Old foes clash as new blood rises in Golden Belt bouts
August 23 - 29, 2010
Win Tun is counted out by the referee at Thuwanna Indoor Stadium on August 15.
Pic: Aye Zaw Myo
Myanmar’s Traditional Golden Belt Championships began on August 14, with a brilliant display of the nations fighting style, Lethwei.
The event saw fighters from 15 clubs and seven weight divisions compete in the quarter final stage of the competition as well as an outstanding challenge fight between old foes Pho K and Win Tun.
Left until the last fight it was clearly the bout that the crowd had come to see.
Both fighters entered the ring cautiously and a nervous smile from Win Tun gave an eerie indication of things to come.
The pair’s last encounter on March 29 saw Win Tun knock Pho K out with a well aimed and savage right kick to the face. Both fighters were under no illusions about the quality of their opponent.
The first round starts with both fighters clashing heavily. Highlights of the round included Pho K landing a hard right kick to his opponents face only to be knocked to the ground shortly after.
The second round began furiously when Pho K seemed to walk almost directly into a sweeping right kick from his opponent, Win Tun. The fighter gets to his feet, only to realize that his opponents force has left him momentarily dazed.
Pho K seizes the opportunity, catching his opponent’s leg with his left hand and luring Win Tun into the path of a strong right punch.
Round three starts by Win Tun taking a heavy battering of punches. He commits the cardinal sin and cowers into the corner of the ring.
Pho K can smell victory, blood drips from Win Tun’s nose.
In an attempt to finish the fight in style Pho K attempts a spinning aerial kick. The fighter’s legs cut through the air but fail to connect with his opponent.
As the fourth bell sounds Win Tun attempts a strong low kick to his opponents shin. As both shins clash, Win Tun comes off worse. The smack of bones can be heard through the stadium and Win Tun is yet again on the floor in agony.
It seems that the fighter’s last gasp attempt has spelled his own demise.
The round continues but is short-lived.
As the second minute of the round ticks past Win Tun has fallen over repeatedly. Finally he settles in the middle of the ring.
Sitting upright and exhausted, the referee counts the fight out.
The crowd seems pleased by the result and the old rivalry lives on.
“It was a good contest and I’m really happy to hear the encouragements from the crowd,” Pho K told The Myanmar Times after the fight.
“Its so nice to see a lot of Mandalay supporters in the crowd,” Pho K said.
In the Saturday afternoon Championship fights Thapyay Nyo defeated Thar Thar on points 5-0 in the 57kg division. In the 63.5kg division Yan Sat Naing knockout out Kyaw Htin, Shwe Thein Aung defeated Saw Robert and Aung Zayya defeated Mya Linn Aung. In the 67kg division Shwe Min Yarzar overcame Bathone Pan Sat, Mya Lay New beat Saw Yan Ping and Lone Chaw Lay beat Kyan Sit Aung on points 5-0.
The Sunday fights started with the 60kg division and saw Bilat Myay Maung Maung defeat Saw Phoe Chit, crowd favourite Moe Thee defeated Thar Kachin, Aung Sit Min was too good for Nay So Aung and Ko Oo Lay’s knee proved too good for Hein Nyi Nyi.
The final Championship fight for the day also proved to be the most exciting and saw a bloody Soe Linn Oo overcome Daw Na Aung 5-0 on points.
The Traditional Golden Belt Championships, which first started in 1996, will run every weekend until the end of the month at Yangon’s Thuwanna Indoor Stadium.
