A young kickboxer training in PoipetMost kickboxers come from a poor background and compete to earn money to feed their families and themselves. Since it is a sport, it requires practitioners to be physically fit. This is why practitioners are usually young. The kickboxers average from age 14 to 25. Top kickboxers can have as many as 300 fights in their careers.
A young kickboxer training in Poipet
Fighters were traditionally paid by the crowd. If the crowd appreciated the boxer's efforts, they would reward him with food, alcohol and cash. This practice still continues today but, in line with western practice, bouts pay official fees. Until recently the average purse for a fight was US$15. Today purses are based on experience. A new boxer will earn US$25 per fight. More experienced boxers (with more than a dozen fights) earn up to $75. "Brand name" fighters will earn over $100 a fight. Special purse fights will pay up to $250 with the purse contributed by a corporate sponsor. "International" tournaments, organised by the broadcasters, will pay individual purses of up to $1000, sometimes higher.
The best pradal serey champions come from the Battambang region although a number of big name stars have come via Southern Cambodia such as Eh Phoutong who is from Koh Kong Province, Thun Sophea from Svay Rieng Province and Meas Chantha and Seng Makara from Kandal Province respectively. Boxers train in a gym under a pradal serey kruu. Many kickboxers train 6-8 hours a day and 7 days a week.
A young kickboxer training in Poipet
Fighters were traditionally paid by the crowd. If the crowd appreciated the boxer's efforts, they would reward him with food, alcohol and cash. This practice still continues today but, in line with western practice, bouts pay official fees. Until recently the average purse for a fight was US$15. Today purses are based on experience. A new boxer will earn US$25 per fight. More experienced boxers (with more than a dozen fights) earn up to $75. "Brand name" fighters will earn over $100 a fight. Special purse fights will pay up to $250 with the purse contributed by a corporate sponsor. "International" tournaments, organised by the broadcasters, will pay individual purses of up to $1000, sometimes higher.
The best pradal serey champions come from the Battambang region although a number of big name stars have come via Southern Cambodia such as Eh Phoutong who is from Koh Kong Province, Thun Sophea from Svay Rieng Province and Meas Chantha and Seng Makara from Kandal Province respectively. Boxers train in a gym under a pradal serey kruu. Many kickboxers train 6-8 hours a day and 7 days a week.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteI want to watch khmer boxing in Siem Reap when I visit in Feb 2010.
How can I get tickets? What venues will have these matches?
Thank you!