Local star Raymond Poon wants to silence the haters in We Are Champs comeback bout – ‘boxing is still alive’
- The 25-year-old hopes third time’s a charm against former Muay Thai champion Yiu
- Poon reflects on world youth title shot upset, seeking inspiration from Rex Tso, and the city’s boxing future
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.”