SIEM REAP: Italian event organiser Fight Clubbing has declared its first collaboration with Kun Khmer in Siem Reap a resounding success, claiming that more than 100,000 people attended the “Phimean Akas Kun Khmer – Fight Clubbing Boostrong” event at Angkor, a turnout it described as a world record for active combat sports promotions.
In an October 21 statement, Fight Clubbing said the event brought together Kun Khmer and international combat sports at the spectacular setting of the Unesco World Heritage site. DAZN broadcast it live worldwide, with support from the Royal Government of Cambodia and the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC).
The “Phimean Akas Kun Khmer – Fight Clubbing Boostrong” event was held under lights at the Elephant Terrace in Angkor Thom, at the heart of the Unesco-listed Angkor Archaeological Park, on October 18.
The promoters said more than 100,000 spectators gathered among the ancient temples, around a thousand years after the grand contests Cambodian kings were said to have watched.
An Italian team organised the event, Fight Clubbing 44, and broadcast it live on DAZN to more than 200 countries worldwide.
Organisers said the event set a world record for live attendance, attracting more than 100,000 spectators. (Fight Clubbing)
The event was attended by senior Cambodian officials, including Senior Minister Thong Khon, president of the NOCC, as well as Siem Reap provincial leaders and representatives of the APSARA National Authority, which is responsible for protecting and managing the Angkor Archaeological Park.
The seven international bouts on October 18 featured champions from Cambodia, Italy, Tunisia, Iran, Türkiye, Algeria and Senegal, bringing fighters from three continents together in one ring. Each contest featured live performances, traditional drumming, and performers dressed as ancient Khmer warriors, creating a dramatic, historical atmosphere.
Fight Clubbing highlighted Cambodian star Thoeun Theara's victory, who became the promotion’s new middleweight world champion after a fiercely contested bout against Senegalese fighter Abdoulaye Diallo. Cambodian fighter Eh Ammarinphoutong, a multiple-time champion, also claimed a world title belt.
Town TV produced the programme and handled the domestic live broadcast, while Italian producer Cosimo Scialpi led the international production, coordinated by producers Andrea Sagi Carletti and Emmanuelle Cilli.
The event was hosted by American ring announcer Matthew Parrino alongside Cambodian host MC Vutha. International commentary was provided by Luciano Dibiase and Sandy Holt.
Officials and promoters celebrate the event's success at Angkor in Siem Reap province. (Fight Clubbing)
After their championship victories at the October 18 event, Theara and Ammarinphoutong automatically secured contracts for three future fights with Fight Clubbing at events worldwide, according to Carletti, the promotion’s chief executive, who announced the arrangement at an October 15 press conference.
Tommy Kim, an adviser to Town TV and president of the International Professional Combat Council (IPCC) in Cambodia, posted figures comparing live attendance at five major Fight Clubbing events. The Angkor event topped the list, with more than 100,000 spectators.
Kim, who worked directly with Carletti and Scialpi of DAZN to help organise the first boxing event of its kind at Angkor, wrote: “Phimean Akas Kun Khmer – Fight Clubbing Boostrong is a source of pride, with the words ‘Kun Khmer’ featured in its name, and is recognised as breaking the world record for the largest live audience. Congratulations to the people of Siem Reap and all Cambodians who support Kun Khmer, a legacy passed down from our ancestors over thousands of years.” - Phnom Penh Post/ANN
