​Kun Khmer fighters ready for historic South Korean tournament

In a historic first, a team of the kingdom’s leading Kun Khmer exponents, including superstar Thoeun Theara, will travel to South Korea for a groundbreaking event. The fighters, who depart Cambodia at 11:40 p.m. tonight, will face a selection of international boxers in the “Ganzberg Kun Khmer to the World Class” event on September 15.

Theara, a prominent figure in the kickboxing circuit, will face Brazilian world champion Victor Teixeira in a bout in the 73-kilogram weight class. Teixeira, known for his impressive knockouts, notably defeated Thai fighter Kongthailand Kiatnavy in the second round of ONE Friday Fight 20 in Bangkok on June 9.

However, in early July, Teixeira suffered a defeat to Thai boxer Sinsamut Klinmee at ONE Friday Fight 24 when a facial injury forced the bout to be stopped in the second round.

Although he had not seen Teixeira’s fights and did not know much about him, Theara was confident that he could break his opponent with his trademark elbow strikes.

He said he is enthusiastic about promoting Kun Khmer in South Korea and wants the Cambodian community there to experience the sport for themselves.

“I am really excited to contribute to the promotion of Kun Khmer in South Korea. This is the first time that Cambodians there can watch our sport live. I am fully prepared and want to use my elbows extensively to break the spirit of my opponent,” he told a press conference on September 10.

Several other Cambodian fighters will also be showcasing their skills. Meun Mekkhea will take on South Korean Kim Byung Soo in the 63.5-kilogram category, while his brother, Eh Amarin Phuthong, will take on Australian Jerome Simbahan in the 67-kilogram class. In addition, Long Achert will take on South Korean fighter Jaeho Kim in the 60-kilogram class.

Cambodians Som Vechai and Pheakdei Kunkhmer will face Brazil’s Alexandre Parreira and South Korea’s Lee Sang Min in a four-man marathon championship. The matches will begin at 2 p.m. local time at the Ansan Olympic Memorial Hall in Ansan, South Korea, which is 12 noon in Cambodia.

Tommy Kim, representative of the International Professional Combat Council (IPCC) in Cambodia and advisor to the Town TV station, stressed the importance of this event.

“This is the biggest investment we have made in the history of Town TV’s martial arts events. We have invited judges from Cambodia to help organize the tournament and promote the Kun Khmer rules and fighting style to the Korean audience. All costs are covered by Town TV and Ganzberg,” he explained.

Kim added that both sponsors have a strong commitment to sharing Kun Khmer with an international audience, and a keen interest in promoting the sport globally. The Cambodian fighters are expected to perform at their highest level, while Cambodian officials will ensure strict adherence to ethics and fairness in the sport.

Khov Chhay, chairman of the Cambodian Kun Khmer Federation, stressed the historical significance of the event.

“This is a landmark event with six fighters, many coaches and technical staff and more than 30 officials participating. It represents a collective effort to showcase Kun Khmer to the world and engage Cambodians in South Korea and beyond,” he said.