In a huge signing, six-time world champion Dave “The King” Leduc officially announces he will come out of retirement and signed an exclusive agreement to compete under the banner of Lethwei Fighting Championship (LFC).
The announcement will send shockwaves through the global combat sports community. Leduc, who is widely regarded as the greatest Lethwei fighter in history and the man most responsible for bringing the ancient Burmese martial art to an international audience, retired in November 2023 following his final bout in Cambodia. He walked away as undefeated world champion, having never lost a single fight under traditional Lethwei rules across a decorated career of six wins and six draws.
That reign is not over. It is just the beginning of a new chapter.
A Historic Agreement
The exclusive signing was formalised between Leduc and LFC founder and CEO Nick Chapman, with both men pictured together following the agreement. For Chapman, securing Leduc is a monumental moment for the promotion he has been building, which operates with a dual-jurisdiction structure based in Singapore with operations in Thailand.
“Dave Leduc is Lethwei. Having him compete exclusively under the LFC banner is not just a signing. It is a statement. We are building the home of Lethwei, and the King belongs here.” – Nick Chapman, Founder & CEO, Lethwei Fighting Championship
For Leduc, the decision to return is a deeply personal one rooted in his lifelong dedication to the sport. Since first travelling to Myanmar in 2016 and defeating the legendary Tun Tun Min to become the first non-Burmese fighter to claim the Lethwei Golden Belt, Leduc has been inseparable from Lethwei’s rise on the world stage. The Openweight Golden Belt he holds (awarded only by knockout under traditional rules) remains one of the most prestigious titles in all of combat sports.
Dave Leduc — Career at a Glance
- Six-time Lethwei World Champion, including the prestigious Openweight Golden Belt
- Undefeated under traditional Lethwei rules (KO to win) with 6 wins, 6 draws
- First non-Burmese fighter to win the Lethwei Golden Belt (2016)
- Credited with bringing Lethwei to a global audience, including a major appearance on the Joe Rogan Experience
- Awarded a Certificate of Honor by Myanmar’s Minister of Health and Sports (2017)
- First Lethwei fighter to appear on the cover of Karaté Bushido, Europe’s oldest martial arts magazine (2020)
- His nationally televised traditional Burmese wedding was watched by an estimated 30 million viewers in Myanmar
Why This Is the Biggest Story in Lethwei Right Now
Lethwei, sometimes called “the art of nine limbs” for its use of fists, elbows, knees, feet, and headbutts, is one of the most demanding striking arts on earth. Unlike Muay Thai, no gloves are worn under traditional rules; fighters wrap their hands in hemp rope or gauze. Bouts can only be won by knockout, meaning every fight is contested with maximum intent.
The sport has spent the last decade quietly building one of the most passionate and rapidly growing fanbases in Southeast Asia and beyond. Dave Leduc’s willingness to step into Myanmar, to learn the culture, the language, and the traditions of Lethwei, and then to become its champion, earned him a reverence in the country rarely afforded to any outsider. Fans gave him the Burmese name Daywa, meaning “protector”. His fights drew tens of thousands of spectators and millions of online viewers worldwide.
His retirement in 2023 left a void that no other fighter has been able to fill. The news that he is returning and doing so exclusively with LFC is, to put it simply, the biggest development the sport has seen since Leduc first claimed the Golden Belt.
What the LFC Partnership Means for Lethwei
Lethwei Fighting Championship was founded with a clear mission: to give Lethwei the international platform it deserves. With Leduc’s exclusive commitment, LFC now holds the most powerful asset in the sport: its biggest name, its most recognised face, and its most compelling fighter.
For promoters, broadcasters, and sponsors who have been watching Lethwei’s growth from the sidelines, this signing serves as a clear signal that LFC is the serious, professional home for Lethwei’s future. Events featuring Dave Leduc consistently rank among the most-watched combat sports broadcasts in Southeast Asia. His return, fighting exclusively under the LFC banner, will drive eyeballs, subscriptions, and sponsorship interest at a scale the sport has never previously experienced from a single organisation.
“Lethwei is my life. It was never just a sport to me. It is a tradition, a culture, and a community. I’m not done. The best chapters are still to come.” – Dave Leduc
What Comes Next
Details of Leduc’s competitive schedule under LFC are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. What is already clear is that his return will be met with enormous anticipation from Lethwei fans across Myanmar, Thailand, Japan, Canada, Europe, and the growing global community that has followed his career.
For those who have always believed that Lethwei deserves its place among the great combat sports of the world, this is a day worth celebrating. The King of Lethwei is back. And he is fighting under one banner.
Stay tuned to LethweiWorld.com for all the latest updates on Dave Leduc, Lethwei Fighting Championship, and news from across the global Lethwei community.
