Boxing

Sẳm Minh Phát of Việt Nam is ready for a Chinese challenge Dian Xing Zhu in the main card of the WBO Global Prelude professional event on July 15 in Bà Rịa Vũng Tàu Province. — Photo of Cocky Buffalo

HÀ NỘI — Vietnamese boxer Sẳm Minh Phát will go up against Chinese top seed Dian Xing Zhu in the main card of the WBO Global Prelude professional event on July 15 in Bà Rịa Vũng Tàu Province.

The winner of the match will have a chance to compete at the WBO world minimum weight (48kg) belt bout later this year.

Phát is the world No 73 by the Boxrec. He has recorded nine wins with seven knockouts after 13 fights.

Dian is a tough rival for Phát as he is in a much higher place at No 46. He fought nine times of which eight were wins (seven KOs) and one was a loss by KO.

China's No 1 won the WBA Asian title in 2019.

However, Phát set a target to floor his rival at The Grand Ho Tram Strip resort.

“It will be a 10-round bout so I have to focus on improving my physique," said Phát of the Cocky Buffalo Gym.

"I am really confident about my technique and tactics as my manager Kim Sang Bum and coaches prepared well for me at the Cocky Buffalo. They fix my errors and make sure I am the best version of myself at fight night."

Phát said it was difficult for him when searching for Dian as there was almost no information or clips about him on the internet.

He said he appreciates his Chinese opponent and will concentrate every second of the fight.

"In every match, the result can be decided in one second. You can knock someone out or be knocked out with only one second of neglect. I will box my best and win. If I have a chance I would not deny to knock out him."

Also at the July 15 night, Vietnamese boxer Nguyễn Văn Hải will compete in the light weight (61kg) category.

Nguyễn Văn Hải (left) will fight in the lightweight (61kg) category against Abdul Motalib. — Photo thanhnien,vn

It is the national champion's sixth professional fight where he will fight Abdul Motalib, a Bangladeshi boxer nicknamed "The Silent Killer" who has five straight wins.

Mottalib places No 1022 in the world. All of his wins were against local athletes at home. It will be the first time that he crosses the border for fighting.

Hải is No 152 and targets a win from the eight-round match to earn enough conditions for the regional belt match.

The WBO Global Prelude will also feature some other notable fights. The 17-year-old Vietnamese-Korean Lee Juyeong will meet Indonesia’s Dedy Imprax in the featherweight (57kg) category.

Filipino boxer Mark John Yap and Mohon Ali of Bangladesh will face off in the super featherweight (59kg) rank.

Veteran Papua New Guinean Junior Kauko Raka will fight China’s Xiao Tao Su in the super featherweight (59kg) category.

A poster of the WBO Global Prelude professional event on July 15 in Bà Rịa Vũng Tàu Province. — Photo courtesy of Cocky Buffalo ah

Bayarkhuu Gaanbatar of Mongolia will see Yangchen Jin of China and Mikhail Lesnikov of Russia will be against Arief Blader of Indonesia, both in the super lightweight (64kg) division.

The tournament will be live aired on VTVcab channels and apps, as well as on YouTube. VNS