Way of the Champions: 25-second knockout and long-awaited pro comeback in Hong Kong boxers’ clean sweep in Bangkok
- Raymond Poon lands knockout victory as he makes good on his pre-fight promise in first pro bout in over four years
- Lee Ka-wing also wins by a stunning knockout, while his fellow debutant Saagar Pradhan sees off his Thai opponent
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His compatriots Saagar Pradhan and Lee Ka-wing also emerged victorious as they made their pro debuts at the event at Spaceplus in the RCA Plaza, completing a clean sweep for Hong Kong’s Verano Boxing Club against their Thai opponents.
Poon – who since 2019 had been restricted to two amateur fights amid Covid-19 closures and contractual issues – had indicated in advance he had no intention of going the full six rounds in his light-flyweight bout with Thailand’s Phet Singmanatsak.
And the Hongkonger was quick to deliver on his promise, as he landed the knockout punch one minute and 16 seconds into the opening round.
“Here I am among the pro boxing ranks again finally – it’s just so different from amateur boxing,” Poon said after improving his pro record to eight wins and two losses. “I am pleased I took my chance to end the bout in the first round.
“I always observe my opponent in the first round, try to get them to throw more punches so that I can get a sense of their style.
“My sparring partners have been mostly southpaw since I started boxing at 19, so I knew Singmanatsak’s defence was not that good when he switched to his left hand. I grabbed the opportunity to land a punch on his chin.”
Since losing to Li Xiang in May 2019 for the vacant WBO youth light-flyweight belt, Poon had defeated Dylan Yiu Tat-fai in a 2021 exhibition, and won a dominant decision win over Orkhontungalag Unubold of Mongolia at the Ultimate Extreme Fight event in Hong Kong in January.
Poon said he was determined to schedule another fight before the turn of the year.
“Jake [Verano, Poon’s coach since 2016] planned to have another fight in November,” the 27-year-old said. “So I’d probably take some time off for now, and start training again in August.
“A fight in either October or November would be great. I am so eager to get back in the ring.”
Lee won his bantamweight bout in style, knocking out his opponent Pobtham Julla after just 25 seconds. It was Lee’s debut fight as a pro after a decade as an amateur.
“In professional bouts, it’s all about strength, while in amateur you aim to score points,” he said.
“I did not expect the victory to come so easily, but I am happy to be able to carry out what my coach asked me to, because it shows I can put aside my previous habits [as an amateur] and move on to achieving my goals as a professional.”
By contrast, his fellow pro debutant Pradhan had to go all the way before being awarded a unanimous decision victory over Naphat Chowanklang in their welterweight fight – held, like Lee’s bout, over four rounds.
The 21-year-old, who was born in Hong Kong to Nepalese parents, said he was happy that his “hard work has paid off”, but had learned what he will have to do better in future.
“The most difficult, challenging part is the pacing and timing compared with amateur boxing,” he said. “I feel that what I did very well was using my jab to keep him off and try to counter, keeping him at a distance.
“But I feel like what could have been better was my pacing – there were times when I hurt my opponent and I could have got him out of there if I had pushed the pace.
“This is a matter of experience and I have got some great experience in this first pro fight.”
