By Chhorn Norn, Translated by Pann RetheaWednesday, 14 December 2011
The Phnom Penh Post
The ancient Cambodian martial art of bokator is set for another showcase. A 16 fighter tournament will be held at at the CTN Arena next Monday from 5:30 to 7:30pm, with eight bouts of varying weight classes between 52 and 67 kilograms.
“I am really happy to see these fights happen, as I’m interested in [Bokator] and have been waiting for a long time [to see it live],” Seng Savy, manager of the event’s main sponsor, Cintry, said at a press conference yesterday.
Of the 16 competitors, four hail from the Khlang Mourng Club, in Pursat province, five are from the Angkor Reach Phnom Penh Club, three attend Mohanokor Club, one fights out of the Laboek Meanchay Serey Angkor Club, in Siem Reap province, and three more come from the Yeay Pring Meanrith Club, in Kampong Chhnang province.
Ma Serey, chief of sports programming at CTN, gave an assurance that the evening would feature “real fights” rather than mere performances. “I hope that [Bokator] will be kept in Cambodian people’s minds and remains popular for a long time,” he said.
1 comment:
In order for us khmer fighters to compete in the MMA in the US, they must increase their weight to at least 75-100 kg. I am a khmer living oversea weigh 100kg or about 220 lbs. That is very big for an asian. I am not even an athlete.
In additions, bokotor is so much like MMA fighting, that I think khmer can dominate. However, we are not known for conditioning. Our fighters usually can be seen signs of gasping for air after the 3rd or 4th round. That is very deadly, if they are fighting in the US.
One asian I've seen over the year that could compete and destroyed most Caucasian fighter was by the name of a Vietnamese refugee name Cung Le. He fights in Strikeforce and he was good at it. But got knocked out by W. Silva in the UFC/MMA. I think due to lack of good conditioning programs.
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