Lorn Panha (Khmer: លន បញ្ញា; born June 4, 1999) is a Cambodian professional Kun Khmer fighter and kickboxer. He is a member of Cambodia's national kickboxing team. He has garnered recognition both domestically and internationally.[1] The Kampuchea Thmey Daily previously listed him as a top 10 Kun Khmer boxer in early 2023.[2] The Kampuchea Thmey Daily listed him as a top 10 Kun Khmer boxer for 2024. [3]
Early life
Lorn Panha was born in Krachap village, Prey Khla commune, Svay Antor district, Prey Veng province, Cambodia. In 2013, Panha quit school at eighth-grade education as his family faced economic hardships. He moved to Thailand, where he worked for a year. Following his return to Cambodia, he pursued carpentry as a means of livelihood, dedicating nearly two years of his life to this craft, from 2014 until the end of 2016.[1]
Martial arts career
In 2017, Lorn Panha decided to pursue a career in Khmer boxing. He became a member of the Boxing Association of the Ministry of National Defense and embarked on rigorous training under the guidance of Thun Sophea.
Lorn Panha's journey in the world of Khmer boxing has seen him participate in approximately 100 matches, with about 10 losses. Panha's achievements include:
Securing 1 national gold medal for the Men's Full Contact -67kg at the 2023 SEA Games[4]
Earning 1 silver medal at the SEA Games in Vietnam[5]
In recognition of his accomplishments, Lorn Panha was appointed as an official of the Ministry of National Defense.
At SEA Games 31, Lorn Panha beat Ophat Rodnok from Thailand 2-1 in the semi finals. In the finals, Lorn Panha lost to Vietnam's Nguyen The Huong at the 67kg full contact division in kickboxing. Lorn Panha won the silver medal.[6][7][8]
Lorn Panha made Kampuchea Thmey Daily's top 10 list of Khmer boxers who had the best first half of 2023. [9] He has not lost in the last few months. In the 2023 SEA Games, he won a gold medal. On the afternoon of May 16, 2023, Lorn Panha defeated Haris Sofyan Abdul of Indonesia for the kickboxing gold medal in the 67kg weight division.[10]
On August 3, 2023, Lorn Panha beat Ncedo Gomba in the third round. He won the 65kg international Krud Kun Khmer martial art title. Ncedo Gomba is a South Africa powerhouse with a record of 55 wins and 5 losses. Lorn Panha now has four belts and a gold and silver medal from the SEA games.[11]
Lorn Panha competed with Lao Chetra for the Krud Kun Khmer belt. After five rounds, Panha lost to Lao Chetra. His three year unbeaten streak in Kun Khmer ended and he was awarded 20 million riel.
Lorn Panha competed against Long Samnang for the Ganzberg Beer belt by PNN. Panha took three rounds to defeat Long Samnang and became the new owner of the Ganzberg Beer belt. He won a prize money of 16 million riel.
Lorn Panha fought against the strong fighter of Thailand and former fighter of the year of Thailand, Lamnamoonlek Tded99. Lorn Panha defeated him and won the title and prize money of 20 million riel. There was a reaction from some boxing fans that Lorn Panha did not deserve the win while other boxing fans said Lorn Panha really did deserve the win.[12] His past three matches were title matches where he lost one and won two title matches.[13]
Kun Khmer record
Professional Kun Khmer record
Total fights: 114 , 93 wins (44 (T)KOs), 17 losses, 4 draws
^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
^Virakbot, C. (2023, September 4). លន បញ្ញា ឈ្នះខ្សែក្រវាត់ទី៤ក្នុងអាជីពក្រោយផ្ដួលជើងខ្លាំងអាហ្រ្វិក [Lorn Panha wins fourth career title after defeating African powerhouse]. Kampuchea Thmey Daily. https://www.kampucheathmey.com/sports/571417