Dinh Hong Quan beat Filipino boxer
Before the match at The Grand Ho Tram, Hong Quan received a shock when he was stripped of the IBF Asian championship belt due to being overweight compared to the regulations. In addition, having to lose up to 13 kg, from 74 kg to 61 kg to fight at Lightweight, the physical strength of the host boxer was more or less affected.
However, he still played hard with the mental strength of the home fans, and put the match in a tug-of-war. With his movement speed and quick attack ability, Arnel Baconaje unleashes many good straight punches. In addition, the Filipino puncher often dodged attacks and scored effective counterattacks. Hong Quan responded with a number of backhand strikes that hit the opponent's chin.
At the end of the second half, Hong Quan launched a precise combo that forced Baconaje into the corner. In the next round, he continued to press the opponent, but also received a heavy blow, especially the left hook.
In a tit-for-tat battle, two boxers entered a physical battle. Baconaje prevails when the Red Army is weakened, slowing its movement speed. However, the host boxer still had times to excite the audience with a series of counterattacks with a straight punch that made Baconaje falter and lose the initiative. Filipino boxers are sometimes inhibited and hit the wrong way.
After 12 rounds, Hong Quan won the final consensus score with the score of 114-113, 114-113 and 116-112 from three international referees. This result cost Baconaje the chance to become the champion, and the IBF belt was vacated.
Other Vietnamese boxers also won important victories at yesterday's event. Nguyen Van Hai, who won eight national gold medals and three SEA Games silver medals, knocked out Indonesian opponent Paisal Panjaitan at the end of the third round. Phan Minh Quan (23 years old) first entered professional boxing, winning a technical knockout in the third round against veteran Filipino boxer Mark John Yap, who had 31 victories after 48 fights. Similarly, Le Hoang Hiep (22 years old) first appeared on the professional boxing floor with a former WBO Asia-Pacific belt holder Jetro Pabustan (Philippines).
