 | |
| Company type | Lethwei promotion |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2016 |
| Headquarters | Tokyo, Japan [1] |
Key people | Kakuo Shimizu [2] |
| Owner | Yoshimitsu Mitsui [3] (First On Stage Co., Ltd) [3] [4] |
| Website | ilfj |
International Lethwei Federation Japan, also known as ILFJ, is a Japanese Lethwei promotion company with headquarters in Tokyo. [5]
In 2016, the ILFJ acquired a ‘’Grade-A’’ promoter licence from the Myanmar Traditional Lethwei Federation, [3] allowing them to organize traditional Lethwei events in Japan. [6] [7] ILFJ then entered into a partnership with Myanmar businessman Mr. Wunna [8] CEO of Myanmar Media Group (MMG), [3] the organizer of the Myanmar Lethwei World Championship, to share fighters and co-organize the Lethwei events in Japan. [9] The first ILFJ event titled Lethwei Grand Prix in Japan 2016, [10] was held on 27 October 2016 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. [5] [3]
On April 18, 2017, the Ambassador of Myanmar to Japan attended the first ever Lethwei world title fight headlining two non-Burmese in the sport's history at Lethwei in Japan 3. [11] The event organized by ILFJ featured reigning champion Dave Leduc vs Adem Yilmaz inside the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. [12]
On July 10, 2022, hosted a 10 fights Lethwei tournament named Lethwei Unbeatable in Oyabe, Japan. [13] [14] [15]
After having an inaugural first event in the Japan in Tokyo (Lethwei Grand Prix 2016), FITE TV [16] signed a multi-year agreement to broadcast the promotion's Lethwei events. [17]
In 2017, the ILFJ signed a broadcasting deal with MNTV [18] to be aired in Myanmar [19] and livestreaming [20] available in Japan on AbemaTV. [21]
| Division | Upper weight limit | Champion | Since | Title defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Openweight | 80 kg (176.4 lb)+ |  Dave Leduc | June 16, 2017 (Lethwei in Japan 4: Frontier) | 0 |
| Featherweight | 65 kg (143.3 lb) |  Thar A Thae Ta Pwint | June 16, 2017 (Lethwei in Japan 4: Frontier) | 1 |
| Bantamweight | 60 kg (132.3 lb) |  Yuta Hamamoto | June 16, 2017 (Lethwei in Japan 4: Frontier) | 0 |
| Women's Featherweight | 62 kg (136.7 lb) |  Julija Stoliarenko | November 15, 2017 (Lethwei Grand Prix Japan 2017) | 1 |
| No. | Name | Event | Date | Reign | Defenses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dave Leduc def. Nilmungkorn Sudsakorngym | Lethwei in Japan 4: Frontier Tokyo, Japan | June 16, 2017 | 631 days (Vacated) | Vacated March 9, 2019 [23] |
ILFJ uses traditional Lethwei rules, with no point system. The only way to win is by knockout or because of an injury or the inability to fight any more. At the end of the match if the two fighters are still standing, the fight is declared a draw.
Each bout can be booked as 4 or 5 rounds fight with 3 minutes per round and a 2-minute break in between rounds. Championship bouts are 5 round with 3 minutes per round.
ILFJ utilizes the following weight classes:
| Weight class name | Upper limit | |
|---|---|---|
| in kilograms (kg) | in pounds (lb) | |
| Bantamweight | 60 | 132.3 |
| Featherweight | 65 | 143.3 |
| Welterweight | 70 | 154.3 |
| Middleweight | 75 | 165.3 |
| Openweight | No weight limit | |
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. 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.
Umar Semata is a Ugandan middleweight and super middleweight Muay Thai fighter and the former WBC World Boxing Council Muay Thai Interim Super Middleweight Champion.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
The year 2024 was the 21st year in the history of RISE, a Japanese kickboxing promotion.
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| Champions and pioneers | |
| Promotions | |
| Governing bodies | |
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