Kickboxing

Triệu Thị Phương Thủy of Việt Nam seen in action in the 32nd SEA Games' final. Thủy will fight Choi Eun Ji of South Korea in the 52kg category of the MAXFC 26 on April 13 in Vũng Tàu City, Bà Ria-Vũng Tàu Province. — VNS Photos Quý Lượng

VŨNG TÀU — The first international professional kickboxing tournament – Max Fighting Championship 26 – featuring leading fighters will be held next month in Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu Province.

The event is jointly organised by leading gym Cocky Buffalo and the provincial Department of Culture and Sports.

Maximum Fighting Championship is South Korea's biggest kickboxing organisation. It has produced many famous martial artists from Korea and many countries around the world.

The Vietnamese version, MAXFC 26, is settled on April 13-14 at The Grand Hồ Tràm Strip, one of Asia's premier leisure destinations.

Organisers hope the MAXFC 26 would be an opportunity for Vietnamese fighters to gain experience and sharpen their skills through matches against battle-hardened international opponents.

SEA Games champion Nguyễn Xuân Phương (right) will face South Korean Kwon Gi Seop in the men's 64kg.

There will be eight bouts featuring 16 fighters from Japan, China, South Korea, Australia, Chinese Taipei and four from Việt Nam.

The only women's match is between Việt Nam's seven-time champion Triệu Thị Phương Thủy and Choi Eun Ji of South Korea in the 52kg category.

Thủy is also the SEA Games' Kun Khmer martial art reigning champion while Choi has had 16 pro matches in which she won seven.

In the men's 54kg class, national star Huỳnh Văn Tuấn will fight Japanese rival Yo Toguchi.

Tuấn has dominated the national championships with six titles. He also pocketed two gold and one silver medal at the regional SEA Games along with many remarkable achievements in his 10 years with kickboxing.

Toguchi has recorded one win, one draw and one loss in his pro career.

SEA Games defending champion Nguyễn Xuân Phương will face South Korean Kwon Gi Seop in the men's 64kg.

It will be a competitive match as Phương has been national champion for many years. While 1.80m-tall Kwon has earned 16 wins in his 20 fights.

A poster of the Max Fighting Championship 26 which will take place next month in Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu Province.

The final Vietnamese fighter is Nguyễn Quang Huy who triumphed at the 31st SEA Games in the men's 60kg. He will be against Park Jae Won of South Korea, who has won eight in 12 pro matches.

The remaining fights will be between South Korean Kim Joon Hwa (13 wins, six losses) and Chinese Taipei Mu Wei Wen (nine wins, three losses) in the men's 75kg; Chinese Er Kang (29 wins, 11 losses) and Australian Cassidy Haberfield (14 wins) in the men's 67kg; South Korean Jang Bum Seok (six wins, two losses) and Australian Nick Atkins (31 wins, nine losses) in the men's 90kg; Chinese Miao Aoqi (15 wins, four losses) and South Korean Kin Chan (six wins, one loss) in the men's 65kg. — VNS