Hong Kong boxer Raymond Poon Kai-ching’s stated his bid to reclaim the now vacant WBC Asian continental mild flyweight identify was once simply “a stepping stone” towards achieving a larger objective.
The 27-year-old boxer will step into the hoop later Thursday at Bangkok’s Spaceplus within the RCA Plaza to tackle Wichet Sengprakhon of Thailand.
However for Poon, in lieu than viewing his first 10-round struggle in additional than 4 years as a way of showcasing his abilities locally as soon as once more, he sees it as a chance to gauge himself in opposition to the most productive on the earth.
“Is it a win or loss versus Sengprakhon next week, how many rounds do I need and is it a knockout?” Poon stated. “This fight can tell my distance from the top of the world.
“The ultimate goal is to challenge the world, a former champion at least if not the current one, but I am not content with a local or Asian title.”
With 28 bouts to his title, veteran boxer Sengprakhon, who at 155cm (5ft 1in) is the shortest opponent Poon has ever confronted, has a certified report of 15 wins 12 loses and one draw.
The 35-year-old former Muay Thai champion was once knocked out within the first around through former global champion Hekkie Budler of South Africa, who upcoming misplaced his later struggle to the tide global champion Kenshiro Teraji of Japan in a ninth-round knockout in September.
Status at 1.63 metres (5ft 4in), orthodox boxer Poon isn’t any stranger to the WBC continental light-flyweight belt, having gained and defended it in 2018, earlier than dropping all of it to Li Xiang of China on the Hong Kong Conference and Exhibition Centre in Would possibly 2019.
“I want to test myself in a 10-rounder again to see if I am back to my peak stamina,” he stated. “I am sure my power, technique and mentality are better than I was in 2019 but I have to prove it in the ring.”
Poon admitted his defeat to Li had haunted him for greater than a 12 months, and he even nervous it might carry a unexpected finish to his skilled occupation.
“This fight means a lot to me, it’s a chance to reclaim what I had lost,” he stated. “I expect a tough fight but one I can manage.”
Poon, who first fought professionally seven years in the past, is aware of a 2d alternative can also be dry to come back through, so is doing all he can to spice up his possibilities of successful.
“I had a breathing coach joining me recently,” he stated. “Brian Lai taught me how to ready my body before training through inhaling, holding my breath and exhaling.
“It’s not any boxing skills, but it helped me calm down and sleep better.”
Additionally representing Hong Kong’s Verano Boxing Membership on the “Way of the Champions: Fight to Survive” match is Saagar Pradhan, in his 2d skilled struggle.
Pradhan is taking up Myanmar fighter Oo Win-tun in his first six-round middleweight bout.
“My first fight was a four-rounder in June so it’s progress,” stated the 22-year-old, who was once born in Hong Kong to Nepalese oldsters. “I’ve spent [all of] August in a training camp in the Philippines, working on my defence, skills, power and fitness.”
Pradhan, who held a 6-1-0 novice report earlier than turning professional, added that he was hoping to get extra fights beneath his belt earlier than combating for a regional identify.
