Mixed Martial Arts

Trịnh Thế Long of Việt Nam (left) lands a punch on Chayanon Phothijun of Thailand in their WBC Asia middleweight title match on August 20 in HCM City. Long won by technical KO. Photo of Shadow Entertainment

HCM CITY Trịnh Thế Long won a silver belt at the World Boxing Council (WBC) Asia's middleweight after a technical knockout during the LEAD: Battle of Power event on August 20 in HCM City.

The Vietnamese boxer increased his winning streak to five, all with knockouts, in his career after beating Chayanon Phothijun of Thailand in the 10-round match at the Saigon Sports Club watched by thousands of supporters online and offline.

It was the first time that Việt Nam hosted an event that included both WBC Asia and World Boxing Association (WBA) Asia title bouts.

The main card saw Long and Phothijun fighting fiercely from the beginning as both of them were desperate for the title.

While Long showed of his domination in the first two rounds, Phothijun was better in the next two, both gave each other heavy body and head shots.

The Vietnamese boxer came back in the fifth and sixth rounds, pushing his rivals into the corners to unleash his blows. He maintained his better performance in the seventh when the Thai got exhausted.

When Long was ready for the eighth round, he was called to the position and the main referee announced that Phothijun could not fight anymore.

Long was given a technical KO win, making him the Việt Nam's second WBC Asian champion after Trần Văn Thảo who won his super flyweight belt in 2017.

"I am excited and proud with the win. I have prepared for the match really well and tried my best to win," said Long who is a deputy director of a construction company in Long An Province.

"I want to thank my family, friends, supporters who have strongly encouraged me. I will work harder to reach higher and better results in the future."

Võ Hồng Đạt of Việt Nam (right) lands a head shot on Ernie Sanchez of the Philippines in the WBA Asia lightweight match. He won by a unanimous decision. -- Photo of Shadow Entertainment

Another Vietnamese, rising star Võ Hồng Đạt, also secured his title in the WBA Asia lightweight bout.

He beat experienced Ernie Sanchez of the Philippines after 12 rounds by a unanimous decision, recording his sixth win in career. He has been also another undefeated boxer of Việt Nam.

In two other matches, Filipino Arvin Jhon Paciones, who is training in HCM City, knocked out his fellow countryman Jonathan Refugio to take the WBA Asia lightfly weight title. 

Russian Avzalbek Kuranbaev floored Adam Diu Abdulhamid of the Philippines for the WBA Asia middleweight belt.

The LEAD: Battle of Power also included eight other fights for international and local athletes on August 20.

It was the third event of the LEAD series which were organised by Shadow Entertainment, the Việt Nam Boxing Federation and the HCM City Boxing Federation.

The series, scheduled to be organised regularly, is expected to reach international standards and become a strong base for Vietnamese fighters to gain experience and integrate into the world.

Shadow Entertainment is operating in the field of managing and training professional boxers and martial artists and organising events. VNS