Local star Raymond Poon wants to silence the haters in We Are Champs comeback bout – ‘boxing is still alive’

Raymond Poon Kai-ching has a message for all the naysayers ahead of his star-studded boxing comeback next weekend, some two years after losing his last bout for the world youth title.

Previously touted as local hero Rex Tso Sing-yu’s successor, the 25-year-old (professional boxing record 7-2, 4 KOs) is finally back in the ring – no thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic – to co-headline the inaugural We Are Champs combat fighter-online celebrity crossover exhibition at Kowloon Bay’s Star Hall on September 18.

Poon faces a familiar foe in Muay Thai specialist Dylan Yiu Tat-fai (professional Muay Thai record 23-5, 2 KOs), who is set for his second boxing outing – his debut was a heavily disputed split-decision win over Poon in 2017. Three-time national Muay Thai champion Yiu had also beaten Poon at amateur level years earlier.

“I joined this event for the opponent. I’ve lost twice to Yiu Tat-fai – I have to go against him for the third time to show I can pass him,” Tin Shui Wai-native Poon said, no longer bitter about the scorecards from their last encounter.

“After the pro loss, people said ‘Raymond is too [tense]’ and ‘Raymond is not good at fighting people with experience’. I just want to shut them up and show I can handle this and win the fight.”

Poon suffered his second-ever pro loss at the hands of Li Xiang of China via unanimous decision two years later. The missed opportunity to lift a historic youth world title was particularly painful given that it was in front of a home crowd.

“After that loss, I realised the win or loss isn’t the most important for me. It’s about enjoying every moment in the ring. My mind has become more open and my punching more technical. Before, I gave myself too much pressure. Now, I’m comfortable,” he said.

Poon said he was doing 12 rounds of sparring, three times a week for the title fight, but has cut it down to two eight-round sessions per week ahead of the Yiu trilogy bout. He explained why he has had just two pro fights in nearly four years – the We Are Champs bout will not count despite it being the regulation three-minute rounds, no headgear, eight-ounce gloves and official judges.

“I really want to come back [properly] but for Hong Kong professional boxing, it’s not the boxers who control the fights or make the events. But I will still keep fighting if anyone wants me to fight in Hong Kong or any other country. I’m ready and I welcome it,” he said.

And as if it were written in the stars, his boxing hero, former WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO top 10-ranked super flyweight Tso (22-0, 13 KOs) is also making a comeback after years of inactivity. Upon bowing out of the Tokyo 2020 Games qualifiers 18 months ago, “Wonder Kid” Tso returned as an amateur to the National Games only to be eliminated in the round of 16 on Friday.

Tso was the reason Poon started the sport in the first place. Aged 18 and “never good at sports or studying”, he was inspired to put on his first pair of gloves after watching the Hong Kong icon on YouTube.

“I’m so happy to see Rex come back after he couldn’t get a ticket for the Tokyo Olympics. His first fight was OK, but the second I could feel he put a little bit too much pressure on himself – like when I was fighting for the world youth title. I’m really happy to see him continue his career,” Poon said of the man nine years his senior.

“I don’t really want to look beyond my opponent, but I want to get more experience because in Hong Kong I’ve already fought all the fighters in my division. I’ve fought the Hong Kong champion and sparred with other former champions. It’s a little bit boring if you know them already. I hope to go abroad and fight with more people – stronger people – and keep myself improving and focused on every fight.

“In the future, I think amateurs have more opportunities in Hong Kong boxing. People are more focused on sport, so I hope boxers can get better training and more results than before. I hope more people watch the sport, and with so many fans for this event, I want people to see what boxing is.

“[To remind them] that boxing is still there – it’s still alive.”

We Are Champs 2021 is headlined by a clash between HKEsports founder Derek Cheung and lawyer-turned-influencer Joseph Lam Chok. Other bouts include multiple national Muay Thai champions Ng King-chung vs Kenneth Lee Kam-lam; local Muay Thai legends Stuart Chin Sze-kit and Li Yiu-tung squaring off; YouTuber Jason Chau taking on Boyz band member Steven Cheung Chi-hang; and social media app 17 Live stars Kathy and Ollie going toe-to-toe.