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Lao Chantrea is a Cambodian martial artist that competes in the Cambodian sport of Kun Khmer (pradal serey). He is considered one of the most skilled boxers in Cambodia and a member of Cambodia's national Kun Khmer team. He has won the national championship and is the reigning gold medalist in Kun Khmer at the Southeast Asian Games in the 75 kg weight division. [1]
In 2014, a young Lao Chantrea won the 60 kg Leo Beer belt. [1] In 2015, the Cambodian Boxing Federation bestowed upon Lao Chantrea the nickname, the "flying knee". Previously, the nickname was held by Eh Phouthong. Eh Phouthong said he was happy that a new strong athlete could use that nickname because he had retired from boxing. [2]
On March 19, 2016, Lao Chantrea from the 911 Parachute Brigade Club became champion of the second season of the PNN Leo Beer Championship. He won $5,000 by knocking out Soth Bunthy by elbow to the neck in the second round. [3] Lao Chantrea believed he had a 90% chance of winning the finals of the Leo Beer Belt. [4] In December 2016, Lao Chantrea defeated Phal Sophorn at the Kubota Championship at Bayon Boeung Snor Arena. [5] On December 30, 2017, Lao Chantrea beat his opponent Thananchai with a unanimous decision in a match at Bayon Arena. [6]
In 2018, Sabay News named Lao Chantrea as one of the top 5 Cambodian boxers most technically skilled in ability. [7] He is known for his punches kicks and clinching while using knee techniques. In 2018 at the ISI PALM championship at CNC television studio, Lao Chantrea beat Chhan Chhai of Thailand with an elbow attack. The referee stopped the match and Chantrea won in round three of the five scheduled rounds. [8] In 2018, Lao Chantrea was named to the 2018 national team. [9]
At the 2019 national championship, Lao Chantrea earned a gold medal in the 67 kg weight division. [10] On Saturday morning of June 26, 2021, at Bayon TV arena, Lao Chantrea got hit by the heavy hand of Thai Rithy and lost the match in the middle of the 3rd round. [11]
Although he was selected for the national team, Lao Chantrea did not compete at the 31st SEA Games because his weight division was not an event. [12] At the 32nd SEA Games, Lao Chantrea received a gold medal by defeating Vietnamese boxer Nguyen Hong Quan in the finals of the men's 75 kg weight division. [13] The match took place on the afternoon of May 11, 2023 at Morodok Techo National Stadium. [14]
In 2023, Lao Chantrea won in the second round against Denpanum, the reigning Lumpinee middlewight champion from Thailand. [15] [16] On February 4, 2024, at The Battle of Kings event at the National Television of Cambodia(TVK), Lao Chantrea beat Sudsakorn Sor Klinmee by points. [17]
Lao Chantrea trains under Master Hong Seun who has also train other famous athletes such as Ung Virak, Lao Chetra, Lao Sinath and Prom Samnang. [18] He is the older brother of Kun Khmer star, Lao Chetra. [19] His nephew is Cambodian boxer Lao Sainet, who is a boxer at the 911 Parachute Brigade Club. [20]
Lao Chantrea was in attendance at Manny Pacquiao's state visit to Cambodia and was among the Cambodian boxers to take a selfie with the Filipino great. [21]
Lao Chantrea has said he wanted to see a lot of fans and sponsors support Cambodian boxers in the same way they do soccer. He has said the Cambodian boxing industry does not receive enough support. [22]
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's Kun Khmer | ||
Representing  Cambodia | ||
| Southeast Asian Games | ||
 | 2023 Phnom Penh | Men's 75 kg |
| Date | Result | Opponent | Event | Location | Method | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 15, 2024 | Win |  Sudsakorn Sor Klinmee | Krud Kun Khmer: The Battle of Kings [23] | Cambodia | Decision | 3 | |
| February 4, 2024 | Win | Sudsakorn Sor Klinmee | Krud Kun Khmer TVK [24] | Phnom Penh, Cambodia | Decision | 3 | |
| January 13, 2024 | Win |  Sytheun Silabouth | Cambodia Beer Boxing [25] | Phnom Penh, Cambodia | Decision | 3 | |
| December 10, 2023 | Win | Denpanom Pran26 | Ganzberg Kun Khmer [26] | Phnom Penh, Cambodia | TKO(doctor's stoppage) | 2 | |
| October 8, 2023 | Win | Nakhornkraisorn | PNN Boxing [27] | Phnom Penh, Cambodia | TKO | 3 | 1:00 |
| March 11, 2023 | Win |  Hassan Vahdani | PNN Boxing [28] | Phnom Penh, Cambodia | TKO(doctor's stoppage) | 4 | 0:06 |
| April 23, 2022 | Loss |  Thiago Teixeira | Town Boxing [29] | Phnom Penh, Cambodia | Decision | 3 | |
| July 31, 2021 | Win | Thoeun Theara | CNC Boxing [30] | Phnom Penh, Cambodia | KO | 2 | 0:18 |
| June 20, 2020 | Win | Long Sophy | CTN Boxing [31] | Phnom Penh, Cambodia | Decision | 5 | |
| June 14, 2020 | Win | Thoeun Theara | CNC Boxing [32] | Phnom Penh, Cambodia | Decision | 5 | |
| March 01, 2020 | Draw |  Pavel Grishanovich | Mas Fight Cambodia [33] | Phnom Penh, Cambodia | Decision | 1 | |
| September 1, 2019 | Loss | Kongthailand Kiatnavy | Bayon TV boxing | Phnom Penh, Cambodia | KO | 2 | 1:33 |
| November 4, 2018 | Win | Phusarngyai | Bayon TV boxing [34] | Phnom Penh, Cambodia | KO | 1 | 0:28 |
| May 6, 2018 | Win | Puch Chhairithy | CNC Boxing [35] | Phnom Penh, Cambodia | Decision | 5 | |
| February 11, 2018 | Win | Chhanchhai | CNC Boxing [36] | Phnom Penh, Cambodia | TKO | 3 | 1:50 |
| December 30, 2017 | Win | Thananchai Sitsongpeenong | Bayon TV [37] | Phnom Penh, Cambodia | Decision | 5 | |
| June 25, 2017 | Win | Namphon | Bayon TV [38] | Phnom Penh, Cambodia | TKO | 3 | |
| June 10, 2017 | Draw | Maishot | CNC Boxing [39] | Phnom Penh, Cambodia | Decision | 5 | |
| December 25, 2016 | Win | Phal Sophorn | Kubota Championship-Bayon TV [40] | Phnom Penh, Cambodia | Decision | 5 | |
| November 2, 2016 | Win | Phal Sophorn | The Nationals [41] | Phnom Penh, Cambodia | Decision | 5 | |
| September 4, 2016 | Win | Phal Sophorn | Bayon TV [42] | Phnom Penh, Cambodia | TKO | 3 | 1:58 |
| March 19, 2016 | Win | Soth Bunthy | PNN Championship [43] | Phnom Penh, Cambodia | KO | 2 | 0:53 |
| January 16, 2016 | Win | Sam A | PNN Boxing [44] | Phnom Penh, Cambodia | Decision | 5 |
Kun Khmer, or Pradal Serey, is a combat sport that originated in Cambodia. The sport consists of stand up striking and clinch fighting, where the objective is to knock an opponent out, force a technical knockout, or win a match by points. The sport was codified in Cambodia by the French colonial administration in the early 20th century, and was derived from centuries-old traditions, namely Bokator, the close-quarter combat system used during the Khmer empire. The official Khmer name of the sport is Kbach Kun Pradal Khmer.
Eh Phouthong, also spelled Ei Phouthang and Eh Phuthong is a retired Cambodian professional kickboxer, coach and former reality TV host. Eh Phouthong was known for his powerful right kick which shattered many arms. He is the most famous kickboxer from Cambodia. The AFP described Eh Phouthong as "Cambodia's Muhammad Ali". Eh Phouthong is the trainer of Cambodian champion, Thoeun Theara.
Bokator or Kun L'Bokator is an ancient Cambodian battlefield martial art. It is one of the oldest fighting systems existing in the world and is recognised as intangible cultural heritage by the UNESCO.
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