Dave Leduc (born 13 December 1991) is a Canadian Lethwei fighter. He is a former six-time Lethwei world champion who held the Openweight Lethwei World Championship and was undefeated under traditional rulesKO to win.[3][4] In 2014, Leduc first gained widespread notoriety by winning his fight in the controversial Prison Fight inside a maximum security prison in Thailand.[5]
In 2016, he travelled to Myanmar to fight Burmese bareknuckle boxing considered the world's most brutal sport,[1][6][7] and defeated the reigning champion Tun Tun Min to become the first non-Burmese to win the Lethwei Golden Belt title.[8][9][10] The same year, Leduc married Moldovan model Irina Terehova in a nationally televised traditional Burmese wedding ceremony in Yangon which attracted a reported 30 million viewers in Myanmar.[11] Leduc became a superstar celebrity in the country and is mobbed by locals wherever he goes.[12][13][14] He is the biggest star in the sport of Lethwei and has been described as cultural phenomenon in Myanmar.[15][16]
Early life
Born in Gatineau, Leduc starting playing baseball at a young age.[17] In 2005, Leduc represented Outaouais in Baseball at the Summer Quebec Games in Amos and won the bronze medal.[18] He also played in the United States as a pitcher.[19] In 2011, at nineteen years old, Leduc was managing a nightclub in Ottawa and owned a limousine company.[20][1]
Fighting career
2009-2015: Martial arts initiation and Prison Fight
In 2009, at the age of seventeen, a disagreement with his father forced Leduc to leave his home and live on the streets.[16][21] Leduc decided to direct his anger into martial arts and joined the martial arts academy of Sifu Patrick Marcil in Gatineau, Quebec.[22] He began learning Sanda, Jeet Kune Do principles, training his headbutts, and hitting the bag bareknuckle while competing in amateur fight nights.[23][24] Leduc started training and organizing local no-gi grappling tournaments.[16]
Leduc at Prison Fight inside Klong Pai maximum security prison.
Sifu Patrick Marcil showed Leduc an old videotape of a Lethwei event in Myanmar and from this moment Leduc wanted to become a Lethwei fighter.[16] In 2013, Lethwei being illegal in the province of Quebec[25] and having difficulty getting a fight in Myanmar, Leduc went on his first trip to neighboring Thailand to begin his professional career.[6] Myanmar's lack of training facilities led Leduc to move to Phuket in order to train at Tiger Muay Thai.[20][26][27] Leduc fought MMA in Canada and went undefeated in his three amateur fights, winning two of them by submission via guillotine choke.[28] His last win was against Tristar Gym fighter and Georges St-Pierre's protege, Yukinori Akazawa,[29] which he won by unanimous decision.[30]
In 2014, Leduc made his pro debut against future UFCwelterweight fighter Jonathan Meunier. Having never cut weight as an amateur, Leduc fought at his walking weight 171lbs. He lost by referee stoppage in the first round and would return to the cage in November 2015 to face future ONE Championship title contender Koyomi Matsushima, this time attempting to drop down to 155lbs.[31] Matsushima won by referee stoppage in the first round after Leduc was caught by a hammer fist trying to secure a triangle choke.[32]
On July 12, 2014, Leduc took part in the controversial Prison Fight: Fight For Freedom,[33] where inmates can reduce their sentences and even earn their freedom by winning a series of fights against foreign fighters.[34] Prison Fight is sanctioned by the Thai Department of Corrections and described as a way for inmates to battle their way to an early release.[35] The event took place in the maximum security Klong Pai Central Prison, in Nakhon Ratchasima, two hours north of Bangkok.[5] Leduc faced Thahan Chor.Chatchai, an experienced Muay Thai fighter who competed multiple times at Lumpini Stadium, but was arrested and incarcerated for trafficking methamphetamine. Leduc won by unanimous decision and left the top of his opponent's head lacerated because of repetitive elbow strikes.
When it came to fighting convicts, Leduc said to the Bangkok Post that he wouldn't feel bad if he won and his rival's sentence wasn't reduced.[36] Leduc explained to Argentinian news Infobae the mentality of the inmates at the Prison Fight events, saying:
"They do not fight for money, they fight for their freedom. I only fight for honor and glory."[37] "They deserve to get my 100%, if he wins, then he earns it."[36]
2016-2017: Championship pursuit and Lethwei in Japan
In April 2016, Leduc competed in the 2016 Tiger Muay Thai Tryouts in Phuket, and went on to win a place on the professional fight team, along with teammate Dan Hooker.[38]
On August 21, 2016, Leduc was invited to make his Lethwei debut at the 1st Myanmar Lethwei World Championship in Yangon, Myanmar,[39] against Too Too, (34–0) undefeated, 75kg Lethwei World Champion.[40][41] Leduc dominated the fight and some furious fans threw projectiles in the ring.[42] The fight ended in a draw according to traditional Lethwei rules.[43][23][44]
After his dominant performance over Too Too, Leduc challenged Myanmar star Tun Tun Min, at the time, the Openweight Lethwei World Champion, however the Lethwei Golden Belt was not at stake.[45] The match was held at Thein Pyu Stadium and organized by Great Tiger Group. Tun Tun Min was the heavy favorite heading into the fight and dominated the early rounds. Leduc came back and floored Tun Tun Min a few times. The match was closely contested and ended in a draw according to traditional Lethwei rules.[46] After the match, Tun Tun Min was quoted saying that he had difficulties with Dave's control of distance, but that he was confident to put on a better performance in their rematch in December 2016.[47]
On December 11, 2016, the very anticipated rematch took place at the Air KBZ Aung Lan Championship in Yangon, Myanmar.[48] After previously fighting in October to a draw, Tun Tun Min put the openweight Lethwei Golden Belt on the line.[8] Leduc opened the fight offensively, landing a fake roundhouse kick to sidekick and a counter elbow on Tun Tun Min's face soon after the opening bell. Following these attacks, Tun Tun Min's usual bull rushing style was replaced by a noticeable slower pace. The round continued with aggressive attacks from both sides. In round three, Leduc caught Tun Tun Min's overextended leg and flipped him to the floor twisting his knee, forcing his team to call his time-out.[20] The third round continued with a visibly shaken Tun Tun Min. After a short exchange in the clinch followed by a final takedown, Tun Tun Min was not able to continue and forfeited. Leduc was awarded the Golden Belt, becoming the first non-Burmese fighter to hold the Lethwei openweight world title.[49][26][50]
On February 16, 2017, for the second event organized by the International Lethwei Federation Japan[56] Leduc headlined Lethwei in Japan 2 at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo Dome City, Japan.[57] Leduc defended his title for the first time against veteran Lethwei fighter Phoe Kay.[58][59] In the first round, Leduc performed a vicious spinning elbow knockout, forcing Phoe Kay's corner to call the permitted time-out.[60] They revived him and the fight continued. In the second round, after several knockdowns, Leduc ended the match by KO, winning his first title defense.[61][62] The Japanese people loved the brutality and aggression of Lethwei, and more events were announced to be held in Tokyo.[63][64]
On April 18, 2017, for his second title defense,[65] Leduc faced Turkish Australian fighter Adem Yilmaz at Lethwei in Japan 3 in Tokyo, Japan[66] under traditional Lethwei rules.[67][62][68] 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.[69] In the first round, Leduc scored two knockdowns and landed a powerful headbutt in the clinch. In the second round, Leduc dislocated his right index finger in the clinch and was not able to use his right hand the duration of the fight, but managed to land elbows and headbutts on Yilmaz. After five rounds, the fight was declared a draw according to traditional Lethwei rules with Leduc defending the Lethwei Golden Belt.[70][71]
For his third title defense, Leduc was set to face American Veteran Cyrus Washington at Lethwei in Japan 4 in Tokyo, Japan.[72] Washington pulled out of the fight citing a hand injury he sustained during training.[73][74] Leduc's opponent changed to Muaythai Champion Nilmungkorn Sudsakorngym from Thailand.[75][76] The matchup was billed as Lethwei vs. Muaythai.[75][77] Leduc made his entrance dressed as the grim reaper at the Tokyo Dome City Hall. In the first round, he landed a headbutt on Nilmungkorn, followed by a right-kick to right-punch move, hitting Nilmungkorn on the jaw forcing him to use his time-out. Leduc ended the match with a knee to the face winning by knockout at 2m:23sec of the second round.[78][79][80][81]
"I respect Cyrus a lot, he is a crafty veteran, he has fought some of the best fighters of the sport, but he has never fought anyone like me. I am not like the others, I'm the King of Lethwei and he wants a taste of the crown", Leduc said in an interview.[82]
On August 20, 2017, Leduc faced Cyrus Washington inside the Thuwunna National Indoor Stadium in Yangon, Myanmar, to defend his openweight Lethwei world title, at the Myanmar Lethwei World Championship.[83] With more than 100 fights on his record, Washington was the more experienced fighter of the two with Leduc having only 22 fights.[84] During Leduc's rise in Lethwei, fans often entertained the idea of a match with Cyrus Washington and pushed for a fight between the two. Having been the only other fighter to score a win over Tun Tun Min,[85][86] Washington used his time-out and spent remaining of the fight backing up from Leduc and going to the mat upon entering in the clinch trying to protect his lacerated forehead from any further damage. The fight was officially declared a draw under traditional Lethwei rules.[87] and marked Leduc's fourth consecutive title defence in eight months.[88]
On 10 December 2017, Leduc faced former WKN world champion heavyweight kickboxer Corentin Jallon from France.[89][87]"Fighting him is gonna be like a crocodile bringing a gazelle in the water." Leduc said.[90] Historically, the Air KBZ Aung Lan Golden Belt Championship was a kryptonite event for Lethwei champions, Leduc having won the title by defeating Tun Tun Min, who had won it from Saw Nga Man on the same stage. Inside the Thein Pyu Stadium in Yangon, Leduc executed his ceremonial fight dance Lethwei yay, announcing the start of the match. Just before the first exchange, Leduc challenged Jallon with the Lekkha moun. The Frenchman automatically replied with a flurry of punches, which Leduc countered with an elbow counterattack. In the third round, Leduc executed a diving headbutt which landed on Jallon's right eye, drawing blood. In the fourth round, Leduc had Jallon bent over the ropes from trying to avoid a headbutt. While he had Jallon's back, Leduc did a provocative humping movement.[91][92] Leduc landed headbutts in the clinch.[10][93] The fight was declared a draw according to traditional rules and Leduc retained the openweight Lethwei Golden Belt, marking his fifth consecutive title defence.[94][95]
2018: Myanmar Lethwei World Championship and Tun Tun Min Trilogy
The matchup was mediatized as Lethwei vs Muaythai. With more than 200 fights to his record, Diesellek was the more experienced fighter of the two, with Leduc having only 24 fights.[98] For this fight and for the first time in his career, Leduc flew his longtime trainer Sifu Patrick Marcil to Myanmar.[99] Prior to the bout, Leduc said in an interview that he respected Diesellek's left kick,[100] having knocked out current Lumpini Stadium and Rajadamnern Stadium champion Youssef Boughanem in brutal manner at Lumpini Stadium in 2012.[101]
The fight started with some exchanges in the clinch, with Diesellek trying the first headbutt of the fight which missed and Leduc landing a left uppercut.[102] Leduc continued with a fake right knee, fake left knee, followed by a right elbow, knocking out his opponent.[103] Diesellek's corner called for the allowed injury time-out and woke him up.[98] The fight resumed with Diesellek landing a left kick to Leduc's head. Leduc threw a fake kick to punch, followed by a knee to jaw knocking out Diesellek and breaking his jaw.[104] Leduc won by KO at 2:23 in the first round, marking his sixth title defence. He raised the Myanmar flag and performed the traditional victory dance Lethwei yay.[105]
On December 16, 2018, the very anticipated third match between Tun Tun Min took place at the Air KBZ Aung Lan Golden Belt Championship in Yangon. The fight was billed as The Biggest Fight In Lethwei History.[106][107] The third fight saw Leduc fighting out of the red corner, the first time a foreigner has been able to do so in the history of Lethwei, as it is customary to have non-Burmese fighters come out of the blue corner.[108] Tun Tun Min was fully recovered, but had tremendous difficulty with the distance control of Leduc. At 1:28 seconds of the first round, Leduc landed a headbutt to the temple in the clinch which floored Tun Tun Min, but managed to get up at the count of eight.
At the 2:35 of the same round, Leduc executed a jumping elbow strike and knocked out Tun Tun Min for 43 second.[109] His team had to call for the 2-minute injury time-out to revive him and attend to a cut above his right eye.[110][111] The later rounds saw both boxers vying for a finish but ended without another knockout at the final bell and Leduc retained the Lethwei Golden Belt title.[112]
2019–2023: WLC, Lethwei in USA and vacating title
In 2017, Leduc had expressed his disagreement with the World Lethwei Championship's usage of the modern Lethwei rules also known as Tournament rules.[113] In 1996, the tournament rules was created by the MTLF and added to some tournaments by removing the controversial injury time-out and adding a decision to determine a winner in the occasion there was no knockout.[68]
"It's no secret that I have had real concerns at the beginning about the modern ruleset of WLC. Looking back I think it was more a territorial feud, I was protecting my territory," Leduc told VICE[7]
On March 9, 2019, despite a long-running feud with the promotion,[114] Leduc announced that he had signed an exclusive contract with the World Lethwei Championship which would make it impossible for him to defend his world titles from other Lethwei organizations.[115]
On January 29, 2023, Leduc officially vacated the openweight Lethwei World Championship title before the fight between Tun Tun Min and Thway Thit Win Hlaing. As soon as the fight started the title was up for grabs.[135] In the event where the champion vacates the title, the two top contenders are required to fight for the belt. In these cases, in order to have a champion, the fight cannot end in a draw, a winner must obligatory be declared even if there is no knockout. Tway Thit Win Hlaing was awarded the title[135] and succeeded Leduc as Myanmar openweight champion.[136]
Retirement fight: Kun Khmer rules vs. Prom Samnang
In August 2023, Leduc announced that he was set to retire completely from professional fighting and will fight one more time under Kun Khmer in Cambodia.[141][142] Leduc stated he would compete under Kun Khmer rules out of respect for the host country.[143] Leduc invited the Prime Minister of Cambodia His Excellency Hun Manet to attend his match against Prom Samnang. Manet respond and agreed to meet Leduc when he comes to Kingdom of Cambodia.[144]
On November 3, 2023, Leduc and Samnang were invited to the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh to meet with Prime Minister of Cambodia His Excellency Hun Manet. Manet was quoted saying that the match between the two fighters will reflect mutual respect and contribute to strengthen the ties of friendship between Cambodia and Myanmar and that this will raise awareness about Kun Khmer around the world the Cambodian Premier added.[145] The Kun Khmer Federation (KKF) hired 10 assistant coaches to help Samnang in his preparation against Leduc.[146] The match was referred as historic and the most anticipated fight of the year.[147]
On November 5, 2023, Leduc and Samnang fought under Kun Khmer rules, 1 round of 9 minutes with ropes wrapped around their fists.[148][149] Leduc dominated the majority of the fight and dropped Samnang with an overhand right.[150] After nine minutes without a knockout, per MAS Fight rules, the fight was declared a draw.[151] The fight was streamed online and watched live by over 15 million people.[150]
Leduc is considered a pioneer of Lethwei.[152] After winning the world title in 2016, Leduc dedicated his career to Lethwei and has been widely credited for the sport's rise in international popularity.[87][153][154][81][113][22] Leduc expressed his hopes that Lethwei fighters will remain true to the traditions of the martial art as it grows in popularity.[85][155] Leduc helped open gyms throughout Myanmar[92][156] and promoted Lethwei outside of the country.[157] In 2020, has helped bring the sport for the first time to the United States at the occasion of Dave Leduc vs. Cyrus Washington II.[158][152]
On 8 October 2017, Myint Htwe, the Minister of Health and Sports of Myanmar awarded Leduc with a certificate of honor in recognition for his efforts as a proponent of Myanmar's national sport, being on the forefront of Lethwei's expansion internationally.[159]
In 2020, Chatri Sityodtong CEO of ONE Championship expressed interest in recruiting Leduc for his promotion, referring to him as "head-butting Lethwei 'monster'.[160] Leduc stated that he would compete in ONE under Lethwei rules. "I need to stay focused on Lethwei. I like fighting with no gloves and with headbutts: that's my passion".[161]
Leduc is known for his powerful elbows and headbutts as well as for his unpredictable and unorthodox style.[23][162][87] He often taunts and provokes his opponents during the fight.[92] Leduc is referred to as the King of Lethwei[163] Leduc has stated eating mohinga in the morning, enjoying playing a games of chinlone with locals and is known for routinely wearing a longyi.[15] He also has received the traditional Myanmar Lethwei Htoe Kwin leg tattoos.[164] The majority of Burmese have accepted Leduc and welcomed the idea of having a non-native as the champion of their national sport.[92][10]
In 2024, Leduc and his family moved to Cambodia.[4] Leduc is a vegan[166] and believes that Veganism is the basis for the bettering of humans.[167]
Wedding
In 2016, Leduc met Moldovan writer and model Irina Terehova when she traveled to Thailand.[168] The two had never met before, but after writing a story on Leduc, Terehova decided to leave Canada and meet him in Phuket.[169][170] In October 2016, Leduc got engaged to Terehova on the Shwesandaw Pagoda in Bagan, Myanmar.[169] On December 13, 2016, the couple got married in a nationally televised traditional wedding ceremony live on MRTV in Yangon,[92] only two days after his world championship title fight.[10][171] The ceremony was watched by approximately 30 million people in Myanmar which catapulted the couple to superstardom in Myanmar.[172][11][26][173]
Charity
In 2017, Leduc and his wife started getting involved with orphan children who are affected with HIV and AIDS at the NLD AIDS Center in Myanmar, bringing food treats, as well as undisclosed donations.[174][175][176] In 2021, Leduc campaigned on social media to raise awareness and raised money for people who were victims of Myanmar military coup.[177][178]
In 2018, Leduc posted a fan art on social media, showing of a 1000-kyats note with a picture of him suggesting that the Central Bank of Myanmar was issuing a sports celebratory note with him on it.[179] The announcement outraged the population in Myanmar because of the sensitive nature of the issue.[180] In the 1990s, the military regime tried to eradicate all traces of General Aung San's memory, considered the father of modern-day Myanmar and who was assassinated by political rivals six months before independence on January 4, 1948. After the 8888 Uprising, the government redesigned the national currency removing the picture of General Aung San, replacing it with Chinthe and elephants.[181] Leduc was severely criticized, receiving multiple threats before going public and explaining the strategy behind his stunt, stating his goal was to revive the debate about bringing back Aung San on the currency. Leduc mentioned to Canadian newspaper Le Droit, that the Myanmar population was very receptive and understood the tactic behind his stunt.[182][183] On 4 January 2020, to mark the 72nd anniversary of Myanmar's Independence Day, the Central Bank of Myanmar issued the new 1000-kyats notes displaying General Aung San after being absent for 30 years.[184]
Banned from Thailand
On April 28, 2021, Leduc stirred controversy with a profanity-laced social media post saying that Muaythai was "softened version of Burmese Boxing", criticized Muay Thai fighter Buakaw Banchamek and stating claims surrounding the Nai Khanom Tom folklore story were false and that he was simply a prisoner in ancient Burma during the Burmese–Siamese War.[185] The post sparked considerable backlash from the Muaythai and combat sports community. In a letter, the Myanmar Traditional Lethwei Federation (MTLF) explained that Muaythai promoters made a complaint about Leduc. Prominent Thai Muaythai promoter Nuttadaj Vachirarattanawong urged he MTLF to reprimand Leduc.[186][187] The MTLF judged that Leduc had "committed personal attacks" on Buakaw Banchamek and Muaythai history, potentially "tarnishing the relationship between Myanmar and Thailand".[188] The federation issued Leduc a two-year ban on Lethwei competitions under their federation.[189][178]
In response to the letter, Leduc wrote on social media "They're not the World Lethwei Federation (WLF), the WLF is the most powerful, they have affiliated federations all accross[sic] the world [...] Nobody in the world tells me anything. The World Lethwei Federation can't, and especially not the MTLF"[190]"There's two Federations in Lethwei: the WLF / World Lethwei Federation and the MTLF / Myanmar Lethwei Federation, who are just a bunch of old men from a community club that never liked me & I never liked them either. They made an "official letter" saying they ban me from their federation "for 2 years" Am I supposed to care? Not only do I don't care, I will go further and say: I will never fight in their federation ever again." he added.[191] Leduc made fun of the Muay Thai folklore figure Nai Khanom Tom for being captured by Burmese troops during the Burmese–Siamese War (1765–1767).[192][193][194]
On December 20, 2020, Leduc gave a speech to thousands of Canadians gathered at a peaceful demonstration in La Fontaine Park in Montreal. He requested a public debate with unsponsored medical experts and asked for governmental transparency in regards of the sanitary measures imposed on the population in response of COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec.[199] After his speech, while Leduc was giving an interview, multiple agents of the SPVM police force started to surround him and detained him.[200] Leduc received a fine of 1546 CAD$ for not wearing a facial covering outside.[201]
In 2021, Leduc had become a leading activist opposing the health measures surrounding COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec.[202][203] In May, the government-sponsored media Radio-Canada commissioned a documentary to better understand the dissident movement led by Leduc and three other Quebec personalities that rejected the measures imposed by the government.[204] The documentary was a finalist for the Prix Gémeaux.[205] In 2022, Leduc was featured in the study conducted the UNESCO Chairs in Quebec entitled "The conspiracy movement in Quebec: Leaders, discourses and adherence" presented to the Quebec Ministry of Economy and Innovation.[206]
Television
The Amazing Race Canada
In 2019, before headlining WLC 9, Leduc competed with his wife Irina Terehova on The Amazing Race Canada Season 7.[207] The couple made it clear that they weren't on the show for the prize money[208] or to make friends,[209] it was apparently Leduc's desire since teenage to compete on the show.[210] Undoubtedly the most controversial seasons of the Canadian franchise,[211] Dave & Irina became the most notorious villains the franchise has known,[212] while being practically unbeatable for the entire season.[213] The couple outraged a lot of viewers and were deemed "un-Canadian".[214] They fell out of favour of viewers and fellow racers for their cutthroat way of racing,[215] copying an answer at the Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park and stealing cabs in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.[216] The couple later revealed receiving death threats when the show aired.[217] They generated a remarkable amount of hate from Canadian viewers for referring to other contestants as peasants.[218] After arriving first in Edmonton, Alberta, Leduc said "We'll let the peasants fight for last place.", which became the title of episode 3.[219]
In the first episode of the season, in Kamloops, British Columbia, the couple quickly stood out and became the season's villains after trash-talking Canada's Choice Jet & Dave.[220] Jet told Leduc about being a firefighter which he replied "That's great because you will be back there next week.", which ended up being true.[221] In the fifth episode, in Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, the remaining contestants teamed up and tried send the Quebec couple home, but as Leduc said, it was a "drastic failure."[212] Despite a well-laid plan against the couple and a record number of penalties taken by multiple teams, it was ultimately the Halifax twins who got eliminated.[222]
Lethwei or Burmese boxing is a full contact combat sport originating from Myanmar and is regarded as one of the most brutal martial arts in the world. Lethwei fighters are allowed to use stand-up striking techniques such as kicks, knees, elbows and punches, and the use of headbutts is also permitted. Fighters compete bareknuckle, wrapping their hands with only tape and gauze. 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. Lethwei is the last remaining sport in the world that allows headbutts. Although popular throughout Myanmar, Lethwei has been primarily and historically associated with the Karen people of the Kayin State; the vast majority of competitive Lethwei fighters are ethnolinguistically of Karen descent.
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.
Patrick Marcil is a Canadian mixed martial arts and Lethwei coach. He is a sifu in Fangshendo, a modified form of Jeet Kune Do. His students include Lethwei World Champion Dave Leduc and UFC middleweight fighter Marc-André Barriault.
World Lethwei Championship was a Lethwei promotion based in Yangon, Myanmar. The promotion brought the millennia-old Burmese martial of Lethwei to UFC Fight Pass and showcased it to the world. The WLC events combined the historic traditions of Lethwei with modern entertainment.
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 from 2015 until his death in 2023. He also competed in a Lethwei superfight at Kunlun Fight 25 in Slovakia. Too Too died while in custody of the Burmese military known as the Tatmadaw on April 26, 2023.
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.
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 by FITE TV, Abema TV 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.
The year 2017 is the 1st year in the history of the World Lethwei Championship, a Lethwei promotion based in Myanmar.
The year 2019 is the 3rd year in the history of the World Lethwei Championship, a Lethwei promotion based in Myanmar.
Theinphyu 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.
Shwe Sai, is a retired Burmese Lethwei fighter and former Openweight Lethwei World Champion.
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.
Wan Chai is a former Burmese Lethwei fighter and Openweight Lethwei World Champion in 1998 and 1999.
Tway Ma Shaung is a retired Burmese lethwei fighter considered by many to be the best of his generation and a legend in the sport, his fighting style characterised by his resilience and virtuosity. He was revered for taking on larger and heavier opponents and praised for his commitment to working the body instead of the head.
Vero Nika is a Burmese Lethwei and Muay Thai fighter. She is one of the most successful female Lethwei fighters in the sport. In 2022, amid unrest in Myanmar because of the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état, she started competing in Muay Thai in neighboring Thailand. She reached the no.1 spot in the female world rankings at 53 kg according to World Muay Thai Organization, and became Thai Fight Kard Chuek Champion.
Thway Thit Win Hlaing is a Burmese Lethwei fighter and current openweight Lethwei world Champion. He is known as counter fighter relying on counters rather than straight offence.
Prom Samnang, is a Cambodian Kun Khmer fighter and is one of the most successful Kun Khmer fighters in Cambodia. In 2023, Samnang won the Thai Fight Kard Chuek championship title in Thailand and won the gold medal against Tun Tun Min in the Khun Khmer Men's 81kg division.
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.
Marcil, Patrick (26 January 2016). "Spotlight: Dave Leduc". Gatineau Martial Arts. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
1 2 3 4 "Dave Leduc's Next Title Fight Confirmed". Muaythai Authority. 20 November 2017. Archived from the original on 12 August 2018. He is known for vicious elbows and nasty headbutts / Leduc was in control throughout the fight / Leduc has been instrumental in helping the sport of Lethwei gain more attention internationally
1 2 3 4 5 Zuzakar Kalaung (15 December 2017). "Boxing your way into Myanmar culture". Myanmar Times. Archived from the original on 24 November 2018. In 2016, his Burmese traditional wedding to a Russian model was broadcast on national television / opening gyms throughout the country and promoting it outside of Myanmar / Dave's style is aggressive and provocative
↑ James Rees (25 August 2022). "Is Lethwei The Most Brutal Martial Art?". Lethwei World. Archived from the original on 30 March 2023. Since 2016, Lethwei's popularity has skyrocketed due to its most vocal ambassador Dave Leduc, who has been the biggest proponent of the sport worldwide
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