Dave Leduc

In 2009, at the age of seventeen, after a disagreement with his father caused Leduc was forced to leave home.[16] He joined Sifu Patrick Marcil's martial arts school Kung Fu Patenaude in Gatineau and began learning Sanda under his guidance while competing in amateur fight nights. Leduc started training his headbutts, Jeet Kune Do principles, and hitting the bag bareknuckle.[17][18][19]

In 2013, Leduc started fighting MMA in Canada and went undefeated in amateur in his three fights, winning two of them by submission via guillotine choke.[20] His last win was against Tristar Gym fighter and Georges St-Pierre's protege, Yukinori Akazawa,[21] which he won by unanimous decision.[22]

In 2014, Leduc made his pro debut against future UFC welterweight fighter Jonathan Meunier. Having never cut weight as an amateur, Leduc fought at his walking weight 171lbs. He lost the fight by referee stoppage in the first round and would return to the cage in November 2015 to face future ONE Championship title contender Koyomi Matsushima, this time attempting to drop down to 155lbs.[23] Matsushima won by referee stoppage in the first round after Leduc was caught by a hammer fist trying to secure a triangle choke.[24]

Leduc at Prison Fight inside Klong Pai maximum security prison.

In 2013, Lethwei being illegal in the province of Quebec[25] and having difficulty getting a fight in Myanmar, Leduc went on his first trip to neighboring Thailand to begin his professional career.[6] Myanmar's lack of training facilities led Leduc to leave everything behind and moved to Phuket in order to train at Tiger Muay Thai.[15][26][27] Leduc was invited to the 2016 Tiger Muaythai Tryouts and went on to win a place on the professional fight team, along with teammate Dan Hooker.[28]

On July 12, 2014, Leduc took part in the controversial Prison Fight: Fight For Freedom,[29] where inmates can reduce their sentences and even earn their freedom by winning a series of fights against foreign fighters.[30] Prison Fight is sanctioned by the Thai Department of Corrections and described as a way for inmates to battle their way to an early release.[31] The event took place in the maximum security Klong Pai Central Prison, in Nakhon Ratchasima, two hours north of Bangkok.[5] Leduc faced Thahan Chor.Chatchai who was an experienced Muay Thai fighter who competed multiple times at Lumpini Stadium, but was arrested and incarcerated for trafficking methamphetamine. Leduc won by unanimous decision and left the top of his opponent's head lacerated because of repetitive elbow strikes.

When it came to fighting convicts, Leduc said to the Bangkok Post that he wouldn't feel bad if he won and his rival's sentence wasn't reduced.[32] Leduc explained to Argentinian news Infobae the mentality of the inmates at the Prison Fight events, saying:

"They do not fight for money, they fight for their freedom. I only fight for honor and glory."[33] "They deserve to get my 100%, if he wins, then he earns it."[32]

On August 21, 2016, Leduc was invited to make his Lethwei debut at the 1st Myanmar Lethwei World Championship in Yangon, Myanmar,[34] against Too Too, (34–0) undefeated, 75 kg Lethwei World Champion.[35][36] Leduc took the country by storm by completely dominating the fight,[37] which ended in a draw according to traditional Lethwei rules.[38] With his performance, Leduc won the heart of the Myanmar people.[17][39]

After his dominant performance over Too Too, Leduc challenged Myanmar star Tun Tun Min, at the time, the openweight Lethwei world champion.[40] The match was held at Thein Pyu Stadium and organized by Great Tiger Group. Tun Tun Min was the heavy favorite heading into this title defense against Leduc. Tun Tun Min started strong and dominated the early rounds. In the later rounds, Leduc came back and floored his opponent a few times. The match was closely contested and ended in a draw according to traditional Lethwei rules.[41] After the match, Tun Tun Min was quoted saying that he had difficulties with Dave's control of distance, but that he was confident to put on a better performance in their rematch in December 2016.[42]

Leduc receiving the Lethwei Golden Belt by U Thein Aung, President of Myanmar Traditional Lethwei Federation

On December 11, 2016, the very anticipated rematch took place at the Air KBZ Aung Lan Championship in Yangon, Myanmar.[43] After previously fighting in October to a draw, Tun Tun Min put the openweight Lethwei Golden Belt on the line.[8] Leduc opened the fight offensively, landing a fake roundhouse kick to sidekick and a counter elbow on Tun Tun Min's face soon after the opening bell. Following these attacks, Tun Tun Min's usual bull rushing style was replaced by a noticeable slower pace. The round continued with aggressive attacks from both sides. In round three, Leduc caught Tun Tun Min's overextended leg and flipped him to the floor twisting his knee, forcing his team to call his time-out.[15] The third round continued with a visibly shaken Tun Tun Min. After a short exchange in the clinch followed by a final takedown, Tun Tun Min was not able to continue and forfeited. Leduc was awarded the Golden Belt, becoming the first non-Burmese fighter to hold the Lethwei openweight world title.[44][26][45]

The journey to the world title was captured by Canal D[46] as part of the Canadian documentary titled La Fosse aux Tigres which aired in November 2017.[47][48] The documentary follows Leduc training and traveling to Yangon to win the Lethwei world title.[49] The movie was filmed in Canada, Thailand and Myanmar.[50]

Leduc before his world title challenge at Thein Pyu Stadium, from La Fosse aux Tigres, 2016

On February 16, 2017, for the second event organized by the International Lethwei Federation Japan[51] Leduc headlined Lethwei in Japan 2 at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo Dome City, Japan.[52] Leduc defended his title for the first time against veteran Lethwei fighter Phoe Kay.[53][54] In the first round, Leduc performed a vicious spinning elbow knockout, forcing Phoe Kay's corner to call the permitted time-out.[55] They revived him and the fight continued. In the second round, after several knockdowns, Leduc ended the match by KO, winning his first title defense.[56][57] The Japanese people loved the brutality and aggression of Lethwei, and more events were announced to be held in Tokyo.[58][59]

Leduc sweeping Phoe Kay at Lethwei in Japan 2 in Tokyo.

On April 18, 2017, for his second title defense,[60] Leduc faced Turkish Australian fighter Adem Yilmaz at Lethwei in Japan 3 in Tokyo, Japan[61] under traditional Lethwei rules.[62][57][63] This match was the first Lethwei world title fight headlining two non-Burmese in the sport's history. For the occasion, the Ambassador of Myanmar to Japan was present at the event held in the Korakuen Hall.[64] In the first round, Leduc scored two knockdowns and landed a powerful headbutt in the clinch. In the second round, Leduc dislocated his right index finger in the clinch and was not able to use his right hand the duration of the fight, but managed to land elbows and headbutts on Yilmaz. After five rounds, the fight was declared a draw according to traditional Lethwei rules with Leduc defending the Lethwei Golden Belt.[65][66]

For his third title defense, Leduc was set to face American Veteran Cyrus Washington at Lethwei in Japan 4 in Tokyo, Japan.[67] Washington announced he was pulling out of the fight citing a hand injury he sustained during training.[68][69] Leduc's opponent changed to Muaythai Champion Nilmungkorn Sudsakorngym from Thailand.[70][71] The matchup was billed as Lethwei vs. Muaythai.[70][72] Leduc made his entrance dressed as the grim reaper at the Tokyo Dome City Hall. In the first round, he landed a headbutt on Nilmungkorn, followed by a right-kick to right-punch move, hitting Nilmungkorn on the jaw forcing him to use his time-out. Leduc ended the match with a knee to the face winning by knockout at 2m:23sec of the second round.[73][74][75][76]

"I respect Cyrus a lot, he is a crafty veteran, he has fought some of the best fighters of the sport, but he has never fought anyone like me. I am not like the others, I’m the King of Lethwei and he wants a taste of the crown", Leduc said in an interview.[77]

On August 20, 2017, Leduc faced Cyrus Washington inside the Thuwunna National Indoor Stadium in Yangon, Myanmar, to defend his openweight Lethwei world title, at the Myanmar Lethwei World Championship.[78] With more than 100 fights on his record, Washington was the more experienced fighter of the two with Leduc having only 22 fights.[79] During Leduc's rise in Lethwei, fans often entertained the idea of a match with Cyrus Washington and pushed for a fight between the two. Having been the only other fighter to score a win over Tun Tun Min,[80][81] Washington used his time-out and spent remaining of the fight backing up from Leduc and going to the mat upon entering in the clinch trying to protect his lacerated forehead from any further damage. The fight was officially declared a draw under traditional Lethwei rules.[82] and marked Leduc's fourth consecutive title defence in eight months.[83]

On 10 December 2017, Leduc faced former WKN world champion heavyweight kickboxer Corentin Jallon from France.[84][82] "Fighting him is gonna be like a crocodile bringing a gazelle in the water." Leduc said.[85] Historically, the Air KBZ Aung Lan Golden Belt Championship was a kryptonite event for Lethwei champions, Leduc having won the title by defeating Tun Tun Min, who had won it from Saw Nga Man on the same stage. Inside the Thein Pyu Stadium in Yangon, Leduc executed his ceremonial fight dance Lethwei yay, announcing the start of the match. Just before the first exchange, Leduc challenged Jallon with the Lekkha moun. The Frenchman automatically replied with a flurry of punches, which Leduc countered with an elbow counterattack. In the third round, Leduc executed a diving headbutt which landed on Jallon's right eye, drawing blood. In the fourth round, Leduc had Jallon bent over the ropes from trying to avoid a headbutt. While he had Jallon's back, Leduc did a provocative humping movement.[86][87] Leduc landed headbutts in the clinch.[10][88] The fight was declared a draw according to traditional rules and Leduc retained the openweight Lethwei Golden Belt, marking his fifth consecutive title defence.[89][90]

Leduc raising the Myanmar flag in Yangon, 2018

On 19 August 2018, at the 3rd Myanmar Lethwei World Championship,[91] Leduc returned to face former Rajadamnern Stadium, WPMF and IKF Champion Diesellek TopkingBoxing inside the Thein Pyu Stadium in Yangon, Myanmar.[92]

The matchup was mediatized as Lethwei vs Muaythai. With more than 200 fights to his record, Diesellek was the more experienced fighter of the two, with Leduc having only 24 fights.[93] For this fight and for the first time in his career, Leduc flew his longtime trainer Sifu Patrick Marcil to Myanmar.[94] Prior to the bout, Leduc said in an interview that he respected Diesellek's left kick,[95] having knocked out current Lumpini Stadium and Rajadamnern Stadium champion Youssef Boughanem in brutal manner at Lumpini Stadium in 2012.[96]

The fight started with some exchanges in the clinch, with Diesellek trying the first headbutt of the fight which missed and Leduc landing a left uppercut.[97] Leduc continued with a fake right knee, fake left knee, followed by a right elbow, knocking out his opponent.[98] Diesellek's corner called for the allowed injury time-out and woke him up.[93] The fight resumed with Diesellek landing a left kick to Leduc's face. Leduc threw a fake kick to punch, followed by a knee to jaw knocking out Diesellek. Leduc won by KO at 2:23 in the first round, marking his sixth title defence. He raised the Myanmar flag and performed the traditional victory dance Lethwei yay.[99]

Leduc avoiding a punch from Tun Tun Min

On December 16, 2018, the very anticipated third match between Tun Tun Min took place at the Air KBZ Aung Lan Golden Belt Championship in Yangon. The fight was billed as the The Biggest Fight In Lethwei History.[100][101] The third fight saw Leduc fighting out of the red corner, the first time a foreigner has been able to do so in the history of Lethwei, as it is customary to have non-Burmese fighters come out of the blue corner.[102] Tun Tun Min was fully recovered, but had tremendous difficulty with the distance control of Leduc. At 1:28 seconds of the first round, Leduc landed a headbutt to the temple in the clinch which floored Tun Tun Min, but managed to get up at the count of eight.

At the 2:35 of the same round, Leduc executed a jumping elbow strike and knocked out Tun Tun Min for 43 second.[103] His team had to call for the 2-minute injury time-out to revive him and attend to a cut above his right eye.[104][105] The later rounds saw both boxers vying for a finish but ended without another knockout at the final bell and Leduc retained the Lethwei Golden Belt title.[106]

In 2017, Leduc had expressed his disagreement with the World Lethwei Championship's usage of the modern Lethwei rules also known as Tournament rules.[107] In 1996, the tournament rules was created by the MTLF and added to some tournaments by removing the controversial injury time-out and adding a decision to determine a winner in the occasion there was no knockout.[63]

“It's no secret that I have had real concerns at the beginning about the modern ruleset of WLC. Looking back I think it was more a territorial feud, I was protecting my territory,” Leduc told VICE[7]

On March 9, 2019, despite a long-running feud with the promotion,[108] Leduc announced that he had signed an exclusive contract with the World Lethwei Championship which would make it impossible for him to defend his world titles from other Lethwei organizations.[109][110][111][112]

On March 25, 2019, Leduc held a press conference at the Karaweik Palace in Yangon, Myanmar announcing that he was relinquishing three of his four Lethwei world titles.[113] The three titles included the MLWC Title, Air KBZ Aung Lan Championship title and the ILFJ Openweight Lethwei World title,[114] but keeping the Lethwei Golden Belt, therefore remaining the openweight Lethwei World Champion under traditional rules.[115]

In 2019, for his promotional debut at World Lethwei Championship, Leduc was set to face TUF 11 & TUF 25 competitor and UFC veteran Seth Baczynski.[116][117][6] The bout was scheduled as the main event of WLC 9: King of Nine Limbs in Mandalay, Myanmar[118] for the inaugural Cruiserweight World Lethwei Championship.[119][120] Baczynski felt confident leading up to the fight because he had significantly more fighting experience than Leduc.[121] On August 2, 2019, Leduc landed an elbow strike which exploded Bacynski's left ear[122] and then knocked him out with punches to win the inaugural Cruiserweight World Lethwei Championship.[123][124]

Following his performance, Leduc was invited on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast by Joe Rogan and both men discussed Lethwei.[125] Leduc announced that the WLC had plans to host an event in the United States.[126]

On 7 November 2020, Leduc was challenged by Cyrus Washington for the second and final time to determine who is the best foreign Lethwei fighter.[127][128] The fight was under traditional Lethwei rules in Cheyenne, Wyoming inside a cage and Leduc won the fight by TKO.[129][130][131]

On January 29, 2023, Leduc officially vacated the openweight Lethwei World Championship title before the fight between Tun Tun Min and Thway Thit Win Hlaing. As soon as the fight started the title was up for grabs.[132] In the event where the champion vacates the title, the two top contenders are required to fight for the belt. In these cases, in order to have a champion, the fight cannot end in a draw, a winner must obligatory be declared even if there is no knockout. Tway Thit Win Hlaing was awarded the title[133] and succeeded Leduc as Myanmar openweight champion.[134]

In 2023, the World Lethwei Federation agreed for Prom Samnang from Cambodia to challenge Leduc because of his extensive winning streak in Kun Khmer.[135][136][137] The match was scheduled to take place on May 27, 2023, in Banska Bystrica,[138][139][140] but was cancelled because Samnang was denied a Schengen visa to enter Slovakia.[4] On August 11, 2023, Leduc announced that he was set to retire completly from professional fighting after one more fight under Kun Khmer in Cambodia.[141][142] In August 2023, Leduc invited the Prime Minister of Cambodia His Excellency Hun Manet to attend his match aganst Prom Samnang. Manet respond and agreed to meet Leduc when he comes to Kingdom of Cambodia.[143][144][145][146][147] Leduc and Samnang are scheduled to fight November 5, 2023 in Phnom Penh.[148][149]

In 2016, Leduc met Moldovan writer and model Irina Terehova when she traveled to Thailand.[161] The two had never met before, but after writing a story on Leduc, Terehova decided to leave Canada and meet him in Phuket.[162][163] In October 2016, Leduc got engaged to Terehova on the Shwesandaw Pagoda in Bagan, Myanmar.[164] On December 13, 2016, the couple got married in a nationally televised traditional wedding ceremony live on MRTV in Yangon,[87] only two days after his world championship title fight.[10][165] The ceremony was watched by approximately 30 million people in Myanmar which catapulted the couple to superstardom in Myanmar.[166][11][26][167]

In 2017, Leduc and Terehova started getting involved with orphan children who are affected with HIV and AIDS at the NLD AIDS Center in Myanmar, bringing food treats, as well as undisclosed donations.[168][169][170] In 2021, Leduc campaigned on social media to raise awareness and raised money for people who were victims of Myanmar military coup.[171][172]

Image of the 1000-kyats Bank note.

In 2018, Leduc posted a fan art on social media, showing of a 1000-kyats note with a picture of him suggesting that the Central Bank of Myanmar was issuing a sports celebratory note with him on it.[173] The announcement outraged the population in Myanmar because of the sensitive nature of the issue.[174] In the 1990s, the military regime tried to eradicate all traces of General Aung San's memory, considered the father of modern-day Myanmar and who was assassinated by political rivals six months before independence on January 4, 1948. After the 8888 Uprising, the government redesigned the national currency removing the picture of General Aung San, replacing it with Chinthe and elephants.[175] Leduc was severely criticized, receiving multiple threats before going public and explaining the strategy behind his stunt, stating his goal was to revive the debate about bringing back Aung San on the currency. Leduc mentioned to Canadian newspaper Le Droit, that the Myanmar population was very receptive and understood the tactic behind his stunt.[176][177] On 4 January 2020, to mark the 72nd anniversary of Myanmar's Independence Day, the Central Bank of Myanmar issued the new 1000-kyats notes displaying General Aung San after being absent for 30 years.[178]

On April 28, 2021, Leduc stirred controversy with a profanity-laced social media post saying that Muaythai was "softened version of Burmese Boxing", criticized Muay Thai fighter Buakaw Banchamek and stating claims surrounding the Nai Khanom Tom folklore story were false and that he was simply a prisoner in ancient Burma during the Burmese–Siamese War.[179] The post sparked considerable backlash from the Muaythai and combat sports community. In a letter, the Myanmar Traditional Lethwei Federation (MTLF) explained that Muaythai promoters made a complaint about Leduc. Prominent Thai Muaythai promoter Nuttadaj Vachirarattanawong urged he MTLF to reprimand Leduc.[180][181] According to the MTLF, Leduc had "committed personal attacks" on Buakaw Banchamek and Muaythai history potentially "tarnishing the relationship between Myanmar and Thailand" according to the MTLF.[182] The federation issued Leduc a two-year ban on Lethwei competitions under their federation.[183][172]

In response to the letter, Leduc wrote on social media "They’re not the World Lethwei Federation (WLF), the WLF is the most powerful, they have affiliated federations all accross [sic] the world [...] Nobody in the world tells me anything. The World Lethwei Federation can’t, and especially not the MTLF"[184] "There's two Federations in Lethwei: the WLF / World Lethwei Federation and the MTLF / Myanmar Lethwei Federation, who are just a bunch of old men from a community club that never liked me & I never liked them either. They made an “official letter” saying they ban me from their federation “for 2 years” Am I supposed to care? Not only do I don’t care, I will go further and say: I will never fight in their federation ever again." he added.[185] Leduc called the Muay Thai folklore figure Nai Khanom Tom a "bitch, after getting captured by the Burmese." referring to Siamese prisoners captured by Burmese troops during the Burmese–Siamese War (1765–1767).[186][187][188]

In May 2021, the Ministry of Culture ultimately blacklisted Leduc from entering Thailand.[189][187][190] In May 2023, Leduc accused "Thai spies" of poisoning him after eating at a Thai restaurant in Turkey.[191][192][190]

On 7 November 2020, Leduc gave a post-fight interview after his victory over Cyrus Washington in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He expressed his disagreement with the World Health Organization, Bill Gates and the COVID-19 vaccine by saying "Fu** Bill Gates, fu** his masks, fu** his vaccines, fu** the World Health Organization, they can put their f***ing vaccines in their f***ing asses."[193]

On 20 December 2020, Leduc gave a speech to thousands of Canadians gathered at a peaceful demonstration in La Fontaine Park in Montreal. He requested a public debate with unsponsored medical experts and asked for governmental transparency in regards of the sanitary measures imposed on the population in response of COVID-19.[194] After his speech, while Leduc was giving an interview, multiple agents of the SPVM police force started to surround him and detained him.[195] Leduc received a fine of 1546 CAD$ for not wearing a facial covering outside.[196]

In 2021, Leduc had become a leading activist opposing the health measures surrounding COVID-19 pandemic in Quebec.[197][198] In May, the government-sponsored media Radio-Canada commissioned a documentary to better understand the dissident movement led by Leduc and three other Quebec personalities that rejected the measures imposed by the government.[199] The documentary was a finalist for the Prix Gémeaux.[200] In 2022, Leduc was featured in the study conducted the UNESCO Chairs in Quebec entitled “The conspiracy movement in Quebec: Leaders, discourses and adherence” presented to the Quebec Ministry of Economy and Innovation.[201]

In 2019, before headlining WLC 9, Leduc competed with his wife Irina Terehova on The Amazing Race Canada Season 7.[202] The couple made it clear that they weren't on the show for the prize money[203] or to make friends,[204] it was apparently Leduc's desire since teenage to compete on the show.[205] Undoubtedly the most controversial seasons of the Canadian franchise,[206] Dave & Irina became the most notorious villains the franchise has known,[207] while being practically unbeatable for the entire season.[208] The couple outraged a lot of viewers and were deemed "un-Canadian".[209] They fell out of favour of viewers and fellow racers for their cutthroat way of racing,[210] copying an answer at the Horne Lake Caves Provincial Park and stealing cabs in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.[211] The couple later revealed receiving death threats when the show aired.[212] They generated a remarkable amount of hate from Canadian viewers for referring to other contestants as peasants.[213] After arriving first in Edmonton, Alberta, Leduc said “We’ll let the peasants fight for last place.”, which became the title of episode 3.[214]

In the first episode of the season, in Kamloops, British Columbia, the couple quickly stood out and became the season's villains after trash-talking Canada’s Choice Jet & Dave.[215] Jet told Leduc about being a firefighter which he replied “That’s great because you will be back there next week.”, which ended up being true.[216] In the fifth episode, in Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, the remaining contestants teamed up and tried send the Quebec couple home, but as Leduc said, it was a “drastic failure.”[207] Despite a well-laid plan against the couple and a record number of penalties taken by multiple teams, it was ultimately the Halifax twins who got eliminated.[217]

Dave and Irina led the charge out of Thunder Bay to Wolfville, Nova Scotia, but faltered at the apple sorting challenge and were eventually the last team to meet host Jon Montgomery at the mat at Luckett Vineyards.[206][218][219]