Myanmar Lethwei icon Too Too reportedly dies in Military Custody

In distressing reports coming out of Myanmar, it has been revealed that Lethwei icon Too Too was brutally tortured to death while in military custody. Too Too, who was detained by the military in April 2022, is believed to have passed away on April 26th of that year, although his family was only notified of his death last week.

Photographs circulating in local news outlets shed light on the grim circumstances surrounding his arrest. The images depicted Too Too blindfolded and kneeling alongside five other men, with various items such as mobile phones and handguns displayed in front of them.

Too Too's an exceptional career in combat sports saw him achieve notable success. While he won a gold medal in Muay Thai at the 2013 SEA Games, it was in Lethwei that he truly made his mark. He faced formidable opponents, both domestic and foreign, including renowned fighters like Dave Leduc and Cyrus Washington.

Tun Tun Min, Soe Lin Oo, and Saw Nga Man were among the notable names he encountered in the ring. Too Too held the prestigious WLC middleweight belt and the 75kgs 'golden belt,' solidifying his reputation as a force to be reckoned with.

Remarkably, Too Too remained undefeated until 2020, despite drawing 26 fights along the way. In Lethwei, where matches typically do not end in decisions, his unbroken streak came to an end when he was outpointed by Naimjon Tuhtaboyev at WLC 11 in Yangon.

The Lethwei scene in Myanmar has come to a grinding halt following the military coup in 2021, which aimed to topple the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi.

The country has since been embroiled in a devastating civil war, with the military committing numerous atrocities in the areas they control. Fighters who have dared to voice their opposition to the coup have faced dire consequences, and Too Too is among those who have paid the ultimate price for their resistance.

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The situation is reminiscent of the arrest and subsequent disappearance of ONE Championship featherweight Phoe Thaw two years ago.

Phoe Thaw, known for his vehement opposition to the military regime, was severely injured in a bomb blast believed to have been planted at his gym. Sustaining severe burns, he was hospitalized and taken into custody. Since then, he has not been seen in public, and his social media accounts have remained dormant for over a year.

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