Phyu Gyi () was a Burmese
boxer Boxer most commonly refers to:
*Boxer (boxing), a competitor in the sport of boxing
* Boxer (dog), a breed of dog
Boxer or boxers may also refer to:
Animal kingdom
* Boxer crab
* Boxer shrimp, a small group of decapod crustaceans
* Boxer snipe ee ...
and
Lethwei
Lethwei (; International Phonetic Alphabet, IPA: ) or Burmese boxing is a Full contact fighting, full contact combat sport originating from Myanmar and is considered as one of the most brutal martial arts in the world.}
*
*
*
*
*
* Lethwe ...
fighter from
Burma
Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and ha ...
.
He is a former multiple-time flag champion.
Career
In March 1957, Phyu Gyi participated in an event at Aung San Stadium alongside boxers such as Toe Lone, Pyi Taw Sein and Pann Ta Pwint. It was organized by the Shwe Sunn Nyo Boxing Promotion Association and was notable because some of the fights would include new rules, to match international boxing standards. This meant that the fight wa sunder boxing rules and fighters wore of gloves and no timeout, and no kicks, knees or headbutts were allowed. The event was attended by fans and officials but the matches under the boxing rules were no success as the fighters were too tired and fought awkwardly due to the heavy gloves.
On the second and last day of the event, in the main event and the most anticipated match of the night, Phyu Gyi squared off against Toe Lone under Lethwei rules. Toe Lone was able to pull off one of his signature flying knees, dislocating Phyu Gyi's right arm. He had to be assisted out of the ring. Dissatisfaction among the spectators grew as the medical staff on duty seemed to care less about injured fighters and failed to sufficiently care for them.
On December 26, 1959, it was announced that Phyu Gyi would participate in the Lethwei flag tournament for the 12th anniversary of Independence in Rangoon starting on January 4. The event would feature both professional boxing, with members of the Burmese national boxing team, and Burmese boxing.
Boxing
In October 1960, around 20 Burmese fighters joined other sports teams as part of a cultural mission on a trip to China. They fought in 10 cities including Beijing, Xiangying, Nanjing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Kunming. Their tour started on October 5. They were part of another trade mission and a delegation that consisted of Prime Minister
U Nu
Nu (; ; 25 May 1907 – 14 February 1995), commonly known as Burmese names#Honorifics, U Nu and also by the honorific name Thakin Nu, was a prominent Burmese people, Burmese statesman and the first Prime Minister of Union of Burma. He was ...
, General
Ne Win
Ne Win (; ; 24 May 1911 – 5 December 2002), born Shu Maung (; ), was a Burmese army general, politician and Prime Minister of Burma from 1958 to 1960 and 1962 to 1974, and also President of Burma from 1962 to 1981. Ne Win was Burma's mili ...
and defence staff who were there to sign a
Sino-Burmese boundary treaty with Chinese Premier
Zhou Enlai
Zhou Enlai ( zh, s=周恩来, p=Zhōu Ēnlái, w=Chou1 Ên1-lai2; 5 March 1898 – 8 January 1976) was a Chinese statesman, diplomat, and revolutionary who served as the first Premier of the People's Republic of China from September 1954 unti ...
. In the September 8 issue of The Rangoon Daily,
Kyar Ba Nyein recaps the selection event that was held at Aung San Indoor Stadium in order to select the boxers who'd travel to China. His selection included Maung Lone, One Dollar, Bo Kyaw, Phyu Gyi, Toe Lone & Bo Lay in first class; Phyu Lay, Shu Ma Wa, Sein Lone, Sein Hmyin and Sein Win in second class; Hla Shwe,
Kyaung Thar, Byauk, Bo Sein and Daung Nyo in third class.
In December 1964,
Kyar Ba Nyein was once again tasked with bringing famous boxers to Rangoon for the 17th anniversary of Independence. The event was held at Kennedy Island from January 3 to January 8, 1965. A December 27 article in
Light of Burma reported that Pat Lone (Kyondoe), Phyu Gyi (Thaton), Toe Lone, Maung Lone & Sein Lone (Mawlamyine) among many others would participate. Phyu Gyi defeated Bo Kalay on January 5, and eventually faced Sein Lone in the finals on January 9.
From February 26 to March 4, 1965, a flag tournament celebrating Peasants' Day took place at Rangoon Kyaikkasan Stadium. In the finals of the tournament Phyu Gyi defeated Toe Lone from Mawlamyine for a cash prize of 500Kyats.
From January 3 to January 8, 1966, a Lethwei event at Kennedy Island celebrating the 18th anniversary of Independence took place in Rangoon. It was announced that both Phyu Gyi and Tine Lone Kyaw would both bring in a group of fighters to participate. Phyu Gyi, contesting for the first class flag himself, had a match with Patma Sein on January 5.
At the
Shwemawdaw Pagoda
The Shwemawdaw Pagoda ( ; ) is a Buddhist stupa located in Bago, Myanmar. At in overall height, the Shwemadaw is the tallest stupa in the world.
The annual pagoda festival is a 10-day affair that takes place during the Burmese month of Tagu. ...
festival in Pegu from April 1 to April 8, 1966, both western (English) boxing and Burmese boxing were on display. Well-known boxers Chit Sayar, Phyu Gyi, Phyu Lay, Shu Ma Wa, Tin Shwe, Hla Shwe, Patma Sein and Talaing Sein participated alongside Kyaung Thar who had won the "trophy" previously in 1965. At the event a Sports Committee took the opportunity to speak with the participating boxers on how to preserve Burmese boxing culture and achieve a higher standard for the sport among other things. Their report was submitted to the Yangon
Sports and Physical Education Committee.
For the 1966 May Day festivities from April 26 until May 1, the Sports and Physical Education Committee organized an event at
Kyaikkasan Stadium. This was the first edition of the Labour Day event, and was added to current recurring annual events (
Independence Day
An independence day is an annual event memorialization, commemorating the anniversary of a nation's independence or Sovereign state, statehood, usually after ceasing to be a group or part of another nation or state, or after the end of a milit ...
,
Peasants' Day &
Union Day) to promote Burmese boxing. Phyu Gyi and Phyu Kalay from Thaton, Maung Lone and Sein Lone from Khayar village & One Dollar and Mae Gyi from Win Ka Mawt village were challenged by next generation first class boxers like Hla Shwe (Pwe Tine Kyaw), Tin Shwe Gyi (Luu Ma Yway) and Kyaung Thar (Hpa-an). It is known that Phyu Gyi faced Sein Lay Tin from second class in one of the preliminary matches, but did not end up winning the flag on May 1. That honour went to Hla Shwe who was promoted to first class this year.
On December 29, 1969, Kyar Ba Nyein visited Mawlamyine, Thaton and Hpa-an to mobilise boxers from the southeastern region for participation in the upcoming Independence Day event. Phyu Gyi, Hla Shwe,
Kyaung Thar, Sein Lone,
Moe Kyoe, Chit Sayar, Myawaddy Than Shwe, Aung Myint Sein and others took part. The event was held at
Thein Pyu Stadium
Theinphyu Stadium () is a Lethwei stadium located in Yangon, Myanmar. It is the most notorious Lethwei stadium in all of Myanmar and counts over 5,300-seats. The Stadium is operated by the Myanmar Traditional Lethwei Federation and is the venue c ...
in Rangoon.
Personal life
Phyu Gyi was the son of
wrestler
Wrestling is a martial art, combat sport, and form of entertainment that involves grappling with an opponent and striving to obtain a position of advantage through different throws or techniques, within a given ruleset. Wrestling involves diffe ...
U Gani and Daw Saw She. He was a
muslim
Muslims () are people who adhere to Islam, a Monotheism, monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God ...
and had seven children. Three of them also enjoyed a fighting career, of which Tun Win known as
Shwe War Tun is the most notable. The 1963 second class and 1967 first class Independence Day flag champion Phyu Lay, sometimes referred to as Phyu Kalay,
is the younger brother of Phyu Gyi. He died of old age at the age of 71 in his hometown
Thaton
Thaton (; ) is a town in Mon State, in southern Myanmar on the Tenasserim plains. Thaton lies along the National Highway 8 and is also connected by the National Road 85. It is southeast of Yangon and north of Mawlamyine. Thaton was the capit ...
.
Titles and accomplishments
* Tournaments
** First class flag champion; Armed Forces Day (Mawlamyine) (March 1966)
** First class flag champion; Peasants' Day (March 1965)
** First class flag champion; 17th anniversary of Independence (January 1965)
** First class flag champion; Karen State Day Hpa-an (November 1960)
Lethwei record
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, 1966-04-29 , , , , align="left" , Sein Lay Tin (Win Ka Mawt) , , May Day (Labor Day), Kyaikkasan Stadium , ,
Rangoon
Yangon, formerly romanized as Rangoon, is the capital of the Yangon Region and the largest city of Myanmar. Yangon was the List of capitals of Myanmar, capital of Myanmar until 2005 and served as such until 2006, when the State Peace and Dev ...
,
Burma
Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and ha ...
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, 1966-01-05 , , Win , , align="left" , Patma Sein (Hpar Kat) , , Independence Day, Kennedy Island , ,
Rangoon
Yangon, formerly romanized as Rangoon, is the capital of the Yangon Region and the largest city of Myanmar. Yangon was the List of capitals of Myanmar, capital of Myanmar until 2005 and served as such until 2006, when the State Peace and Dev ...
,
Burma
Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and ha ...
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, 1965-03-04 , , Win , , align="left" , Toe Lone (Mawlamyine) , , Peasants' Day, Kyaikkasan Stadium , ,
Rangoon
Yangon, formerly romanized as Rangoon, is the capital of the Yangon Region and the largest city of Myanmar. Yangon was the List of capitals of Myanmar, capital of Myanmar until 2005 and served as such until 2006, when the State Peace and Dev ...
,
Burma
Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and ha ...
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, 1965-01-09 , , Win , , align="left" , Sein Lone (Mawlamyine) , , Independence Day, Kennedy Island , ,
Rangoon
Yangon, formerly romanized as Rangoon, is the capital of the Yangon Region and the largest city of Myanmar. Yangon was the List of capitals of Myanmar, capital of Myanmar until 2005 and served as such until 2006, when the State Peace and Dev ...
,
Burma
Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and ha ...
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, 1965-01-05 , , Win , , align="left" , Bo Kalay (Hlaingbwe) , , Independence Day, Kennedy Island , ,
Rangoon
Yangon, formerly romanized as Rangoon, is the capital of the Yangon Region and the largest city of Myanmar. Yangon was the List of capitals of Myanmar, capital of Myanmar until 2005 and served as such until 2006, when the State Peace and Dev ...
,
Burma
Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and ha ...
, , KO , , , ,
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, 1964-01-09 , , Loss , , align="left" , Sein Lone (Mawlamyine) , , Final, Independence Day, Kennedy Island , ,
Rangoon
Yangon, formerly romanized as Rangoon, is the capital of the Yangon Region and the largest city of Myanmar. Yangon was the List of capitals of Myanmar, capital of Myanmar until 2005 and served as such until 2006, when the State Peace and Dev ...
,
Burma
Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and ha ...
, , KO , , 2 , ,
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, 1964-01-09 , , Win , , align="left" , Maung Lone (Khayar) , , Semi final, Independence Day, Kennedy Island , ,
Rangoon
Yangon, formerly romanized as Rangoon, is the capital of the Yangon Region and the largest city of Myanmar. Yangon was the List of capitals of Myanmar, capital of Myanmar until 2005 and served as such until 2006, when the State Peace and Dev ...
,
Burma
Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and ha ...
, , TKO , , 4 , ,
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, 1963-01-07 , , Loss , , align="left" , Toe Lone (Mawlamyine) , , Independence Day, Kennedy Island , ,
Rangoon
Yangon, formerly romanized as Rangoon, is the capital of the Yangon Region and the largest city of Myanmar. Yangon was the List of capitals of Myanmar, capital of Myanmar until 2005 and served as such until 2006, when the State Peace and Dev ...
,
Burma
Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and ha ...
, , KO , , 2 , ,
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, 1961-03-25 , , Loss , , align="left" , Mae Gyi (Hlaingbwe) , , Grand Tournament, Aung San Stadium , ,
Rangoon
Yangon, formerly romanized as Rangoon, is the capital of the Yangon Region and the largest city of Myanmar. Yangon was the List of capitals of Myanmar, capital of Myanmar until 2005 and served as such until 2006, when the State Peace and Dev ...
,
Burma
Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and ha ...
, , , , , ,
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, 1960-11-09 , , Win , , align="left" , Bo Kyaw (Thaton) , , Karen State Day , ,
Hpa-an
Hpa-an (, ; ; , also spelled Pa-an) is the capital and largest city of Kayin State (Karen State), Myanmar (Burma). The population of Hpa-an as of the 2014 census was 421,575. Most of the people in Hpa-an are of the Karen ethnic group.
Legend
Le ...
,
Burma
Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and ha ...
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, 1960-11-08 , , Win , , align="left" , Mae Gyi (Hlaingbwe) , , Karen State Day , ,
Hpa-an
Hpa-an (, ; ; , also spelled Pa-an) is the capital and largest city of Kayin State (Karen State), Myanmar (Burma). The population of Hpa-an as of the 2014 census was 421,575. Most of the people in Hpa-an are of the Karen ethnic group.
Legend
Le ...
,
Burma
Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and ha ...
, , TKO , , , ,
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, 1960-09-05 , , Loss , , align="left" , One Dollar (Hlaingbwe) , , PRC Selections, Aung San Stadium , ,
Rangoon
Yangon, formerly romanized as Rangoon, is the capital of the Yangon Region and the largest city of Myanmar. Yangon was the List of capitals of Myanmar, capital of Myanmar until 2005 and served as such until 2006, when the State Peace and Dev ...
,
Burma
Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and ha ...
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, 1960-09-03 , , Win , , align="left" , Thaung Shwe (Hlaingbwe) , , PRC Selections, Aung San Stadium , ,
Rangoon
Yangon, formerly romanized as Rangoon, is the capital of the Yangon Region and the largest city of Myanmar. Yangon was the List of capitals of Myanmar, capital of Myanmar until 2005 and served as such until 2006, when the State Peace and Dev ...
,
Burma
Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and ha ...
, , KO , , 3 , ,
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, 1959-10-21 , , Loss , , align="left" , Maung Lone (Khayar) , , Kyaikkhami Yele Pagoda Festival , ,
Kyaikkhami
Kyaikkhami ( Mon language, Mon: ; ; pronounced ; , formerly Amherst) is a resort town within Thanbyuzayat township in the Mon State of south-east Myanmar.
The town is situated on a peninsula about south of Mawlamyine, the capital of Mon Stat ...
,
Burma
Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and ha ...
, , TKO , , , ,
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, 1959-10-20 , , Win , , align="left" , Nagar , , Kyaikkhami Yele Pagoda Festival , ,
Kyaikkhami
Kyaikkhami ( Mon language, Mon: ; ; pronounced ; , formerly Amherst) is a resort town within Thanbyuzayat township in the Mon State of south-east Myanmar.
The town is situated on a peninsula about south of Mawlamyine, the capital of Mon Stat ...
,
Burma
Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and ha ...
, , TKO , , 4 , , 45:00
, - style="background:#fbb;"
, 1957-03-10 , , Loss , , align="left" , Toe Lone (Mawlamyine) , , Challenge fights, Aung San Stadium , ,
Rangoon
Yangon, formerly romanized as Rangoon, is the capital of the Yangon Region and the largest city of Myanmar. Yangon was the List of capitals of Myanmar, capital of Myanmar until 2005 and served as such until 2006, when the State Peace and Dev ...
,
Burma
Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and ha ...
, , TKO , , , ,
, - style="background:#c5d2ea;"
, 1957-03-09 , , Draw , , align="left" , Maung Lone (Khayar) , , Challenge fights, Aung San Stadium , ,
Rangoon
Yangon, formerly romanized as Rangoon, is the capital of the Yangon Region and the largest city of Myanmar. Yangon was the List of capitals of Myanmar, capital of Myanmar until 2005 and served as such until 2006, when the State Peace and Dev ...
,
Burma
Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and ha ...
, , Draw , , , ,
, -
References
{{reflist, 30em
People from Mon State
Burmese Lethwei practitioners
Burmese male boxers