The individual stations are responsible for organising boxers, trainers, medical staff and musicians. The CABF supplies the match referees, judges and time-keepers. Abroad, Cambodian boxing is promoted by 4 organizations. These organizations include the European Khmer Boxing Federation based in Germany, the Fédération Française de Boxe Khmère based in France, the Anh Binh Minh Khmer Martial Arts Association in Vietnam and Kun Khmer Australia based in Australia. Other newly created organizations can be found in Spain and Italy, while Belgium is in the process of forming its own Khmer boxing organization.[7] Also, the International Sport Kickboxing Association based in the United Kingdom have held matches involving Cambodian boxers. Khmer boxers have fought abroad in countries such as Korea. [8]
Khmer traditional boxing announcer table at the CTN station.
Tournaments are screened live on national television. TV5 holds live tournaments on Friday and Sunday, CTN holds live tournaments on Saturday and Sunday.[9] Bayon Television holds live kickboxing tournaments on Saturday and Sunday.[10]
Recent exposure to pradal serey in the western world have come from travel journalists and tourists. In addition, Khmer boxing was featured on The History Channel's Human Weapon and mentioned on the Cambodian episode of Globetrekker.
In June 2005, number one promoter of Thailand, Songchai Ratanasuban, brought his S1 Promotion to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. In the Cambodian S1 World Championship, Bun Sothea won the tournament. He defeated Michael Paszowski, Dzhabar Askerov and Lor Samnang in front of 30,000 people at the Phnom Penh National Olympic Stadium.
In 2008 Cambodian Television Network (CTN) screened a Kun Khmer reality television series called Kun Khmer Champion. The show featured 65 kilogramme boxers and was produced by Ma Serey and co-hosted by Ma Serey and Eh Phoutong.
On August 28, 2008, Cambodian Kun Khmer fighters Vorn Viva and Meas Chantha won the ISKA Middleweight and Welterweight world titles in Phnom Penh. It is the first time a Cambodian has held a kickboxing world title.[11]
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