The inaugural “Phimean Akas Kun Khmer – Fight Clubbing Boostrong” international event will take place this Sunday, October 18 at the Elephant Terrace at Angkor Thom Temple, Siem Reap province.
Organisers described it as a historic sporting occasion that will promote Cambodian martial arts, civilisation and the country’s wider potential, particularly in terms of tourism.
Town Television executives signed an agreement to stage the event with Italy’s Fight Clubbing organisation and British sports broadcaster DAZN on October 15, with support from the Royal Government of Cambodia and in cooperation with the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC).
Although Town Television has hosted numerous major international competitions in recent years, Tommy Kim, an adviser to the broadcaster and president of the International Professional Combat Council (IPCC) in Cambodia, said the upcoming event was the biggest international production in the broadcaster’s history, with a larger budget than any of its previous events.
Seven of Cambodia’s leading fighters – Thoeun Theara, Eh Ammarinphoutong, Meun Mekhea, Pich Sambath, Chheung Lvey, Som Vichai and Phanith Kunkhmer – are ready to compete for championship belts in international bouts against elite opponents from seven countries.
The fights and other highlights will be broadcast internationally through DAZN, reaching audiences in more than 200 countries, organisers said.
Kim said the event reflects close cooperation with international organisations and other partners to promote Kun Khmer worldwide.
“We are not organising this solely as a boxing event. We are creating a sporting programme with the potential to promote our country, our culture and civilisation, and our magnificent ancient temples, which date back thousands of years,” he said.
“The aim is to promote tourism in the Angkor area of Siem Reap province, as well as other provinces, to attract more domestic and international visitors to Cambodia,” he added.
Andrea Carletti, chief executive of Fight Clubbing, and Cosimo Scialpi, a DAZN executive, welcomed the partnership with Town Television.
Both said the collaboration would help bring Cambodia’s ancient heritage and traditional martial arts to a global audience, particularly the martial arts depicted in carvings on the walls of the Kingdm’s centuries-old temple complexes.
“We are extremely happy to have the opportunity to showcase Cambodian traditional culture and Kun Khmer to the entire world, particularly through DAZN’s live broadcasts, which reach more than 200 countries,” Carletti said.
He described the event as a historic milestone for combat sports at Cambodia’s magnificent Angkor temple complex, adding that it marked the beginning of a long-term partnership founded on mutual respect, friendship and a shared vision.
“Together, we are making history,” he said.
Christ Topher, head of the Boostrong factory, noted that Siem Reap is the heart of Cambodian culture, renowned for its magnificent ancient temples and carvings depicting traditional martial arts.
He said the carvings demonstrated the long history of Cambodian martial arts in the region, while the DAZN broadcast would introduce international audiences to the country’s cultural heritage and the skills of its leading fighters competing against opponents from overseas.
The event will feature four championship-belt bouts and three international friendlies.
Thoeun Theara will challenge Senegalese fighter Abdoulaye Diallo for a Fight Clubbing World Championship belt, while Eh Ammarinphoutong will face Italian boxer Thristan Massobrio for the same title.
Meun Mekhea will contest the IPCC World Championship Kickboxing belt against Turkish fighter Suayb Acar, while Som Vichai will face Iran’s Ali Zarinfar for another IPCC World Championship Kickboxing title.
The three remaining international bouts will see Pich Sambath take on Tunisia’s Ragheb Dkhili, Chheung Lvey face Algeria’s Bahri Ayoub, and Phanith Kunkhmer meet Italian fighter Pasquale Rubino.
If Theara and Ammarinphoutong win their respective championship belts, they will automatically receive contracts for three further fights with Fight Clubbing at events around the world, organisers noted.
Foreign fighters who win the IPCC World Championship Kickboxing titles will also receive special opportunities to compete at Town’s boxing arena, with all associated arrangements covered, they added.