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Tun Tun Min

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Tun Tun Min

Tun Tun Min (Burmese: ထွန်းထွန်းမင်း; born 4 October 1992) is a Burmese Lethwei fighter of Mon descent and current Openweight Lethwei World Champion. In 2014, he became the youngest fighter to ever win the Lethwei Golden Belt, obtaining the title at age of 21. Tun Tun Min is considered Myanmar's top Lethwei fighter and is notable for fighting foreign challengers from outside Myanmar. He headlined the biggest combat sport event in Myanmar's history with the Lethwei trilogy fight vs. Dave Leduc (37 million viewers).

Tun Tun Min was born in a remote village of Mon state. He is the second eldest son of Lethwei fighter U Tun Tun Zaw and his wife Daw Aye Win. Tun Tun Min was introduced to the world of traditional boxing through his grandfather and father, both well-known former Lethwei fighters in the Mon state. At the age of 6, he started training with sandbags and rudimentary equipment that his father had bought him. By 4th grade, at the age of 9, he won his first fight at the local elementary school against a rival classmate he didn't get along with. They were amateur Lethwei fights fought on the sand and not yet in a ring.

In 6th grade, Tun Tun Min decided to drop out of school to focus exclusively on his fighting career in order to support his family. For a short period of time, from 2007 until 2009, he also worked at a pineapple plantation in Thailand to earn more income. His boss at the time dared him to fight some Muay Thai boys in the village which he won. Although he did beat them, his boss unfortunately denied him to further pursue this venture. Upon his return home, Tun Tun Min joined the Mudontha Lethwei Club, founded in 2008 by Saya U Ye Thway, U Thamain Thawdar and Tun Tun Min's father.

Under the guidance of his new teachers, Tun Tun Min started his professional career fighting for prize money in Lethwei fights in pagodas and other religious festivals. He quickly became a rising star because of his aggressive style and more opportunities came around. He faced another rising star in Too Too to a draw. Three days after, Tun Tun Min was offered a fight for 6 Lakh or 600 000 Burmese kyats against Soe Lin Oo, a 2010 Golden Belt champion and already an established name at the time. Because his father insisted, the match was signed and ultimately fought to a draw. At the time, Tun Tun Min described Soe Lin Oo as the toughest opponent he had ever faced. Quickly rising through the ranks, from that moment on his career would see many more celebrated victories. Tun Tun Min faced many fighters from neighbouring Thailand and due to his larger size, he faced many foreign opponents. eventually leading up to his shot at becoming the champion.

Despite being both among the top ranked lethwei fighters in Myanmar currently, and fans and promoters eager to make the fight happen, Tun Tun Min and Too Too have refused to fight each other due to their long-lasting friendship.

He took part in Muay Thai competitions at the 2012 Asian Muay Championships, 2013 Southeast Asian Games and 2013 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games.

Over the course of his career Tun Tun Min has been discriminated against because of his Muslim background. Fans often let their voice be heard during his matches with foreign competition, shouting racist remarks and outing their discriminating opinion in interviews. In 2017 a calendar listing current and former champions in various categories, omitted Tun Tun Min's name, title and likeness in the champions category. This prompted media to accuse the Myanmar Traditional Boxing Federation, who had commissioned the calendar, of discrimination. Tun Tun Min admitted considering leaving the sport, but the fact that he might be able to win his open-weight title back changed his mind.

On March 31, 2019, Tun Tun Min faced Muaythai Champion Thaneelek Lookkromluang form Thailand and won by KO.

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