Pich Sambath (Khmer: ពេជ្រ សម្បត្តិ, also known as Phoeun Sambath (Khmer: ភឿន សម្បត្តិ); born April 8, 2002) is a Cambodian professional Kun Khmer fighter and kickboxer. As born in a poor family, Sambath sees Kun Khmer as a good career for his life. He starts training Kun Khmer in 2020 at Pich Sophann Kun Khmer Gym and his coach is Mr. Pich Sophann, a former Kun Khmer fighter. Currently his weight fighting range is 57 kg-60 kg. The Kampuchea Thmey Daily previously listed him as a top 10 Kun Khmer boxer in early 2023.[1] The Kampuchea Thmey Daily listed him as a top 10 Kun Khmer boxer for 2024.[2]
Biography
Pich Sambath, born "Phoeun Sambath" on April 8, 2002, in Kandoul village, Kampong Speu province. Sambath born to farmer family and has four siblings (2 brothers and 2 sisters). Sambath is the eldest son in the family. The second sister is Phoeun Sambo, the third sister is Phoeun Vann Lean and the fourth brother is Phoeun Vansing. He began his first fight at the age of 19. Sambath's father's name Vong Mil who works as a construction foreman and a mother's name Aun Sok Khim who works as a farmer. He has a younger brother who trains Kun Khmer. He also starts Kun Khmer a boxing career, Phoeun Vansing, also known as Phan Singhak. Sambath studied until the seventh grade at 24 Kanha (September) high School then he dropped out.
He started practicing Khmer boxing in 2019, but after training for a while, he decided to stop and returning to another job with his temperament and getting a small salary. He decided to as Mr. Pich Sophann to train again in 2021 until today.[3]
Pich Sambath was named as "Krabei Prey Moktann"(Khmer language: ក្របីព្រៃមុខតាន់) meaning : " Wild Buffalo Solid Face" in his professional Kun Khmer fighter records after he has full strong mental power to fight against his opponents and won by many technical knock-out records rapidly.
Career
Kun Khmer
Pich Sambath had his first fight on February 20, 2021, at Kun Khmer International Marathon friendly match BTV. Unfortunately, it was not a good result but was a keen fight with his opponent Toem Savuth for 5 rounds of 3 minutes each. Sambath loss by split decision.[4]
Pich Sambath made Kampuchea Thmey Daily's top 10 list of Khmer boxers who had the best first half of 2023. Although Pich Sambath did not make the national team, he won the Carabao championship at the end of 2022 and the 2023 International Krud belt.[5]
He won a fight against his opponent, Saw Kolo, a Lethwei fighter from Myanmar in Kun Khmer All Star Event 8, on August 22, 2023, in Olympic Indoor Stadium, Phnom Penh. He also got a car sponsored by Boostrong company after getting popular best fighters vote in the event from his fans. It is a notable victory in his life with Kun Khmer.[6]
Pich Sambath(left) fought Cambodian fighter Khim Bora(right) in a highly anticipated championship match. Both fighters put their titles on the line.
He won a Krud Kun Khmer champion 2023 belt from his opponent Khim Bora and received a US$1,889 prize from Krud Kun Khmer TVK arena on 3 September 2023 via judges’ split decision.
[7]
In earlier 2024, Pich Sambath has broken several amazing fighting records. In January, Pich Sambath is a Kun Khmer National Champion after winning Morn Sameth. In March 2024, he won a Champion after take over his opponent Florent Lewis Joseph from France. In April 2024, he won one more Dragon Kun Khmer Top 5 Belt Tournament from his Japanese opponent and Russian opponent in a main event Khmer Maha Sangrant (Khmer New Year 2024) at Kampong Cham town, Cambodia. In May 2024, he won a Krud Belt from his opponent Thun Vanna, a student of Master Thun Sophea in the event of a Belt-to-Belt bet by split decision 4:1 at TVK arena.
In an intense match at Knock Out 2024 vol.3 held in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan, Pich Sambath showcased his dominance over Reiya Komori in their Kun Khmer/modified Japanese kickboxing match. From the first round, Sambath controlled the fight, demonstrating superior skill and power. By round three, he sealed his victory with a decisive right hook at 0:53, resulting in a TKO. The bout, which was part of the main card at the 60 kg (132.3 lbs) weight class, concluded with Sambath's victory in a total fight time of 6:53 on August 4, 2024.[8]
On September 5, 2024, Pich Sambath secured a knockout victory over Mehrdad Khanzadeh in the first round. As soon as the bell rang, Mehrdad came out strong, delivering a series of fast and powerful punches that connected well with Pich Sambath. Despite being hit, Pich Sambath continued pressing forward, attempting to exchange blows, though his punches weren't as effective as Mehrdad's. However, shortly after, Mehrdad suffered fractures in two of his metacarpals and a sprain in his thumb, causing him to slow down and stop throwing heavy punches. Seizing the opportunity, Pich Sambath targeted Mehrdad's abdomen with a few punches before finishing the fight with a powerful right hand.
On September 14, 2024, in a main event of Xtreme Cambodia Kun Khmer Hang Meas HD TV, Rin Devid failed to defeat Pich Sambath at Round 1 Time 00:43. Pich Sambath won 12,000,000 Riels and Extreme Gold Belt from Hang Meas Kun Khmer Arena.[9] Before upcoming National Champion match, on September 29, 2024, Pich Sambath lose his defense a Krud Kun Khmer belt which is won from Khim Bora to South African Kun Khmer Boxer Ncedo Gomba by decision. TVK prepared another belt champion rematch between Pich Sambath versus Ncedo Gomba on November 16, 2024. Sambath used his heavy beautiful right elbow to stop Ncedo Gomba in Round 2 at 00:30s and won 8,000,000 Riels with Krud Kun Khmer Belt. Ncedo Gomba told Sambath it was unbelievable that the series of Sambath's strikes are very strong.
Kickboxing
In the event of international friendly match of Kun Khmer between Cambodia-China on January 19, 2024, Krobei Prey Pich Sambath defeated his opponent Yang Zhuo by split decision under kickboxing rules 3 rounds.[10]
On May 14, 2024, Pich Sambath defeated Wang Zunyang from China by decision full 3 Round K1 Rule Kickboxing which held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Titles and accomplishments
Kun Khmer
Xtreme Cambodia Kun Khmer
2024 The Super Fold Xtreme Cambodia Kun Khmer title, 60 kg, 132 lbs (Defeated Rin Devid, Cambodia)
Dragon Kun Khmer
2024 Dragon Kun Khmer Top 5 Tournament title, 60 kg, 132 lbs (Defeated Japanese and Russian opponents)
Krud Kun Khmer
2024 Krud Kun Khmer Champion Kun Khmer title, 60 kg, 132 lbs (Defeated Ncedo Gomba, South Africa)
2024 Krud Kun Khmer Champion Kun Khmer title, 60 kg, 132 lbs (Defeated Thun Vanna, Cambodia)
2023 Krud Kun Khmer Champion (Defeated Khim Bora, Cambodia)
2022 Krud Kun Khmer Champion (Defeated Thun EangLay, Cambodia)
KKF Kun Khmer
2024 KKF Kun Khmer Cup Winner
Kun Khmer National Championship
2024 Kun Khmer National Champion 60 kg (Defeated Kan Menghong, Cambodia)
2023 Kun Khmer National Champion 60 kg (Defeated Morn Samet, Cambodia)
Carabao Kun khmer
2022 Carabao Session 8 Champion (Defeated Pathana Sit Archanwin, Thailand)
Pich Sambath (Phoeun Sambath) was married to Mrs. Chin Sinat at their homeland, Kampong Speu province on June 25, 2024. He is planning a salon and beauty business for his wife at Kampong Speu. Responded to a question from his fans, "Pich Sambath could be weaken after getting married, I commit I will be trained everyday at club and I still in power.
Sambath's wedding day 25-06-2024
Music and Videography
October 2, 2023: Sambath feet [ft] Thach Sathen as a music video Pchum Ben Days 2023 Mahoub Da'aksrak [Khmer title: ម្ហូបដាក់ស្រាក់] [108]
References
^Virakbot, C. (2023, August 2). អ្នកលេងគុនខ្មែរ១០រូបទទួលបានជោគជ័យខ្លាំងដើមឆ្នាំ២០២៣ [10 Khmer boxers were very successful in the beginning of 2023]. Kampuchea Thmey Daily. https://www.kampucheathmey.com/sports/549746
^Virakbot, C. (2023, August 2). អ្នកលេងគុនខ្មែរ១០រូបទទួលបានជោគជ័យខ្លាំងដើមឆ្នាំ២០២៣ [10 Khmer boxers were very successful in the beginning of 2023]. Kampuchea Thmey Daily. https://www.kampucheathmey.com/sports/549746