Vietnamese boxer knocks Bangladeshi opponent out in 12 seconds

Before the lightweight (61 kg) fight on Saturday night, Motalib was in great form with five consecutive wins, including two victories by knockout. Hai, who has won the national championship for 14 consecutive times, also had five wins in six professional fights.

At the official weigh-in before the fight in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province that borders HCMC, Motalib tried to provoke Hai by standing in front of him and blocking his view during the press conference. But Hai kept his composure.

There was not much to say about the fight as 12 seconds in, Hai threw a powerful and staggering right hook that immediately floored Motalib. The referee stopped the fight and gave a knockout win to Hai. This is his third knockout win after seven professional fights.

Another Vietnamese boxer, Sam Minh Phat, had quite an opposite fight when he lost to China number one DianXing Zhu by technical knockout at the minimumweight (48 kg) class. Zhu is currently the WBC Asia belt holder and has won eight, including seven by knockout, in nine professional fights.

Sam Minh Phat (L) in the fight with DianXing Zhu at WBO Global Prelude on July 15, 2023. Photo by Cocky Buffalo

After eight rounds of struggling with Zhu’s powerful combo, Phat could not continue as he collapsed in the ninth round. Zhu won by technical knockout and claimed a spot in the WBO international belt fight.

In another fight, the 17-year-old Vietnamese-Korean boxer Lee Juyeong won by technical knockout against Indonesia’s 36-year-old boxer Dedy Imprax, who could not continue after three rounds.