Nguyen Thi Thu Nhi trains at the Cocky Buffalo club in HCM City to prepare for her WBO title fight in April (Photo courtesy of Cocky Buffalo) Instead of being dismayed, the pint-sized boxer has taken the delay as anopportunity to sharpen her technique to prepare for her date with destiny.
The World Boxing Organisation (WBO) agreed to move the mini flyweight (48kg)title defence between Thu and Japanese boxer Etsuko Tada to April, about twomonths after it was scheduled to be held.
The delay was needed as Tada could not travel to Vietnam in February due to theCOVID-19 pandemic. It was the second time that the bout was postponed afterbeing originally scheduled for last April in the Republic of Korea.
“It is sad that it was delayed again while I am in good mood and preparing wellfor it,” Nhi told Vietnam News.
“However, thinking again I told myself that I would have more time to sharpenmy skills and improve my tactics. It may help to increase my chances ofwinning,” she said.
Nhi is Vietnam’s first WBO Asia Pacific Boxing champion aftertaking the title last February in Cambodia. She won on points after defeatingKanyarat Yoohanngoh of Thailand in a 10-round fight.
The 25-year-old lacks international experience in contrast to seasonedpro Tada who has fought for more than a decade and grabbed a number oftitles.
“The Japanese fighter is really strong and a senior in this fieldcompared to me,” Nhi said about her 39-year-old opponent. “But I also have mystrong points. I am younger and confident. It is okay if I unfortunately losein a match that I do my best. Then I will fight again in another match until Ican win.”
“My coaches said my technique is fairly good so they asked me to spend moretime on my physique because Japanese athletes have strong physique. Tada is 39but she could knock out her rival in the ninth round."
Nhi is training at the Cocky Buffalo Boxing Gym in HCM City under Republicof Korean coach Kim Sang Bum.
Kim, in contrast to the style of the bombastic American, wasguarded when asked about the title fight.
“The postponement is someway not good for Nhi because she waspreparing to get to her best in February. Now with the sudden delay, shewill have to adjust for the change including her spirit. The more shebelieves the better result she would get,” Kim said.
“Her opponent, who is stronger and more experienced, will also have more timefor the fight. She is also confident and can fight any time. I told my athleteto keep training and be comfortable but focused."
Kim said Nhi cannot compare to Tada in some aspects but theVietnamese fighter is very agile and has a good mind for boxing.
“The chance to win for Nhi is about 70 per cent. I think if shefollows our tactics plus her confidence, winning is possible,” said Kim.
Southpaw Tada beat ex-WBA titleholder Ayaka Miyao to take thevacant WBO title last December.
Previously, she held this WBO belt in 2018, held the WBA titlefrom 2009 to 2013 and the IBF crown from 2015 to 2017.
While Tada has recorded 26 matches with 20 wins (seven KOs), threedraws and three losses, Nhi has fought four matches with four wins. A milestonein her career was a victory over three-time world champion Filipino GretchenAbaniel at the Victory 8 Championship in 2018 in HCM City.
“My biggest push for this match is to be the first Vietnameseboxer to vie for a world title. If I win, I will make history for Vietnam,”said An Giang province-born Nhi./.
VNA
