Truong Dinh Hoang aims to take WBA’s Asia East title

Hanoi (VNS/VNA) – Truong Dinh Hoang will take the limelight as ‘The King’ will vie for the World Boxing Association Asia East Super Middleweight title against Lee Gyu Hyun from the Republic of Korea in Hanoi on October 19.

Their match is the main card of the international boxing event Victory 8 – the Legends of Hoan Kiem, the biggest combat event in Vietnam ever at Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square, a historic spot in the capital.

At the event, 12 matches will be held and watched by about 30,000 supporters around Hoan Kiem Lake and millions of people on television and live streams.

“Our match is the key of the event and two fighters also vie for the Asia East title. I feel heavy pressure,” Hoang told Viet Nam News.

“However, instead of worries and anxiousness I focus on practising hard. I believe in a victory.”

Hoang has reasons to be confident as he will compete at home and has a perfect record (2KOs) in the ring.

However, Lee Gyu Hyun is also backing himself in this weekend’s 76kg-class bout that will run 10 rounds.

Lee, 25, said he watched Vietnamese boxers competing in Seoul earlier this year and all of them were strong. However, he said he was at a higher level than any other Koreans they had met.

Prior to the main card match, 11 other between Vietnamese boxers and rivals from across the world will be held.

Among them, Nguyen Van Hai will face Charly Suarez of the Philippines in the men’s 61kg bout; Vu Thanh Trung will take on Australian Billy Cliff in the men’s 72kg; Nguyen Thi Tam will fight Jasmeen Hudson from Australia and Vo Thi Kim Anh will fight Filipino Gretel de Paz in the women’s 51kg class.

Victory 8 events have been held twice previously before tomorrow's edition. However, the previous bouts were considered friendly events and did not influence fighters’ records.

The organisers, VSP Boxing, have confirmed that the Legends of Hoan Kiem is the first professional boxing event in Vietnam, which is approved by the National Sports Administration./.