Lethwei fighter of the year: Thway Thit Win Hlaing
Picking the best lethwei fighter of the year isn't so easy. The upper class are mostly fed foreign competition. Fighters that have nothing to lose from participating and guys who otherwise cannot get an easy paycheck elsewhere.
That's not to say all the import is terrible but the bulk of them are past prime or lower level competition (which in turn fits in quite well with the current level of lethwei fighters, so in the end they match up all right). While Soe Lin Oo is by far the most popular, it's Thway Thit Win Hlaing who has the best numbers on paper. He's much more calculated and patient in his approach than Soe Lin Oo is. It's a non-lethwei approach in some ways and that's what seemingly makes him less marketable. It's much more appealing to relish in the success of a Soe Lin Oo victory and look at photos of him covered in blood, than to celebrate a spotless performance draw of Thway Thit Win Hlaing.
Thway Thit Win Hlaing in 2019:
12.13 Avatan Tor.Morsri (Draw)
11.27 Boonpala Sitballsakon (Draw)
11.10 Iquezang Kor.Rungthanakeat (Win KO R4)
10.04 Burutlek Petchyindee (Win KO R2)
04.15 Singmanee Kaewsamrit (Draw)
03.21 Petchnamnueng Amnat Muay Thai (Draw)
02.19 Fahsura Wor.Petchpoon (Draw)
01.30 Sankom Sangmanee Gym (Draw)
The only other difference between these two is that Soe Lin Oo has been facing top level competition for much longer. 9 years ago after his Golden Belt Championship win, he was already main-eventing against foreigners while Thway Thit Win Hlaing was not.
In the lower weight-classes Ye Thway Ni was by far the most active with 17 fights (of which 4 against Burmese) but collected a loss in Japan against Makoto Yoshimura. Contemporary Mite Yine has had 9 fights without a loss (of which 1 was Burmese), and Byaggha (Tin Tun Aung) had 12 fights (of which 8 were Burmese) but picked up a Golden Belt Championship in July with three decision wins. The professional boxers graded just below the first class boxers have a talent pool that is rich in the 60kg division. Action packed fights are made there but their competition is still domestic in 80-90% of the cases. Out of them Kyaw Swar Win has the best track record for still being undefeated.
Last year I might have picked Shwe Yar Man for having his breakout performance (starting with the victory over Saw Ba Oo) and potential in becoming a mainstay at the top level, but I find it hard to single out a boxer who would have done something similar this year. I suppose if we talk about potential it would have to be Thway Thit Win Hlaing. Probably one of the most overlooked and underappreciated lethwei fighters, he is one of the best that lethwei can offer at the moment. Maybe it's because of his calm and unassuming demeanor and his absence in social media and self promotion that make people forget about him as soon as his fights are over. It's actually a sentiment many agree with.
Soe Lin Oo is victorious, but not without sacrifice. ©Myanmar Lethwei Collection
Soe Lin Oo would win the popularity contest without a doubt, and me picking Thway Thit Win Hlaing is probably not going to sit very well with some people.
Thway Thit Win Hlaing has a more measured approach to his fights, picks his moments carefully, bordering hesitation. It sometimes takes him a while to follow through in his offense resulting in draws. Perhaps he would be one more suited for the older lethwei rules where there were more rounds.. who knows.
His primary weapons are his left kick and instant right hand counter. Together with a quick hand combo all are put into succession in a single offensive attack. Very much aware of what his opponent is doing he is able to dodge and parry most attacks, something that seems to be entirely nonexistent in Soe Lin Oo's arsenal.
Soe Lin Oo is lethwei's darling for this quality alone (if getting smashed in the head without defending to reach a clinch can be called one), and although it does win him fights it also clearly highlights the lack of any technique that does not require close quarters combat or clinching.
His loss to Shwe Yar Man, and numerous yesteryear knockouts in his fights with Payak-Samui for example are clear evidence. Purely because of this, despite his enormous popularity exceeding that of Thway Thit Win Hlaing, he is not my main pick for fighter of the year.
Soe Lin Oo in 2019:
12.29 Pakorn PK Saenchai (Win TKO R4)
12.21 Pongsaklek BCK Gym (Win TKO R3)
11.27 Fahphayap Kwaitonggym (Draw)
11.03 Shwe Yar Man (Win KO R5)
09.12 Soe Maung Oo (Draw)
04.19 Shwe Yar Man (Loss TKO R5)
03.20 Klasuek Sitjakla (Draw)
02.20 Reza Ahmadnezad (Draw)
01.31 Avatan Tor.Morsri (Draw)
Soe Lin Oo versus Thway Thit Win Hlaing is a fight that has not yet happened, and at the level they are currently at it's a fight that would give both a hard time. Win Hlaing's style would somewhat mimic that of Shwe Yar Man, and Win Hlaing's only reported loss is to a guy who's style is identical to Soe Lin Oo's; Tha Pyay Nyo. Maybe we'll be lucky to see this fight made in 2020, and when Thway Thit Win Hlaing comes out on top you'll remember why I wrote this. I want him to move on to bigger things, maybe something WLC will be able to give him. I'd like to see him try in Thai Fight against a well matched opponent or at least in something that doesn't resemble Kyal Lin Aung vs. Saiyok.
©Myanmar Lethwei Collection
In short; there is no clear breakout artist despite what hype videos may make you believe. Lethwei is still very much in a league of its own and pitting the number one against current top level nak muay will certainly not end well.
The way ranking works is much different and unofficial and many guys will linger in the same soup instead of being forced into new directions through a clear ranking system like they do in MMA. If such a thing would emerge, I'd nominate Thway Thit Win Hlaing to run with it. More successfully than Soe Lin Oo.
Header shows Thway Thit Win Hlaing shortly before his bout with Iquezang. ©Myanmar Lethwei Collection/Min Oakar.