Boxing

Ngô Ngọc Linh Chi and Lê Thị Ngọc Hạnh (left) will box at the professional VSP Pro 2 event in HCM City on February 25 night. Photos of organisers

HCM CITY — Việt Nam's best young prospects will make their professional debut at the VSP Pro 2 on February 25 in HCM City.

VSP Pro 2, organised by VSP Promotions, is a proving ground for amateur and semi-pro boxers to compete for the first time in professional standard matches under experts from world prestigious boxing organisations.

VSP Promotions is one of the biggest names in boxing in Việt Nam. It took part in organising big events such as Victory 8: Saigon Fight Night, Victory 8: Legend of Hoàn Kiếm and the IBF Asian - Fortunes of War. 

There will be seven great fights boasting talent from HCM City and Hà Nội, including a 48kg bout featuring two women, Ngô Ngọc Linh Chi and Lê Thị Ngọc Hạnh, that are desperate for north/south bragging rights.

Each match will be four rounds with three minutes each round for men and two minutes for women.

Chi is the youngest fighter to compete in VSP Pro 2. The Hanoian started learning boxing two years ago.

Her aptitude was obvious, and she began competing in 2020 - achieving a silver medal at the national youth championship in 2020, a bronze medal at the national youth championship in 2022, and also a bronze medal of national club championship in 2022.

Power puncher Hạnh from Matrix Gym in HCM City won a silver at the 2017 National Youth Boxing Championship and a bronze in the following year. 

In the men's 63.5kg category, HCM City boxer Trần Ngọc Thiên and Team Manny Cần Thơ's Nguyễn Quí Thịnh are two young prospects who will battle in the opening event.

Thiên began his boxing career in early 2022 and won a bronze at the city's Sport Games. Meanwhile, Thịnh has had three years with the sport and has competed in many different tournaments around the city since then.

In the 53.5kg pool, Russki bad boy Lê Hoàng Hiệp will face Nguyễn Thế Anh.

Hiệp is the only athlete to have competed in two pro matches previously along with many friendly and amateur matches.

Anh won a silver and bronze at the national youth championships since 2020.

Hiệp said there would be absolutely no mercy given this Saturday night at the VSP Pro 2.

"Winners train. Losers complain. I'm coming to shock and awe. And I'm bringing knockout pills in both hands. Gonna start my highlight reel this Saturday," Hiệp said. 

Phan Minh Quân (left) and Bùi Việt Hoàng will close the night with their 61kg bout.

HCM City bred Phan Minh Quân takes on 17-year-old Hà Nội prodigy Bùi Việt Hoàng for the final bout in the 61kg class showcasing two of the hottest young prospects in Việt Nam.

Quân "The Riddler" earned golds at the National Youth Boxing Championship in 2014, 2015 and 2017. He has had outstanding performances at different competitions including the Fortunes of War Hồ Tràm last December.

Hoàng was a bronze medal winner at the 2022 National Youth Championship. Earlier, he bagged a silver from the 2020 National Youth Championship and a bronze from the 2022 National Strong Boxing Club Championship. 

Other bouts are Thái Hoàng Huy vs Trần Hoài Linh at 57kg; Lê Tiến Đạt vs Cấn Minh Thái at 51kg; and Trần Tấn Quang Đạo and Hà Minh Tuấn at 63.5kg.

VSP Pro matches will be organised monthly, and results will be recorded by BoxRec, the world website dedicated to holding updated records of professional and amateur boxers, both male and female.  

The event is expected to be a strong base to lift boxers to reach higher level competitions including local and international pro matches.

The show will also be broadcast live on WebTheThao and VTV Cable if supporters are not lucky enough to be there in person. VNS