Boxing

Lê Hữu Toàn (right) at the WBA Asia minimum weight belt match in HCM City on March 21. Toàn is the first Vietnamese boxer named in the WBA's top 10. Photo thethaovietnamplus.vn

HÀ NỘI — Lê Hữu Toàn became the first Vietnamese boxer named in the world top 10 of the World Boxing Association (WBA) on April 1.

The WBA listed Toàn in tenth place. He is behind boxers from Thailand, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Japan, the Philippines and South Africa.

"My coach just told me this afternoon. It is wonderful news for me. I am excited with good news coming one after another," Toàn told Việt Nam News.

"I have my name on the world boxing map. The high ranking will help me to access competitive competitions, and I will have a chance to grab a higher place in the world and be No 1 in the future, I hope."

Toàn advances to be among the world's best after winning the WBA Asia's minimum (48kg) weight belt early this March. He beat Thailand's Kitidech Hirunsuk after 12 rounds in HCM City.

On March 29, he successfully defended his title at the National Boxing Clubs Championship in Tiền Giang Province.

It is his third year winning it in a row, after almost four years of practising boxing. 

Toàn will not have a chance to compete in the 31st Southeast Asian Games as his category is not organised for the event. 

But he will be busy preparing for a match defending his WBA Asia title in three to six months as per the WBA schedule. — VNS