Chhoeung Lvai (Khmer: ឈឿង ល្វៃ), (born 8 May 1997) is a Cambodian kickboxer and Kun Khmer fighter. In 2023, he won the gold medal at the 32nd SEA Games in low kick kickboxing.[1][2] He is the ISKA Kun Khmer World Light-middle champion(72.5 kg) [3] The Kampuchea Thmey Daily listed him as a top 10 Kun Khmer boxer for 2024. [4]
Background
Chhoeung Lvai is originally from Kampong Thom province from a poor family. After finishing 8th grade, he went to work to financially support his family. He used to work as a truck driver.[5]
Chhoeung Lvai got interested in becoming a boxer after watching a match between Keo Rumchong and Long Sophy. In 2017, he started training in boxing at the age of 20. When he first started boxing, his family didn't want him to pursue boxing as a career and had to pursue training secretly. He first started boxing at Coach Long Salavong's club. He first had difficulty finding a boxing gym and had to ask around. In 2019, he switch to the boxing club of Pradal Neakareach Chaktomuk under Coach Svay Sokhon. Chhoeung Lvai now is training at Kun Khmer International Fight Gym (KKIF). Chhoeung Lvai was nicknamed as Black Dragon (នាគរាជខ្មៅ [Neaka reach khmau]) by his fans.[6]
Career
Low Kick Kickboxing
At the 31st Southeast Asian Games, Chhoueng Lvai defeated Singaporean martial artist Nazri Sutari in the quarter finals of the men's low kick kickboxing quarter finals at 71 kg.[7] His opponent, Nazri, was a Sambo gold medalist from the 2019 games. Chhoeung Lvai defeated Honorio Banario in the semi-finals of the men's low kick kickboxing at 71 kg.[8] His opponent, Banario, was a former ONE FC featherweight champion. Chhoeung Lvai lost to Thongchai Thapphli in the 71 kg finals match which resulted in a silver medal for Chhoeung Lvai.[9][10]
At the 2022 Asian Kickboxing Championship, Chhoeung Lvai won a silver medal.[11]
Chhoeung Lvai said his toughest opponents for the 32nd Southeast Asian Games would be the Philippines and Thailand. He said he trained hard and improved his technical ability a lot since the SEA Games in Vietnam.[12] At the 2023 Southeast Asian Games(SEA Games) kickboxing tournament, Chhoeung Lvai beat Thai boxer Tonphonsi Thanaphat by points in the 71 kg weight class making it the first time he won a gold medal at the SEA Games.[13]
Kun Khmer
The National Television of Cambodia organized an event at Siem Reap for the Khmer New Year in 2023. There was a controversial match between Chhoeung Lvai and Thai boxer Sammy Banchamek. Chhoeung Lvai's leg was injured in the match. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen issued a message that boxers competing in the SEA games should not compete in other boxing events until the SEA games finish. He also ask the Cambodian Kun Khmer federation to address the issue to avoid incidents that could affect participation in the SEA games. People on Facebook criticized and accused the referee of favoring the side of Sammy Banchamek. The Prime Minister asked people to stop debating the match on social media.[14]
On September 30, 2023 at Town Arena, Chhoeung Lvai was victorious over Italian boxer Matin Meoni.[15]
On December 10, 2023, the Bare Knuckle Kombat Championship hosted their first Kun Khmer event in Phnom Penh, Cambodia and Lvai participated in the inaugural event.[16]
Chhoeung Lvai was scheduled a for a title bout against Brazilian fighter Machado Bento who is a Rajadamnern Stadium world series champion of Thailand.[17] Chhoeung Lvai won the match and the IPCC Ganzberg Kun Khmer world championship by decision.[18]
On Saturday, January 20, 2024, Chhoeung Lvai claimed a knockout victor over Iranian boxer Hamidreza Mehrabloo in the second round.[19]
Chhoeung Lvai of Cambodia fought Jay Tonkin of Australia, a WMO Australian Middleweight Champion,[20] for the ISKA Kun Khmer World Light-middle title(72.5 kg). Chhoeung Lvai had a unanimous decision victory.[21]
The Kampuchea Thmey Daily listed him as a top 10 Kun Khmer boxer for 2024. [22] He had more than 10 fights in 2024 and only lost two. He became the only Khmer martial artist to win two belts in Hong Kong. He won the World Super-4 Marthon 72 kg title. He also won a gold medal at the 2024 Samdech Thipadei Championship.
Muay Thai
On March 13, 2024, Chhoeung Lvai was selected to join World Muay Thai Grandprix, organized by I-1 World Muaythai Championship which took place in Hong Kong, China.
Chhoeung Lvai defeated his opponents Fahsang by TKO. The World Super-4 Champion Final 72Kg, Chhoeung Lvai defeated his opponent Elysee Kochiese by unanimous decision in the 72 kg final and became World Muay Thai Champion Belt. It is the first Lvai's success in his career on foreign stage and got many fans in Hong Kong.
Accomplishments
ISKA Kun Khmer World Light-middle champion (72.5 kg)
^Nuch, S. (2023, May 29). ម្ចាស់មេដាយមាសស៊ីហ្គេមកីឡាករឈឿង ល្វៃនឹងត្រូវប៉ះគ្នាជាមួយ កីឡាករថៃសាមី បានឆាមេក នៅថ្ងៃទី២៥ខែមិថុនាខាងមុខ [SEA Games gold medalist Chhoeung Lvai will face Thai Sami Banchamek on June 25]. Khmer Note. https://khmernote.com.kh/news/317849
^ឈឿង ល្វៃ រៀបរាប់ពីប្រវត្តិជីវិតនិងការតស៊ូហាត់ប្រដាល់ដោយលួចលាក់ពីគ្រួសារ [Chhoeung Lvai recounts his life history and secret boxing struggles from his family]. (2023, March 3). VAYO FM. Retrieved January 25, 2024, from https://vayofm.com/news/detail/123014-946.html
^ឈឿង ល្វៃ ធ្លាប់ចង់ព្យួរស្រោមដៃដោយសារពាក្យរិះគន់ [Chhoeung Lvai used to want to hang up gloves because of criticism]. (2024, January 10). Cambodianess. Retrieved January 25, 2024, from https://thmeythmey.com/?page=detail&id=133191
^PM Congratulates Cambodian Boxers Medal Winners at the Asian Kickboxing Championships 2022. (2022, December 19). EAC News. https://eacnews.asia/home/details/18059
^Chheang Lvai on top rivals at SEA Games Kickboxing event. (2022, November 21). Cambodia 2023.https://cambodia2023.com/10091
