Myanmar boxing champ sells title belt to raise money for flood victims
Tun Tun Min will donate US$10,000 to help those affected by Typhoon Yagi.
Boxing champion Tun Tun Min may be a tough guy, but he’s got a big heart.
The Myanmar fighter with a gap-toothed smile announced that he had auctioned off the belt that crowned him king of lethwei, or Burmese traditional boxing, for 50 million kyats, or around US$10,000 – all of which he is donating to assist victims of Typhoon Yagi, Asia’s worst storm of the year.
The typhoon brought torrential rains and flooding that killed more than 300 people in Myanmar and left at least 200 others missing, though some relief workers fear the toll will be higher.
Across the country, the storm destroyed more than 2,000 houses, more than 1,000 schools, nearly 370 religious buildings and more than 640,000 acres of farmland.
It also caused flooding and destruction in Vietnam, Laos and southern China.
Lethwei is a full-contact combat sport that is regarded as one of the most brutal forms of martial arts in the world.
Fighters compete bareknuckle and are permitted to use a variety of strikes that include kicks, knees, elbows, punches, and even headbutts – an arsenal that has earned the fighting style the nickname of the “Art of Nine Limbs.”
Tun Tun Min earned his world champion belt in 2016 following a slugfest with Thai fighter Chu Thai.
Two other fighters – brothers Tun Lwin Moe and Thant Zin – have announced that they plan to auction their 2017 world champion belt and gloves worn during a first-round knockout championship bout and donate the proceeds to flood victims.
Translated by Aung Naing. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster.
