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Boxing
Lê Hữu Toàn is introduced WBA Asia minimum-weight champion on March 20, opening a brand new chapter in his profession. Images courtesy of Nam Trung
Thanh Hà
HÀ NỘI — As a younger boy, martial arts have been unusual and engaging to Lê Hữu Toàn, and he didn’t suppose twice about becoming a member of a newly opened vovinam (Vietnamese martial arts) membership in his distant village within the central highland province of Đắk Lắk.
Practising conventional martial arts for a decade, he by no means thought he would develop into an expert boxing athlete on prime of Asia and head out into the world.
On March 20, Toàn received the celebrated World Boxing Affiliation (WBA) Asia belt after defeating Thailand’s Kitidech Hirunsuk in a minimum-weight match in HCM Metropolis, a milestone in his boxing profession.
“I’m nonetheless on cloud 9 till at this time. I can’t sleep final evening due to my happiness,” Toàn instructed Việt Nam Information a day after his win.
“It’s the biggest feeling that I’ve ever had. So superb!”
Lê Hữu Toàn, a brand new champion of WBA Asia. — Picture courtesy of Lê Hữu Toàn
Toàn’s title is Việt Nam’s third such continental win in its historical past: Trương Đình Hoàng received the WBA Asia’s super-middleweight class in 2020, and Trần Văn Thảo secured the Asian World Boxing Council (WBC) belt within the tremendous flyweight division in 2017.
Proficient boxer
“My household stay in a district which is 20km removed from Buôn Mê Thuột Metropolis, however it’s arduous to get there, so there was nearly nothing to entertain for the youngsters. So when a vovinam coach got here to open a membership, my mother and father have been and registered for me. And I used to be over the moon,” Toàn mentioned.
“Martial arts made me extra assured, and I used to be not scared of being bullied anymore and improved my bodily power.”
Vietnamese Lê Hữu Toàn (proper) lands a punch on Thailand’s Kitidech Hirunsuk throughout their WBA Asia minimum-weight title match on March 20. — Picture courtesy of Nam Trung
5 years later, in 2012, the 19-year-old moved to HCM Metropolis, the place his vovinam fight expertise developed in tournaments across the metropolis.
He additionally tried completely different martial artwork kinds, together with kickboxing, sanshou and boxing. Progressively, he discovered that boxing was essentially the most appropriate kind for his skillset.
Toàn joined the Sài Gòn Sports activities Membership in 2019 to develop into an expert boxer. He helped sharpen his expertise, reworking from a wild-style to an iron-minded and decided fighter.
His diligence paid off when Toàn received the nationwide championship titles in 2020 and 2021 and acquired the WBA Asia likelihood to be a part of historical past.
“I used to be instructed concerning the match days after Tết (Lunar New Yr). I was shocked and nervous as a result of I’m new in skilled boxing,” Toàn mentioned.
In the course of the match, Toàn met challenges within the first rounds earlier than coming again to persuasively win a unanimous resolution.
“A match for a belt is completely different in comparison with the conventional one. We now have to struggle for 12 rounds as an alternative of six. So it’s actually powerful. Many individuals put their belief in me too. The stress was fairly excessive,” Toàn mentioned.
Vietnamese Lê Hữu Toàn (left) defeats Thai Kitidech Hirunsuk after 12 rounds unanimously and secures his WBA Asia minimum-weight title on March 20 in HCM Metropolis. — Picture courtesy of Nam Trung
Hirunsuk was youthful however a extra skilled athlete who had eight wins below his belt and 5 knock-out victories. The Thai additionally was taller and had longer arms.
“My coaches and I studied him fastidiously and made appropriate ways. I had to enhance my weaknesses,” mentioned Toàn, who beforehand received three matches with knockouts.
“It’s a profession milestone. It’s a prestigious belt, and I’m honoured to be the third individual within the nation to maintain an Asian title. This is an important one as a result of it marks my first step into Asia, and I hope I can go additional rapidly,” he mentioned.
Being the Asian champion, Toàn will quickly face challenges and defend his title in three to 6 months primarily based on the WBA Asia schedule.
“Time doesn’t anticipate anybody. I’ve to arrange myself prepared from now as a result of my coming rivals will likely be highly effective,” he mentioned.
Greater than a boxer
The 2-time nationwide champion additionally hopes to have an opportunity to make his second tour by means of the nation and lift folks’s consciousness of organ donation.
Throughout his cross-country tour, Lê Hữu Toàn meets many individuals and has an incredible expertise from locations he passes by. His message of organ donation is way appreciated. — Picture courtesy of Lê Hữu Toàn
Toàn signed a donation certificates after being impressed by a narrative from an unknown individual in 2016.
That man he met, Trần Nguyễn An Khương, was upset that his buddy died due to kidney failure whereas ready for a wholesome one to be donated, so he determined to take a tour of the nation to attraction to folks to affix the organ donation marketing campaign to save lots of lives.
“He may do it, so why couldn’t I?” Toàn requested himself.
He quickly started a tour from the South to the North, travelling by bike.
“My most important function was to find and expertise the attractive locations of the nation and be taught extra concerning the folks’s customs and habits. And I might additionally inform folks extra concerning the necessity and humanity of organ donation, which has not been extensively accepted,” Toàn mentioned.
“My journey introduced me a lot new information and understanding about pleasant folks, magnificent landscapes and scrumptious meals.
“Importantly, many individuals understood my message and strongly supported me all through the four-month journey of over 4,000km. I grew up on the journey and learnt many issues from folks on the best way.”
Lê Hữu Toàn makes mates with many individuals throughout the nation from his four-month 4,000km journey. — Picture countersy of Lê Hữu Toàn
4 years after that journey, Toàn mentioned he hopes he can someday find time for a second one.
“I hope my journey and sharing with others might be significant to the group. Everybody has one life. We should always make our lives price dwelling, and even after dying we are able to nonetheless assist folks,” he mentioned. — VNS
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