| 2017 in ILFJ | |
|---|---|
| Information | |
| First date | February 16, 2017 |
| Last date | November 15, 2017 |
| Events | |
| Total events | 5 |
| Fights | |
| Total fights | 31 |
The year 2017 was the second year in the history of the ILFJ, a Japanese Lethwei promotion and the year started with Lethwei in Japan 2: Legacy. The events are streamed online [1] by FITE TV, [2] Abema TV in Japan [3] and through television agreements with MNTV in Myanmar. [4]
| # | Event | Date | Venue | Location | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lethwei in Japan 2: Legacy | February 16, 2017 | Korakuen Hall |  Tokyo, Japan | |
| 2 | Lethwei in Japan 3: Grit | April 18, 2017 | Korakuen Hall | Tokyo, Japan | |
| 3 | Lethwei in Japan 4: Frontier | June 16, 2017 | Tokyo Dome City Hall | Tokyo, Japan | |
| 4 | Lethwei in Japan 5: Nexurise | September 28, 2017 | Korakuen Hall | Tokyo, Japan | |
| 5 | Lethwei Grand Prix Japan 2017 | November 15, 2017 | Korakuen Hall | Tokyo, Japan |
| Lethwei in Japan 2: Legacy | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Information | ||||
| Promotion | ILFJ | |||
| Date | February 16, 2017 | |||
| Venue | Korakuen Hall | |||
| City | Tokyo, Japan | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Lethwei in Japan 2: Legacy was a Lethwei event held on February 16, 2017 at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
This event featured recently crowned openweight Lethwei World Champion Dave Leduc [5] defending his title for the first time against Lethwei veteran Phoe Kay. [6] [7] For his Lethwei debut, Japanese WPMF kickboxing champion Kouma faced young Myanmar fighter Yar Zar, while Thar Thae Ta Pwint was against Japanese Karate Champion Yuki Yamamoto. [8]
| Lethwei in Japan 2: Legacy | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight Class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Bantamweight 54 kg |  Yar Zar | - | Kouma Shimizu | Draw | 5 | 5:00 | |
| Openweight 80 kg |  Dave Leduc | def. | Phoe Kay | KO | 2 | 2:32 | 4 knockdowns during the match |
| Welterweight 70 kg | Phyan Thwe | def. | Yasuyuki Yamazaki | TKO | 1 | 1:33 | 3 knockdowns during one round |
| Welterweight 70 kg | Shan Ko | def. | Keisuke Okuda | TKO (punches) | 3 | 3:00 | Doctor stoppage (Cut) |
| Featherweight 64 kg | Shwe Sin Min | - | Nanae Takahashi | Draw | 4 | 3:00 | |
| Featherweight 68 kg | Thar Thae Ta Pwint | def. | Yuki Yamamoto | TKO | 1 | 2:19 | |
| Lethwei in Japan 3 : Grit | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Information | ||||
| Promotion | ILFJ | |||
| Date | April 18, 2017 | |||
| Venue | Korakuen Hall | |||
| City | Tokyo, Japan | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Lethwei in Japan 3: Grit was a Lethwei event held on April 18, 2017 at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
For his second title defence, openweight Lethwei World Champion Dave Leduc faced Turkish Australian Adem Yilmaz [11] in traditional Lethwei rules. [12] This match was the first Lethwei world title fight headlining two non-Burmese in the sport's history. For the occasion, the Ambassador of Myanmar to Japan was present at the event held in the Korakuen Hall. [13] This event also marked the return to action of former Openweight World Champion Saw Nga Man against Japanese fighter Teruhiko Kubo.
| Lethwei in Japan 3: Grit | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight Class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Openweight 80 kg | Dave Leduc | - |  Adem Yilmaz | Draw | 5 | 3:00 | |
| Featherweight 69 kg | Thar Thae Ta Pwint | def. | Hikaru Hasumi | TKO | 2 | 1:18 | |
| Featherweight 69 kg | Phyan Thwe | - |  Arana | Draw | 5 | 3:00 | |
| Bantamweight 56 kg | Yuta Hamamoto | - | Tain Tike | Draw | 5 | 3:00 | |
| Openweight 80 kg | Saw Nga Man | def. | Teruhiko Kubo | TKO | 1 | 2:13 | Cut on right eye |
| Bantamweight 60 kg | Kyar Bar Hein | def. | Cody Moberly | TKO | 2 | 0:45 | |
| Lethwei in Japan 4: Frontier | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Information | ||||
| Promotion | ILFJ | |||
| Date | June 6, 2017 | |||
| Venue | Tokyo Dome City Hall | |||
| City | Tokyo, Japan | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Lethwei in Japan 4: Frontier was a Lethwei event held on June 16, 2017 at the Tokyo Dome City Hall in Tokyo, Japan. [14]
This event featured the rematch of Thar Thae Ta Pwint vs Hikaru Hasumi. Thara The Ta Pwint ultimately won the first and second exchanged grabbing the ILFJ World Title. Also Openweight Champion Dave Leduc was supposed to face American champion Cyrus Washington, [15] but Washington pulled out of the fight citing a hand injury he sustained in training. [16] Leduc eventually defended his title for the third time against Muaythai world champion Nilmungkorn Sudsakorngym, [17] winning the ILFJ Openweight world title. [18]
| Lethwei in Japan 4: Frontier | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight Class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Openweight 80 kg | Dave Leduc | def. |  Nilmungkorn Sudsakorngym | KO | 2 | 2:23 | For the ILFJ Openweight World Championship |
| Featherweight 65 kg | Thar Thae Ta Pwint | def. | Hikaru Hasumi | TKO | 3 | 2:28 | |
| Bantamweight 57 kg | Yuta Hamamoto | def. | Yar Zar | KO | 3 | 0:42 | For the ILFJ Bantamweight World Championship |
| Welterweight 70 kg | Phyan Thwe | def. | Kouhei Tokeshi | TKO (doctor stoppage) | 4 | ||
| Featherweight 64 kg | Veronika | - | Nanae Takahashi | Draw | 3 | 3:00 | |
| Featherweight 61 kg |  Julija Stoliarenko | def. | Su Hlaing Oo | KO | 2 | 1:32 | |
| Bantamweight 60 kg | Kyar Ba Hein | def. | BAKI | TKO | 4 | ||
| Lethwei in Japan 5: Nexurise | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Information | ||||
| Promotion | ILFJ | |||
| Date | September 28, 2017 | |||
| Venue | Korakuen Hall | |||
| City | Tokyo, Japan | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Lethwei in Japan 5: Nexurise was a Lethwei event held on September 28, 2017 at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
For unknown reasons, Hanthar Waddy replaced Tun Lwin Moe. Muaythai Champion and Lethwei veteran Pravit Sakmuangtalang, also known by his last name Aor Piriyapinyo faced Thar Thae Ta Pwint. Former Golden Belt Champion, Win Tun came out of retirement for this fight and this event marked the implementation of weight classes like in traditional tournaments. [21]
| Lethwei in Japan 5: Nexurise | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight Class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Bantamweight 60 kg | Hanthar Waddy Thar | - | Makoto | Draw | 5 | 3:00 | |
| Openweight 100 kg | YABU | def. | Hartley Jackson | TKO | 3 | 0:53 | |
| Featherweight 65 kg | Thar Thae Ta Pwint | - | Pravit Sakmuangtalang | Draw | 5 | 3:00 | |
| Welterweight 70 kg | Phyan Thwe | def. | Hareruya | TKO | 1 | 0:34 | |
| Welterweight 70 kg | Yan Naing Aung | def. | Tokeshi Kohei | TKO | 5 | 2:31 | |
| Featherweight 65 kg | Win Tun | - | Hasumi Hikaru | Draw | 5 | 3:00 | |
| Lethwei Grand Prix Japan 2017 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Information | ||||
| Promotion | ILFJ | |||
| Date | November 15, 2017 | |||
| Venue | Tokyo Dome City Hall, Japan | |||
| City | Tokyo, Japan | |||
| Event chronology | ||||
| ||||
Lethwei Grand Prix Japan 2017 was a Lethwei event held on November 15, 2017 at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
Openweight champion Dave Leduc was scheduled to be on this card but due to his opponent backing out, the fight was canceled. MMA veteran Daryl Lokuku made his successful Lethwei debut. Yan Naing Aung and Tokeshi Kohei rematched after facing each other at the September event. Julija Stoliarenko faced top Lethwei fighter in Veronika and ultimately won the Japan Lethwei World Title. [21]
| Lethwei Grand Prix Japan 2017 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight Class | Method | Round | Time | Notes | |||
| Featherweight 63 kg | Tun Lwin Moe | - | Higashi Shuhei | Draw | 5 | 3:00 | |
| Featherweight 65 kg | Pat Kyaw Lin Naing | def. | Hasumi Hikaru | TKO | 3 | 3:00 | |
| Welterweight 70 kg | Yan Naing Aung | - | Tokeshi Kohei | Draw | 5 | 3:00 | |
| Openweight 80 kg |  Daryl Lokuku | def. | Teruhiko Kubo | KO | 1 | 2:58 | |
| Welterweight 72 kg | Soe Htet Oo | - |  Do Hyung Kwon | Draw | 4 | 3:00 | |
| Featherweight 62 kg | Julija Stoliarenko | def. | Vero Nika | TKO | 2 | 0:45 | For the ILFJ Women's Featherweight World Championship |
Lethwei or Burmese boxing is a full contact combat sport from Myanmar that uses stand-up striking including headbutts. Lethwei is considered to be one of the most brutal martial arts in the world, as the sport is practiced bareknuckle with only tape and gauze while fighters are allowed to strike with their fists, elbows, knees, and feet, and the use of headbutts is also permitted. Disallowed in most combat sports, headbutts are important weapons in a Lethwei fighter's arsenal, giving Lethwei its name of the "Art of nine limbs". This, combined with its bareknuckle nature, gave Lethwei a reputation for being one of the bloodiest and most violent martial arts. Although popular throughout modern Myanmar, Lethwei has been primarily and historically associated with the Karen people of the Kayin State; vast majority of competitive Lethwei fighters are ethnolinguistically of Karen descent.
Korakuen Hall is a sports arena in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan, which has hosted boxing, professional wrestling, kickboxing, mixed martial arts and Lethwei matches.
Tun Tun Min is a Burmese Lethwei fighter of Mon descent, former openweight Lethwei World Champion. In 2014, he became the youngest fighter to ever win the Lethwei Golden Belt, obtaining the title at age 21. Tun Tun Min is considered Myanmar's top Lethwei fighter and is notable for fighting foreign challengers from outside Myanmar.
Dave Leduc is a Canadian former Lethwei fighter. He is a former six-time Lethwei world champion who held the openweight Lethwei Golden Belt and was undefeated under traditional rules KO to win. In 2014, Leduc first gained widespread notoriety by winning his fight in the controversial Prison Fight inside a maximum security prison in Thailand.
Too Too was a Burmese Lethwei fighter who competed in World Lethwei Championship. He was the former WLC Middleweight World champion and was undefeated under traditional Lethwei rules, holding the 75 kg Lethwei Golden Belt since 2015 until his death in 2023, while in captivity by the Tatmadaw. He also competed in a Lethwei superfight at Kunlun Fight 25 in Slovakia.
Saw Nga Man, also known as Saw Shark, is a retired Burmese Lethwei fighter and former Openweight Lethwei World Champion.
International Lethwei Federation Japan, also known as ILFJ, is a Japanese Lethwei promotion company with headquarters in Tokyo.
2016 was the first year in the history of the ILFJ, a Japanese Lethwei promotion. The events were broadcast through television agreements with regional channels in Japan.
The year 2018 is the third year in the history of the ILFJ, a Japanese Lethwei promotion and the year started with Lethwei in Japan 7: Yuki. The events are streamed online by FITE TV, AbemaTV in Japan and through television agreements with MNTV in Myanmar.
Tun Lwin Moe is a retired undefeated Burmese Lethwei fighter. He was signed to the International Lethwei Federation Japan and was the 60 kg (130 lb) Lethwei World Champion under traditional rules.
Diesellek TopkingBoxing is a Thai Muaythai fighter. He is a former Rajadamnern Stadium, WMPF and IKF World Champion.
The year 2017 is the 1st year in the history of the World Lethwei Championship, a Lethwei promotion based in Myanmar.
Julija Stoliarenko is a Lithuanian mixed martial artist, Lethwei fighter, submission grappler and Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) black belt athlete.
Thein Pyu Stadium is a Lethwei stadium located in Yangon, Myanmar. It is the most notorious Lethwei stadium in all of Myanmar and counts over 5,300-seats. The Stadium is operated by the Myanmar Traditional Lethwei Federation and is the venue choice for most national and international level Lethwei events. In 2018, the stadium was host of The biggest fight in Lethwei history opposing Dave Leduc vs. Tun Tun Min.
Nilmungkorn Sudsakorngym is a Thai Muay Thai fighter. As an amateur, he won the 2015 IMTF World Championship. In 2016 & 2017 as a professional, Nilmungkorn became the SUPER Muay Thai World Champion, winning the tournament two years in a row. In 2017, he also competed in Lethwei for the International Lethwei Federation Japan at Lethwei in Japan 4 in Tokyo.
Myanmar Lethwei Federation (MLF) formerly known as Myanmar Traditional Lethwei Federation is one of two major organizations which sanctions professional Lethwei bouts worldwide and the only one who oversees Lethwei competitions in Myanmar.
Hartley Jackson is an Australian professional wrestler. He is currently working as a freelancer. The main body of his career has taken place in Australia, USA and Japan. Between 2018 and 2019, he served as an official coach and producer for WWE NXT at the WWE Performance Center, before returning to Japan to wrestle for Pro Wrestling Zero1 (Zero1) in 2020.
Cyrus Washington is an American kickboxer, Taekwondo, Muay Thai and Lethwei fighter. He is former WKA, WMF, WKBF and PK-1 Muay Thai World Champion, as well as former WBC Muaythai USA Champion, WMC and Lumpinee Stadium title contender. In 2012, he competed in the Emmy nominated Thailand VS Challenger TV Series. Washington received worldwide attention for being one of the first successful foreigners to compete in Lethwei in Myanmar.
The World Lethwei Federation (WLF) was founded in 2019 as the international governing body for amateur and professional Lethwei. The WLF has the responsibility to sanction and support the growth of Lethwei worldwide outside of Myanmar, including enforcement of its traditions, rules and regulations.
Dave Leduc vs. Tun Tun Min III, also known as The Biggest Fight In Lethwei History, was a Lethwei world title match between undefeated openweight Lethwei World Champion Dave Leduc and former openweight Lethwei World Champion Tun Tun Min that took place at Thein Pyu Stadium in Yangon, Myanmar, on December 16, 2018.