Prom Samnang (; born September 9, 1987) is a Cambodian Kun Khmer fighter. He is widely considered the most successful Kun Khmer fighters in history. In 2023, Samnang won the Thai Fight Kard Chuek championship title in Thailand, won the gold medal for his country at the SEA Games in the Khun Khmer Men's 81kg division and faced Dave Leduc in the biggest fight in Cambodia's history watched live by over 15 million people.
Personal life Samnang is known by sports fans by nickname meaning "The Barber" because, in addition to competing in the ring, also works as a barber at a popular barbershop in Phnom Penh. In 2023, Prom Samnang signed onto a two-year contract as a singer with Bong Plerng Media.
Career On April 15, 2023, Samnang faced Thai martial arts superstar Sudsakorn Sor Klinmee under Kun Khmer rules in Cambodia and won by unanimous decision. The match took place in Siem Reap in front of the Sokha Hotel as Cambodians celebrated the second night of the traditional New Year.
On July 16, 2003, Prom Samnang defeated Belarusian fighter, Nikita (Нитита), at the 77 kg weight class to win the Techo Santepheap Kun Khmer World Championship belt.Nonn, C. (2023, July 17). ធឿន ធារ៉ា និង ព្រំ សំណាង បានឈ្នះខ្សែក្រវាត់ ស្របពេលសង្វៀនថោន បានបង្កើតប្រវត្តិសាស្ត្រថ្មីសម្រាប់គុនខ្មែរ [Thoeun Theara and Prom Samnang win belts while Town Arena makes new history for Khmer martial arts]. The Phnom Penh Post. Retrieved July 17, 2023, from https://www.postkhmer.com/sport/2023-07-17-1655-252423.html 500,000 viewers watched the live stream of the event. Prom Samnang made Kampuchea Thmey Daily's top 10 list of Khmer boxers who had the best first half of 2023. On December 23, 2023, Samnang won over American fighter Harry Lopez via TKO in the third round.
Thai Fight On February 5, 2023, Samnang faced former International Boxing Federation (IBF) Muay Thai champion and Max Muay Thai champion, Thomas Carpenter from England. Samnang won by TKO and was awarded the Thai Fight Kard Chuek championship title.
21 days later, on February 26 of the same year, Prom Samnang defeated Russian kickboxer Firdavszhon Naiimov (Фирдавсжон Наиймов) on the Thai Fight stage in a first-round knockout in under two minutes.Sok Eng, S. (2023, February 27). Prum Samnang Builds His Reputation on Thai Fight Stage for a Second Time. EAC News. https://eacnews.asia/home/details/20312
SEA Games In 2021, Samnang competed in the SEA Games in Vietnam where he won bronze medal. After returning from Vietnam, Samnang has remained undefeated with many knock outs.
Two years later, in 2023, Southeast Asian Games were held in Cambodia. For the selection of the National Kun Khmer team in the 81 kg weight category, the Cambodian sports federation had the choice of between Keo Rumchong or Prom Samnang and ultimately selected Samnang. Samnang was the flag bearer for Cambodia at the opening ceremonyKompheak, S. (2023, April 30). ស៊ីហ្គេម៖ អ្នកប្រដាល់គុនខ្មែរ ព្រំ សំណាង នឹងកាន់ទង់ជាតិកម្ពុជា ពេលដង្ហែបើក [SEA Games: Khmer boxer Prom Samnang will hold the Cambodian flag during the opening ceremony]. Ramsei Kampuchea Daily Newspaper. Retrieved September 4, 2023, from https://www.rasmeinews.com/archives/784717 He won the gold medal by defeating Tun Tun Min from Myanmar in the Men's Khun Khmer 81kg weight class. For winning the gold medal, Samnang was awarded a house by the sports energy drink company Boostrong.
Leduc vs. Samnang
In 2023, the World Lethwei Federation agreed for Samnang to challenge Dave Leduc for the openweight Lethwei World Championship because of his winning streak in Kun Khmer.
The match was scheduled to take place on May 27, 2023, in Banská Bystrica, but was cancelled because Samnang was denied a Schengen visa to enter Slovakia. "I still do not know when this match will take place, and I do not yet know if it will be fought under the rules or Lethwei or Kun Khmer. My preparation will be very different depending on the rules - Lethwei is fought with bare knuckles and the use of headbutts is allowed." Samnang said.
On November 3, 2023, two days prior to the fight, Samnang and Leduc were invited to the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh to meet with His Excellency Prime Minister of Cambodia Dr. Hun Manet. Manet said that the match between the two men will reflect mutual respect and contribute to strengthen the ties of friendship between Cambodia and Myanmar. The match will also raise awareness about Kun Khmer around the world the Cambodian Premier added. The match represented the meeting two of different cultures and martial arts tradition.
The Kun Khmer Federation (KKF) hired 10 assistant coaches to help Samnang in his preparation against Leduc. The match was referred as historic by The Phnom Penh Post as well as the most anticipated fight of the year.
On November 5, 2023, Samnang faced Leduc under Kun Khmer rules (1 round of 9 minutes) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Leduc landed a powerful right hand punch flooring Samnnang in the first minutes of the match. After nine minutes without a knockout, per MAS Fight rules, the fight was automatically declared a draw. The event was watched live by over 15 million people.
2024 On June 27, Samnang defeated French Muay Thai fighter, former ISKA Champion Reda Oudgou in Paris, France at Kun Khmer Super Fight 3: Paris.
On July 13, he defeated Muay Thai WBC, ISKA, and WMO world champion Jack Maguire from UK by KO in the 1st round.
On August 10, Prom Samnang avenged his loss to ONE Championship Muay Thai fighter Lucas Gabriel. Samnang won by unanimous decision and claimed the World Kun Khmer Xtreme title.
On November 9, Cambodian Independence Day, Prom Samnang faced Thai Fight champion and Buakaw Banchamek's student Moeung Sab Banchamak, defeating him by unanimous decision and maintaining his winning streak.
On November 13, Samnang rematched with Arvin Mehboudi, and defeated the latter by unanimous decision.
Championships and accomplishments Kun Khmer 2017 KIF International Khmer Martial Arts BeltVirakbot, C. (2023, July 18). ជើងខ្លាំងគុនខ្មែរ៦រូបមានខ្សែក្រវាត់៤គ្រឿងឡើងកំពុងសកម្មលើសង្វៀន [6 strong Khmer boxers with 4 belts are active in the ring]. Kampuchea Thmey Daily. https://www.kampucheathmey.com/sports/544272 2023 Krud Kun Khmer 78 kg World Championship 2023 Techo Santepheap Kun Khmer World Championship 2024 KKF International Kun Khmer Champion Belt 🥇 2023 SEA Games Kun Khmer Men's 81 kg - Gold medal 🥇 Gold Medal - National Kun Khmer Federation
Muay Thai Thai Fight Kard Chuek 78 kg Championship belt 🥉 2021 SEA Games Muay Men's 81 kg - Bronze medal
Kun Khmer record
|- style="background:#fbb;" | July 11, 2026 || Loss || align="left" | Ayoub Bahri || Kun Khmer on Bayon TV Prom Samnang vs. Ayoub Bahri, date July 11, 2026 || Phnom Penh, Cambodia || Decision || 3 || 3:00
|- style="background:#cfc;" | June 29, 2025|| Win ||align=left| Dyson Sapalo || Kun Khmer Dazz 8H || Phnom Penh, Cambodia || Decision || 3|| 3:00
|- style="background:#cfc;" | June 8, 2025|| Win ||align=left| Hossein Jafarzadeh || Kun Khmer Dazz 8H || Phnom Penh, Cambodia || TKO || 2 || 3:00
|- style="background:#cfc;" | May 23, 2025|| Win ||align=left| Pham Tam Vang || Kickboxing SEA Warriors|| Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam || Decision || 3|| 3:00
|- style="background:#cfc;" | January 19, 2025|| Win ||align=left| Troung Quoc Huing|| Kun Khmer Championship 19 || Phnom Penh, Cambodia || KO || 3 || 3:00
|- style="background:#cfc;" | November 13, 2024|| Win ||align=left| Arvin Mehboudi || Kun Khmer vs Muay Thai Iran|| Phnom Penh, Cambodia || Decision || 3|| 3:00
|- style="background:#cfc;" | November 9, 2024|| Win ||align=left| Moeung Sab Banchamek || Hanuman Kun Khmer|| Phnom Penh, Cambodia || Decision || 3|| 3:00 |- style="background:#cfc;" | September 7, 2024|| Win ||align=left| Emirhan Recep || Wurkz Kun Khmer|| Phnom Penh, Cambodia || KO || 2 || 3:00
|- style="background:#cfc;" | September 1, 2024|| Win ||align=left| Yousef Hematisanghili || Wurkz Kun Khmer|| Phnom Penh, Cambodia || KO || 2 || 3:00
|- style="background:#cfc;" | August 10, 2024|| Win ||align=left| Lucas Gabriel || Xtreme Kun Khmer: Samnang vs Gabriel II|| Phnom Penh, Cambodia || Decision || 3|| 3:00
|- style="background:#cfc;" | July 13, 2024|| Win ||align=left| Jack Maguire || Xtreme Kun Khmer|| Phnom Penh, Cambodia || KO || 1|| 1:00
|- style="background:#cfc; | June 27, 2024|| Win ||align=left| Reda Oudgou || Kun Khmer Super Fight 3: Parishttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybmXym2nB1s at KSF paris arena 80k|| Paris, France || Decision|| 3 || 3:00
|- style="background:#cfc; | May 28, 2024 || Win ||align=left| Konstantin || Ganzberg Kun Khmer|| Phnom Penh, Cambodia || Decision || 3|| 3:00
|- style="background:#cfc;" | May 18, 2024|| Win ||align=left| Mehdi Kalili || TV5 Kun Khmer at TV5 Kun Khmer Arena 80 Kg|| Phnom Penh, Cambodia || KO || 2 || 1:00
|- style="background:#fbb;" | April 24, 2024|| Loss ||align=left| Lucas Gabriel || Kubota King of Fighter || Phnom Penh, Cambodia || Decision || 3 || 3:00
|- style="background:#cfc;" | March 23, 2024|| Win||align=left| Keivan Soleimani || TV5 Kun Khmer Prom Samnang Vs KEIVAN SOLEIMANI at TV5 Kun Khmer Arena 80 Kg|| Phnom Penh, Cambodia || Decision || 3 || 3:00
|- style="background:#cfc;" | February 29, 2024|| Win ||align=left| Tun Tun Min || Kun Khmer Asean Championship || Phnom Penh, Cambodia || Decision || 3 || 3:00
|- style="background:#cfc;" | February 17, 2024 || Win ||align=left| Moeurn A Khom Venum Muay thai || TVK Kunkhmer || Phnom Penh, Cambodia || KO || 1 || 0:30
|- style="background:#cfc;" | February 9, 2024 || Win ||align=left| Shwe Yar Man || Boostrong King of The Ring Kun KhmerProm Samnang vs Yarman at Boostrong King of The Ring Kun Khmer || Phnom Penh, Cambodia || TKO || 2 || 2:00
|- style="background:#cfc;" | December 23, 2023 || Win ||align=left| Harry Lopez || KKIF Kun Khmer Friendly || Phnom Penh, Cambodia || TKO || 3 || 3:00
|- style="background:#cfc;" |December 14, 2023|| Win ||align=left| Jordin Henwood || Boostrong Kun Khmer Championshiphttps://www.facebook.com/kingkunkhmer/videos/342191911890610 Prom Samnang vs. Jordin Henwood, date December 14, 2023. || Phnom Penh, Cambodia || Decision || 3 || 3:00
|- style="background:#c5d2ea;" | November 5, 2023 || Draw||align=left| Dave Leduc|| Dave Leduc vs. Prom SamnangProm Samnang vs Dave Leduc at MAS Fight ring|| Phnom Penh, Cambodia || Time Limit ||1 || 9:00 |- ! style=background:white colspan=9 |
|- style="background:#cfc;" | October 11, 2023|| Win ||align=left| Vladyslav Ermolaev || Boostrong Kun Khmer Championshiphttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRYfQe8RwHM&t=1s Prom Samnang vs. Vladyslav Ermolaev at Krud Kun Khmer Championship, date September 3, 2023. || Phnom Penh, Cambodia || Decision || 3 || 3:00
|- style="background:#fbb;" | September 30, 2023 || Loss || align="left" | Paul Banasiak || Wurkz Kun Khmer Championship Prom Samnang vs Banasak Pawell at Town, date September 30, 2023. || Phnom Penh, Cambodia || Decision || 3 || 3:00
|- style="background:#cfc;" | September 3, 2023|| Win ||align=left| Dabmorn Pumpanmuang || Krud Kun Khmer Championship https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHm6KTqjjRg Prom Samnang vs. Dabmorn Pumpanmuang at Krud Kun Khmer Championship, date September 3, 2023. || Phnom Penh, Cambodia || Decision || 3 || 3:00
|- style="background:#cfc;" | August 13, 2023|| Win ||align=left| Firdavszhon Naiimov || Town Boxing Arenahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQbRPLSI5UQs Prom Samnang vs. Firdaavszhon Naiimov at Town, date August 13, 2023. || Phnom Penh, Cambodia || KO || 2 || 0:35
|- style="background:#cfc;" | July 16, 2023|| Win ||align=left| Nikita Gerasisimovich || Town Boxing Arenahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BB2oAcSkks Prom Samnang vs. Nikita at Town, date July 16, 2023. || Phnom Penh, Cambodia || Decision || 3 || 3:00
|- style="background:#cfc;"