Hong Kong boxer Poon WBC title will lead to global recognition

Hong Kong boxer Raymond Poon Kai-ching’s said his bid to reclaim the now vacant WBC Asian continental light flyweight title was just “a stepping stone” toward reaching a bigger goal.

The 27-year-old boxer will step into the ring next Thursday at Bangkok’s Spaceplus in the RCA Plaza to take on Wichet Sengprakhon of Thailand.

But for Poon, rather than viewing his first 10-round fight in more than four years as a means of showcasing his skills regionally once again, he sees it as an opportunity to gauge himself against the best in the world.

“Is it a win or loss versus Sengprakhon next week, how many rounds do I need and is it a knockout?” Poon said. “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 name, veteran boxer Sengprakhon, who at 155cm (5ft 1in) is the shortest opponent Poon has ever faced, has a professional record of 15 wins 12 loses and one draw.

The 35-year-old former Muay Thai champion was knocked out in the first round by former world champion Hekkie Budler of South Africa, who then lost his next fight to the current world champion Kenshiro Teraji of Japan in a ninth-round knockout in September.

Standing at 1.63 metres (5ft 4in), orthodox boxer Poon is no stranger to the WBC continental light-flyweight belt, having won and defended it in 2018, before losing it all to Li Xiang of China at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in May 2019.

“I want to test myself in a 10-rounder again to see if I am back to my peak stamina,” he said. “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 more than a year, and he even worried it would bring a sudden end to his professional career.

“This fight means a lot to me, it’s a chance to reclaim what I had lost,” he said. “I expect a tough fight but one I can manage.”

Poon, who first fought professionally seven years ago, knows a second opportunity can be hard to come by, so is doing all he can to boost his chances of winning.

“I had a breathing coach joining me recently,” he said. “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.”

Also representing Hong Kong’s Verano Boxing Club at the “Way of the Champions: Fight to Survive” event is Saagar Pradhan, in his second professional fight.

Pradhan is taking on 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,” said the 22-year-old, who was born in Hong Kong to Nepalese parents. “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 amateur record before turning pro, added that he hoped to get more fights under his belt before fighting for a regional title.