Last weekend’s Krud Kun Khmer tournament in Takeo province, organised by National Television of Cambodia (TVK), was declared a resounding success, exceeding expectations with overwhelming support.

The event, with international titles and multi-million riel purses on the line, saw several of Cambodia’s rising stars claim victory over top-tier Thai boxers.

“The Krud Kun Khmer competition at the Water Festival received tremendous support and celebration from the people of Takeo. The venue was completely packed, and the crowd was loudly cheering for the matches and our Khmer martial artists,” said Mol Ny, the promoter of the event.

“What was truly remarkable was the championship matches, where our fighters, Rithy Borin and Rithy King Kong, faced off against elite Thai fighters. Both of them won, with overwhelming support from the audience, and our live broadcast reached 68,000 viewers. We did not expect this level of attention,” he added.

Of the 14 bouts, held in Doun Kaev district on on Saturday and Sunday March 22-23, six were international friendlies.

Thai boxer Kongpychit K.Kolka avoids a kick from Rithy Borin, in their 36kg bout. TVK

Among them, Cambodian fighters Lao Chantrea, Khem Chan, and Ouch Thearith all knocked out their foreign opponents.

Thun Panit avenged a previous loss by defeating Myanmar’s Saw John on points. However, Pich Bunseth lost on points to a Thai opponent and Roeum Vannak was knocked out in the first round by a Belgian opponent.

In the championship bouts, both Cambodian fighters, King Kong and Borin, put on outstanding performances. They secured their titles with a mix of knockouts and dominant point victories over top-tier Thai opponents, each earning a one-million riel ($250) cash prize.

On Sunday night, Rithy King Kong delivered an incredible performance, knocking out Thailand’s Beth Senlake in the second round. He had already forced the referee to give a standing count at the end of the first round. This marked King Kong’s sixth knockout and his 11th overall win — he remains undefeated.

His victory further cemented his reputation as a top fighter in the 24kg weight class. Meanwhile, Borin, competing in the 36kg category, secured a hard-fought points decision over Thailand’s Kongpychit K. Kolka.

Despite his win, Borin faced significant challenges in his bout. Throughout the full five-round match, he endured a serious nose injury from Kongpychit’s punches in the third round, resulting in heavy bleeding.

The event, held in Takeo province, drew huge crowds of fight fans and attracted 68,000 online viewers. TVK

However, he demonstrated immense resilience, securing the victory on points. His win also served as redemption for his compatriot, Rithy Hongpanya, who had previously lost to Kongpychit.

Ny emphasised that organising high-stakes championship fights, including million-riel prize matches, is part of a long-term strategy to nurture young talent.

The initiative is backed by TVK director-general Khim Vuthy and major sponsor Sam Ang Vattanac. Additionally, female competitions are regularly featured to promote gender inclusivity in the sport.

“The Krud Kun Khmer ring always provides opportunities for junior fighters and female competitors because we deeply value training and development. Without nurturing new talent, we won’t have the next generation of Khmer martial artists,” he explained.

He stressed the importance of building a sustainable pipeline of fighters.

“We can’t rely solely on a handful of top-tier A-class fighters. That’s why Ang Vattanac and Vuthy constantly guide our team to focus on developing young fighters. We are actively working to ensure this is a well-recognised, targeted training effort,” he said.

“Moreover, by placing young fighters in international friendlies and high-stakes championship fights, we are inspiring other rising talents to see the potential of Khmer martial arts. This motivates them to train harder, ensuring the long-term growth and promotion of our national martial art,” he added.