The year 2017 was the second year in the history of the ILFJ, a Japanese Lethwei promotion and the year started with Lethwei in Japan 2: Legacy. The events are streamed online by FITE TV, Abema TV in Japan and through television agreements with MNTV in Myanmar.
List of events # Event Date Venue Location Attendance1 Lethwei in Japan 2: Legacy Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan 2 Lethwei in Japan 3: Grit Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan3 Lethwei in Japan 4: Frontier Tokyo Dome City Hall Tokyo, Japan 4 Lethwei in Japan 5: Nexurise Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan 5 Lethwei Grand Prix Japan 2017 Korakuen Hall Tokyo, Japan
Lethwei in Japan 2: Legacy
Lethwei in Japan 2: Legacy was a Lethwei event held on February 16, 2017 at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
Background This event featured recently crowned openweight Lethwei World Champion Dave Leduc defending his title for the first time against Lethwei veteran Phoe Kay.
For his Lethwei debut, Japanese WPMF kickboxing champion Kouma faced young Myanmar fighter Yar Zar, while Thar Thae Ta Pwint was against Japanese Karate Champion Yuki Yamamoto.
Results Lethwei in Japan 2: Legacy Weight Class Method Round Time NotesBantamweight 54 kg Yar Zar- Kouma ShimizuDraw55:00Openweight 80 kg Dave Leducdef. Phoe KayKO22:324 knockdowns during the matchWelterweight 70 kg Phyan Thwedef. Yasuyuki YamazakiTKO11:333 knockdowns during one roundWelterweight 70 kg Shan Kodef. Keisuke OkudaTKO (punches)3 3:00Doctor stoppage (Cut)Featherweight 64 kg Shwe Sin Min- Nanae TakahashiDraw 4 3:00Featherweight 68 kg Thar Thae Ta Pwintdef. Yuki YamamotoTKO1 2:19
Lethwei in Japan 3: Grit
Lethwei in Japan 3: Grit was a Lethwei event held on April 18, 2017 at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
Background For his second title defence, openweight Lethwei World Champion Dave Leduc faced Turkish Australian Adem Yilmaz in traditional Lethwei rules. This match was the first Lethwei world title fight headlining two non-Burmese in the sport's history. For the occasion, the Ambassador of Myanmar to Japan was present at the event held in the Korakuen Hall. This event also marked the return to action of former Openweight World Champion Saw Nga Man against Japanese fighter Teruhiko Kubo.
Results Lethwei in Japan 3: Grit Weight Class Method Round Time NotesOpenweight 80 kg Dave Leduc- Adem YilmazDraw53:00Featherweight 69 kg Thar Thae Ta Pwintdef. Hikaru HasumiTKO21:18Featherweight 69 kg Phyan Thwe- AranaDraw53:00Bantamweight 56 kg Yuta Hamamoto- Tain TikeDraw53:00Openweight 80 kg Saw Nga Mandef. Teruhiko KuboTKO12:13Cut on right eyeBantamweight 60 kg Kyar Bar Heindef. Cody MoberlyTKO20:45
Lethwei in Japan 4: Frontier
Lethwei in Japan 4: Frontier was a Lethwei event held on June 16, 2017 at the Tokyo Dome City Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
Background This event featured the rematch of Thar Thae Ta Pwint vs Hikaru Hasumi. Thara The Ta Pwint ultimately won the first and second exchanged grabbing the ILFJ World Title. Also Openweight Champion Dave Leduc was supposed to face American champion Cyrus Washington, but Washington pulled out of the fight citing a hand injury he sustained in training. Leduc eventually defended his title for the third time against Muaythai world champion Nilmungkorn Sudsakorngym, winning the ILFJ Openweight world title.
Results Lethwei in Japan 4: Frontier Weight Class Method Round Time NotesOpenweight 80 kg Dave Leducdef. Nilmungkorn SudsakorngymKO22:23For the ILFJ Openweight World ChampionshipFeatherweight 65 kg Thar Thae Ta Pwintdef. Hikaru HasumiTKO32:28Bantamweight 57 kg Yuta Hamamotodef. Yar ZarKO30:42For the ILFJ Bantamweight World ChampionshipWelterweight 70 kg Phyan Thwedef. Kouhei TokeshiTKO (doctor stoppage)4Featherweight 64 kg Vero Nika- Nanae TakahashiDraw33:00Featherweight 61 kg Julija Stoliarenkodef. Su Hlaing OoKO21:32Bantamweight 60 kg Kyar Ba Hein - BAKIDraw4
Lethwei in Japan 5: Nexurise
Lethwei in Japan 5: Nexurise was a Lethwei event held on September 28, 2017 at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
Background For unknown reasons, Hanthar Waddy replaced Tun Lwin Moe. Muaythai Champion and Lethwei veteran Pravit Sakmuangtalang, also known by his last name Aor Piriyapinyo faced Thar Thae Ta Pwint. Former Golden Belt Champion, Win Tun came out of retirement for this fight and this event marked the implementation of weight classes like in traditional tournaments.
Results Lethwei in Japan 5: Nexurise Weight Class Method Round Time NotesBantamweight 60 kg Hanthar Waddy Thar- MakotoDraw53:00Openweight 100 kg YABUdef. Hartley JacksonTKO30:53Featherweight 65 kg Thar Thae Ta Pwint- Pravit SakmuangtalangDraw53:00Welterweight 70 kg Phyan Thwedef. HareruyaTKO10:34Welterweight 70 kg Yan Naing Aungdef. Tokeshi KoheiTKO52:31Featherweight 65 kg Win Tun- Hasumi HikaruDraw53:00
Lethwei Grand Prix Japan 2017
Lethwei Grand Prix Japan 2017 was a Lethwei event held on November 15, 2017 at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan.
Background Openweight champion Dave Leduc was scheduled to be on this card but due to his opponent backing out, the fight was canceled. MMA veteran Daryl Lokuku made his successful Lethwei debut. Yan Naing Aung and Tokeshi Kohei rematched after facing each other at the September event. Julija Stoliarenko faced top Lethwei fighter in Veronika and ultimately won the Japan Lethwei World Title.
Results Lethwei Grand Prix Japan 2017 Weight Class Method Round Time NotesFeatherweight 63 kg Tun Lwin Moe- Higashi ShuheiDraw53:00Featherweight 65 kg Pat Kyaw Lin Naingdef. Hasumi HikaruTKO33:00Welterweight 70 kg Yan Naing Aung- Tokeshi KoheiDraw53:00Openweight 80 kg Daryl Lokukudef. Teruhiko KuboKO12:58Welterweight 72 kg Soe Htet Oo- Do Hyung KwonDraw43:00Featherweight 62 kg Julija Stoliarenkodef. Vero NikaTKO20:45For the ILFJ Women's Featherweight World Championship
See also 2017 in K-1 2017 in Kunlun Fight 2017 in World Lethwei Championship
References