The Cambodian delegation held an April 1 press conference ahead of their departure to the US. Khov Chhay
A delegation of Kun Khmer fighters, including athletes, coaches and even musicians, departed Cambodia for the US this morning, April 2. Their mission: to stage a historic event featuring title fights across four weight classes. The bouts will take place in Long Beach, California, at 6pm on April 12 (8am on April 13, Cambodia time).
Khov Chhay, president of the Khmer Boxing Federation, is leading the delegation.
He described the journey as a landmark effort to promote Kun Khmer on a grand scale in the US, a global superpower with a diverse population, and looked forward to introducing over 300 million Americans to the ancient Cambodian martial art and its cultural significance.
“This is the first time in Kun Khmer history that taking a delegation to compete and promote Kun Khmer in the US” he said.
“With such a diverse audience, this is a golden opportunity to showcase the sport to the world, aligning with the federation’s and the government’s mission to spread Cambodian culture and arts globally,” he added.
The four hand-picked fighters include Thun Rithy, Pich Sambath, Roeung Sophorn and lone female contender Eh Yanut.
During an April 1 press conference at Bayon Arena, all four athletes expressed their determination to achieve strong results in the competition.
Chhay explained that each of them will face American opponents in championship bouts. Rithy and Sambath will fight for the WCK Kun Khmer Championship title in the US, with matches scheduled for five rounds.
Meanwhile, Sophron and Yanut will compete for the Cambodia-US Championship title, a belt brought from Cambodia, with their fights set for three rounds each.
He believed the competition would significantly boost international recognition for Kun Khmer, as Cambodia is organising the entire event with sponsorship from Krud beverages.
“We have partnered with WCK in the US to organise the event, but everything will follow Kun Khmer traditions — the name, the fighting rules, the decorations and the branding all represent the sport,” he noted.
“The live broadcast will showcase Kun Khmer to audiences worldwide, strengthening its recognition and acceptance everywhere,” he added.
