Tran Van Thao fights top 3 Chinese boxer in Korea

Van Thao vs Gui Ming Li is one of 10 anticipated matches at the WBO Title Match 'War in Paradise' boxing event on January 13, 2024 at Paradise City, Incheon.

The event gathered 20 famous boxers, including three faces from Vietnam, including IBA world champion Tran Van Thao in the 55kg class, Nguyen Van Hai in the 61kg class and Dinh Hong Quang in the 60kg class.

Van Thao has a record of 16 wins, 1 loss, 10 of which are by knockout. His opponent is Gui Ming Li - a Chinese boxer who has only fought nine times, 5 wins, 1 knockout, and 4 losses.

In his last fight, in November 2023, Van Thao won on points against experienced Mexican boxer Kenbun Torres at the WBO Global Title Match event in Ho Tram, Ba Ria - Vung Tau . Meanwhile, Gui is considered to be more youthful, only 23 years old and ranked 3rd in the Chinese boxing world in this weight class.

IBA world champion Tran Van Thao won on points against Kenbun Torres at the WBO Global Title Match boxing event on the evening of November 18. Photo: Duc Dong — IBA world champion Tran Van Thao won on points against Kenbun Torres at the WBO Global Title Match boxing event on the evening of November 18. Photo: *Duc Dong*

"Facing a younger fighter, I will have to be careful and prepare my physical strength thoroughly to be able to fight persistently with my opponent," Van Thao told VnExpress . "But I will also make the most of my experience to play well and not let down the fans at home."

In the 61kg category, Van Hai - with a record of 6 wins, 1 loss, 3 knockouts - will compete with Genesis Servinia. This Filipino boxer is highly regarded for his experience, and has an impressive winning ratio of 34 wins, including 16 knockouts, in 38 fights.

In mid-July 2023, Nguyen Van Hai shocked the world when he knocked out Bangladeshi "silent killer" Abdul Motalib in just 12 seconds at the WBO Global Prelude event also in Ba Ria - Vung Tau. Therefore, he is expected to cause many difficulties for his opponent and the possibility of winning by knockout is not ruled out.

Former IBF Asia 60kg champion Dinh Hong Quan will face Japanese fighter Yoji Saito. Saito has won five matches, all by knockout, in 10 fights, while Hong Quan has won 10, with four by knockout, one draw and one loss.

The Saito match will mark the return of Dinh Hong Quan in the new weight class - Super Lightweight (63.5kg) after losing the IBF championship belt at the end of 2022. The Vietnamese boxer is expected to be eager to show himself to regain the trust of fans.

Along with the Vietnamese boxers' matches, the event also features three WBO world championship title defense matches. In the highlight match, Chinese reigning champion Zhu DianXing - who has won 11 of his 12 fights, including 10 knockouts - will defend his WBO world 48kg title against Richard Garde - a Filipino boxer with eight wins and seven knockouts in nine fights.

Veteran Uzbek boxer Olimjon Nazarov (28 wins, with 15 knockouts in 33 fights) defends his WBO 50kg belt against Wulan Tuolehazi - a Chinese opponent with 15 wins, with 7 knockouts in 22 fights.

Duc Dong

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