Kun Khmer the Sport of Champion
Vorn Viva takes a head-rocking punch to the chin from Alban Ahmedi. The bout is only four rounds, but both fighters are well into their stride. Viva shakes his head, smiles and moves in for the kill, sending the German backwards into the other corner of the ring with a flurry of elbows.
"I couldn't believe it", he said. "I knew I had a good chance to win. The first two rounds weren't easy, but after that I knew I was winning. I was still surprised that I should be one the first Cambodian kickboxing world champions".
On August 28, 2008, the International Sport Kickboxing Association (ISKA) made history by holding two world title fights ( Middleweight and Weltherweight) in Cambodia for the first time. Paddy Carson Promotions, in conjunction with local TV channel CTN, fulfilled a long standing dream by giving Khmer fighters the opportunity to compete for International recognition. WHat was at stake was more important than medals and titles- it was national pride.
Cambodian kickboxing (KUN KHMER or Pradal SEREY: Free fighting) is effectively the country's national sport and two Khmer World Champions, Vorn Viva and Meas Chantha, have put it on the world's pugilistic map. Viva revels in his fame, even though he had never planned on being a professional boxing. But one day. when he was 18 years old, he saw a fighter cry on TV after unjustly losing his fight. "He should have won, but the referee declared the other fighter to be the winner. I thought that was unfair, so I decided I wanted to fight".
From Kampong Cham province, Viva is a physically and technically inpressive fighter. Hus tall frame and strong build add up to pure power. He is renowned for his fast elbows and what Carson calls a forward fighting style. " He jumps straight in from the first round. He doesn't wait."
Something of an idol for many young khmers, he is an ideal fole model, according to Aaron Leverton, executive producer of MyTV. "Viva hasn't forgotten his roots. He's stull a humble country kid, always polite and respectful. He's a world champion without the ego.
Carson agrees: "he is a true champion. He'll go a long way because he is humble and sincere. When he gets into the ring he does his job, but outside it he is a gentleman. All the younger fighters look up to him. That's what we need, a true champoin.
Although Kun Khmer dates back to the 12th century it is hugely popular today with live bouts on three TV channels. three days a week. "soon there will be more live kickboxing on CAmbodian TC than there is on Thai TV". Claims Leverton even though the sport is known internationally as Mauy Thai.
It is now an old argument that carvings at Angkor Wat prove that kickboxing originated in Cambodia. What matters today is Kun Khmer's furuem, not its past. "We are approaching a now-or-never moment that will decide whether or not Cambodian kickboxing can become a global sport," say Leverton. "Because even as Cambodia deveopls rapidly, they can't afford to wait to have world-class facilities before they take the sport out of the country.
according to General Tem Moeun, newly elected president of the Cambodian AMateur Boxing Federation (CABA), Kun Khmer is part of Cambodia's heritage and preserving it means maintaining Cambodian culture. The use of the name Kun Khmer, rather than Pradal Serey, is an important step towards successful marketing, according to Leverton: "You need the ethnic branding. It has to become known under its own name, as the roifinal kickboxing from Cambodia". For a talented, young fighter like Vorn Viva, the future of Kun Khmer is his future.
In an effort to promote the sport CTN launched the second Kun Khmer Champion reality TV show in March, in which 12 young unknown fighters will compete to win the title of Kun Khmer champoin. The fighters live together in a house for the duration of the show and are trained at Paddy's Gym in Phnom Penh by Meas Sokry and Sok Vichhay.
Viva who is co-hosting the show, also helps with the training. If his charges show signs of tiredness, he simply increases the intensity of their training, pushing then to their limit.. "The show is a great incentive for these fighters to become first-class fighters," says Carson. Sokrey explains that "to be good fighters, they need discipline ammd good morals, they need to follow the rules and train hard".
For most khmer fighters, as for fighters around the world, fighting is a way up and out. In Cambodia, however, how far up is the question.
According to Eh Phouthong, the former Cambodian champion: "There are more TV stations showing fights. There are more opportunities for young fighters to earn a living" but in the future, he adds, Khmer fighters will have to compete with foreigners more if they are to gain wider international recognition. Even though the situation is improving, the rewards do not yet compensate for the physical demads and risks taken by the fighters.
Cambodian kickboxing id sy s yutnin point. "We now have two Khmer World champions," says Carson. "In the past we brought three international teams to Phnom Penh from the USA, Australia, and New Zealand and beat them. It illustrates how Khmer fighters are on top of their sport and deserve to fight for a place in international kickboxing arenas.
THe next step in marketing the sport is to form a world body and have foreign fighters come to Cambodia to compete for the council's Kun Khmer belt. THat would greatly increase recongition of the sport worldwide.
With further international tournaments planned and growing worldwide interest in the sport, when Viva next steps into the right he will be defending more than his title- he will be fighting for Kun Khmer's name and taking it out into the world. As Carson puts it: " We're going to show the world that Kun Khmer is alive and kicking".
By Virginie Noel for more of her works, please click here