Dave Leduc is known to many as the King of Lethwei: the Canadian martial artist who became the champion of Lethwei and the face of this growing martial arts sport.
Here is the story of the King of Lethwei, Dave Leduc. Detailing Leduc’s incredible journey to become the world-famous Champion of Lethwei.
Dave Leduc’s entry into martial arts
Dave Leduc’s entry into martial arts is kind of a story. It all started with a disagreement with his father when he was seventeen years old.
The war of words between Dave and his father got so bad that his parents told him to leave. At seventeen and on the streets of Quebec, Leduc was channeling his anger into learning martial arts.
Dave enrolled in Kung Fu Patenaude in the small town of Gatineau in 2009. He will start learning Sanda from the school’s owner, Sifu Patrick Marcel.
As Dave began learning the art of Sanda, he would also develop an interest in the No-Gi wrestler. He will begin competing in No-Gi tournaments across the province and even help organize events.
Dave Leduc’s introduction to Lethwei
While training in Sanda, one of the instructors showed Leduc old footage of a nude Burmese. He was in awe of the old shots and wanted to compete in this style of fighting.
Unfortunately for Dave Lethoey W Muay Thai It’s not legal in Quebec, so he had to come up with a plan. He tried to get a Myanmar visa but found out that it was very difficult to enter the country.
Dave Leduc’s time in Muay Thai
Since Leduc could not travel to Myanmar, he traveled instead to Thailand with some friends. It is easy to obtain a Thai visa, for this you can stay in the country for 30 days.
While partying in Thailand, he would battle Muay Thai with no Muay Thai experience. It is remarkable that Leduc would win his Muay Thai debut and have a realization.
He can train in Thailand, fight, and use it as a potential springboard to get to Lethwei. Leduc had friends who trained in Tiger Muay Thai and managed to secure a trial for the kickboxing team.
After passing the exam, Leduc will receive a scholarship to stay in the country and train in Tiger Muay Thai. Dave will be on team training alongside UFC vets Alex Volanovsky, Dan Hooker and Peter Yan.
Leduc began competing in Muay Thai every month and knocking out his opponents. Unfortunately, Dave was eliminating his opponents in the first round, which made him unpopular with the promoters, as the spectators were unable to gamble.
These promoters will begin to block Leduc, which will hurt him financially as a foreigner in Thailand.
Muay Thai prison fights
Leduc found his way onto the controversial prison fight show in Thailand. Muay Thai events held by the Thai Department of Corrections.
In these events, convicted criminals, who are Thai boxers, fight free opponents. If the prisoners won, they could have their sentences reduced or even set free.
Dave volunteered as one of the free opponents against the prisoners in the last ever event in 2014. The matches took place in a maximum security prison outside of Bangkok.
He will fight Leduc Thahan Chor, a former Lubini stadium fighter, who is imprisoned for drug trafficking.
Entry of Dave Leduc to Lethwei
After using up all the money in Thailand, Dave is forced to return to Canada. Will start saving money again for another trip to Thailand.
While in Canada, Leduc would contact a Muay Thai promoter to set up fights for him. This promoter told him he had begun preparing Lethwei bouts.
Realizing that this was his chance to make his dream come true, Leduc seized the opportunity.
Dave Leduc’s Lethwei for the first time
Dave’s first Lethwei match was a match with an amazing experience difference. He was also fighting the world champion, who was 36-0.
The promoter actually lied to the Myanmar organizer and said that Leduc had 40 Muay Thai matches. Not really the 10 professional Muay Thai matches he fought.
Leduc was greeted by tens of thousands of Burmese spectators who threw rubbish at him. Of course because it was the alien fighting nation here.
But Leduc researched the gestures of the Laithoi fighters before the fight. He began to make a gesture as he was throwing his elbows into his cupped hand. The crowd was changing his feelings and starting to respect him.
Dave knew he was sent to lose this match, but he was going to stun the crowd with a great performance. Painting with “Too Too” and winning the hearts of Myanmar people.
Dave Leduc fights for the Openweight Championship
Due to his impressive performance against Too Too, Leduc will get another title opportunity. Compete for the Openweight title against the reigning champion Tun Tun Min.
The two will battle it out in another sold-out crowd at Thein Pyu Stadium. Both fighters will have a back-and-forth fight that will end in another draw.
Ton Ton would make an instant rematch to Leduc which happened later in 2016. Leduc would beat and hurt Ton Ton in the third round.
Force him to retire and award the victory to Leduc. The crowd cheered in approval as Dave was awarded the gold belt.
Dave Leduc becomes a star
After becoming the Lethwei Openweight World Champion, Dave Leduc became a star in Myanmar. He got a lot of fame and appreciation from his adoring fans.
The President of Myanmar even paid for his wedding, which was broadcast live on public television and watched by millions. Dave Leduc became King of Lithuy.
Leduc just became king
Over the next few years, Leduc would take on all comers. Defending its championship for the next three years against all-comers.
Each of the best Lethwei fighters in the world fought from Myanmar to Tokyo. One of the most anticipated matches was against Cyrus Washington, who fought at Lethoy before Leduc. Leduc would beat Washington in two different bouts.
Perhaps the most globally watched Lethwei bout of Leduc’s career was against UFC vet Seth Baczynski. This would be Seth’s entry into Lethwei, and the King of Lethwei gave him a lesson of punishment. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGgwDstFlzE&t=3s
Dave Leduc’s entry into MMA
Before Leduc could get into Lethwei, he would take MMA bouts while in Canada. 2013 He was a 3-0 amateur before his first trip to Thailand. This includes winning over a GSP protégé.
In 2014, he was going to do pro-MMA fights for money to return to Thailand but he did not train for wrestling. Leduc had never lost weight before, which took its toll on his body.
He will lose his professional debut to future UFC fighter Jonathan Meunier. Also, he fights the second pro-MMA of future ONE title contender Koyomi Matsushima.
Dave Leduc goes to JRE
Many became aware of the Lethwei hero from his appearance on the Joe Rogan podcast. He will appear on episode #81 of JRE MMA show.
Telling his story on Rogan’s podcast would catapult Leduc’s popularity to new heights. His post-emergence fights were among Lethwei’s most watched to date.
Dave would also land a deal with BJJ Fanatics’ company Dynamic Striking to produce instructional videos on Lethwei. His first video available on the site is “Asos Lithoy”.
Lethwei training for Dave Leduc
David has a unique way of training for a Naked Burma boxing match. He created his own training style to practice his own techniques.
Specifically how to practice bow ties on a bag and gloves. Leduc had to teach all his pad bearers how to install pads for their head buttons.
This innovation has helped many novice Lethwei foreign fighters learn how to throw Lethwei techniques at full speed.
Hand conditioning Dave Leduc
The fighter’s hands must be clenched because the Lethwei match is performed with bare knuckles. Dave practices a rigorous hand conditioning routine to strengthen every part of his hand.
What Dave does is many sets of three push-ups.
- Finger push-ups
- Joint push-up
- Wrist push-ups
Leduc will also do his nasty and brutal act naked in order to further prepare his hands for fighting.
What’s next for Dave Leduc?
If not for Dave Leduc, many of us would know that the sport of Lethwei exists. Leduc is deservedly the face of the sport due to his work sharing Lethwei with the world. We can’t wait for him to return to the ring to defend his title as Lithoy World Champion.
You can follow Leduc’s journey on his Youtube channel Leduc Lithoy.