International Lethwei Federation Japan, also known as ILFJ, is a Japanese Lethwei promotion company with headquarters in Tokyo.

History In 2016, the ILFJ acquired a ‘’Grade-A’’ promoter licence from the Myanmar Traditional Lethwei Federation, allowing them to organize traditional Lethwei events in Japan. ILFJ then entered into a partnership with Myanmar businessman Mr. Wunna CEO of Myanmar Media Group (MMG), the organizer of the Myanmar Lethwei World Championship, to share fighters and co-organize the Lethwei events in Japan. The first ILFJ event titled Lethwei Grand Prix in Japan 2016, was held on 27 October 2016 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.

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. The event organized by ILFJ featured reigning champion Dave Leduc vs Adem Yilmaz inside the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.

On July 10, 2022, hosted a 10 fights Lethwei tournament named Lethwei Unbeatable in Oyabe, Japan.

Media coverage After having an inaugural first event in the Japan in Tokyo (Lethwei Grand Prix 2016), FITE TV signed a multi-year agreement to broadcast the promotion's Lethwei events.

In 2017, the ILFJ signed a broadcasting deal with MNTV to be aired in Myanmar and livestreaming available in Japan on AbemaTV.

Events # Event Date Venue Location16 Lethwei Unbeatable Oyabe Arena Oyabe, Japan15 Lethwei in Japan 15: Kizuna Edion Arena Osaka, Japan14 Lethwei in Japan 14: Mysterious Tenmei Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan13 Lethwei in Japan 13: First Intention Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan12 Lethwei in Japan 12: Proof of the Brave Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan11 Lethwei in Japan 11: Millennium Force Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan10 Lethwei in Japan 10: Inori Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan9 Lethwei in Japan 9: Kodo Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan8 Lethwei in Japan 8: Samurai Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan7 Lethwei in Japan 7: Yuki Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan6 Lethwei Grand Prix Japan 2017 Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan5 Lethwei in Japan 5: Nexurise Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan4 Lethwei in Japan 4: Frontier Tokyo Dome City Hall Tokyo, Japan3 Lethwei in Japan 3: Grit Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan2 Lethwei in Japan 2: Legacy Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan 1 Lethwei Grand Prix Japan 2016 Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan

List of champions DivisionUpper weight limitChampionSinceTitle defenses Openweight + Dave Leduc June 16, 2017 (Lethwei in Japan 4: Frontier) 0 Featherweight Thar A Thae Ta Pwint June 16, 2017 (Lethwei in Japan 4: Frontier) 1 Bantamweight Yuta Hamamoto June 16, 2017 (Lethwei in Japan 4: Frontier) 0 Women's Featherweight Julija Stoliarenko November 15, 2017 (Lethwei Grand Prix Japan 2017) 1

World championship history Openweight Championship No Weight limit: and up No.NameEventDateReignDefenses1 Dave Leducdef. Nilmungkorn Sudsakorngym Lethwei in Japan 4: Frontier Tokyo, Japan June 16, 2017 631 days (Vacated)Leduc vacated after signing with the WLCVacated March 9, 2019

Rules 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.

Rounds 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.

Weight classes ILFJ utilizes the following weight classes:

Weight class nameUpper limitin kilograms (kg)in pounds (lb)Bantamweight60132.3Featherweight65143.3Welterweight70154.3Middleweight75165.3OpenweightNo weight limit

Notable fighters

Dave Leduc Tun Lwin Moe Tun Tun Min Too Too Saw Nga Man Soe Lin Oo Shunichi Shimizu Julija Stoliarenko Vero V.Rujirawong

See also List of Lethwei fighters World Lethwei Championship World Lethwei Federation Full Metal Dojo Kickboxing

References

External links