Bui Yen Ly: 'I intentionally did not knock out the Cambodian boxer'

Cambodia Believing that the referee favored Sreyphin Toun, Khmer martial artist Bui Yen Ly switched to scoring to convince her opponent in the final of the under 57kg category on the evening of May 11.

Bui Yen Ly (red) overwhelmed the host boxer in the under 57kg Khmer martial arts category at SEA Games 32. Photo: Hieu Luong

Ly twice knocked Toun to the floor and was timed out in the first round. Feeling that the referee was deliberately prolonging the count to avoid a knockout, Yen Ly and the coaching staff agreed to switch to scoring instead of knocking out the opponent.

The Vietnamese boxer then won 10-8 in the first round and 10-9 in the second. With the overwhelming advantage and the gap, Ly knew that the home boxer would have a hard time turning the game around in the final round. "I didn't fight in the third round," said the 27-year-old Vietnamese boxer. "I wanted to show my opponent that I could knock him out but play fair so that we can develop this sport together."

Ly won the third round 10-9, thereby winning the gold medal. Her powerful and attractive fighting style even won over the Cambodian audience. Many people applauded when the referee announced the victory for the Vietnamese boxer. "I told myself they were cheering for me," Yen Ly said.

Yen Ly started out as a Muay Thai fighter, then switched to Khmer martial arts, which was first organized by the host country Cambodia at the 32nd SEA Games. She said that Khmer martial arts focus more on punches and elbows, and when the difference is not too great, then kicks or knees are taken into account more. Meanwhile, Muay Thai focuses more on knee strikes.

This is Yen Ly’s fourth consecutive SEA Games gold medal, after three Muay Thai gold medals. She is happy because she will certainly receive the third-class labor medal and considers it a reward for her efforts over the years.

Bui Yen Ly is considered the "lone undefeated" in the Vietnamese women's Muay Thai and kickboxing world, having dominated national tournaments for eight consecutive years. In the international arena, Ly has also won many major titles such as a Muay Thai gold medal at the 2017 World Games and four Muay Thai world gold medals. In 2019, Nhi was honored as the best female Muay Thai fighter of the year at the world championship.

Hieu Luong (from Phnom Penh)

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