Nguyễn Văn Hải and Team Manny coach Thinh in the room just moments before the big fight with Chinese champ Xiao Tao Su.
Credit also to coach Alejandro Belonguel from VSP Boxing Gym, who was a great cornerman, but somehow missed the photo opportunity !
Congrats
to VSP boy Nguyễn Văn Hải for a polished performance in Ho Tram against the Chinese power puncher Xiao Tao Su on Saturday.
The win propelled the Hanoi Hitman to Vietnam #1, and jumped him over almost 500 other boxers in world rankings.
The Vietnam fighter has always been one of the best known in the amateur scene, and is now finally getting to make up for lost time in the professional ranks.
Vietnam's best boxer Nguyễn Văn Duong will meet Philippines champion Mark John Yap in an exhibition bout at VSP Gym in HCMC on May 27th.
The Vietnam star will likely be in excellent fitness for the proposed match, after havingthe benefits competing at the SEA Games in early May.
Philippines killer Mark John Yap will visit Vietnam for a training camp at VSP Gym, in preparation for a big fight this coming July. The winner of an incredible 32 professional bouts, Yap is a 3x OPBF champion in Japan, a country where he was unbeaten for three years prior to the pandemic. Mark John Yap is a dangerous task for the Vietnam fighter. His most recent win was in January, where he jumped two weight divisions and savagely knocked out the very durable Leonardo Doronio.
Take a trip down memory lane !
Hanoi Vietnam October 2019, and last night's big winner Nguyễn Văn Hải fights an exhibition bout with world title mandatory Charly Suarez.
Cracking bout showcasing two of Asia's best !!!
Van Hai, stepped into the ring this Saturday at the grand Ho Tram, to show the world again why he is called the Hanoi Hitman.
Representing Vietnam against China's Xiao Tao Su in the international line up, Van Hai won by majority decision: 76-76 77-75 77-75
The WBO youth Youth Title match was a night full of excitement.
Watch the full event stream here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EQcQu9xAMo
VSP champ Nguyễn Văn Hải had no troubles making today's "catchweight" for tomorrow's big event in Vung Tau.
Nguyễn Văn Hải 60.2kg was just slightly in advance of opponent Xiao Tao Su 60.1kg for at the weigh-in for their 10 round clash tomorrow.
Former national champion Hải (4-1) will have his hands full with his more credentialed Chinese rival (11-2) and a two times regional belt winner.
Philippines star boxer was celebrated by none other than President BongBong Marcos today at an awards ceremony in Manila.
Also acknowledged for their outstanding achievements were world champion boxers Melvin Jerusalem and Marlon Tapales.
Charly Suarez recently ventured to Australia to take on a man who VSP regarded as that country's best 130lb fighter - Paul "Showtime" Fleming.
The match was as exciting and dramatic as expected, with Suarez clinching victory courtesy of a last round knockout.
But despite the quality of that encounter, there are those in Australia less than convinced.
The feedback was that perhaps Fleming was "faded", that maybe Suarez got lucky, with even some there referring to the Philippines' best as a "cab driver !"
The overwhelming sentiment is that these two great fighters would be no match for a younger and more powerful Liam Wilson.
Queensland star Liam Wilson was responsible for the knockout of former top Philippines 130lb Joe Noynay, and despite a loss, consolidated his fearsome reputation with a cracking display against Emanuel Navarrete just recently.
In an ominous show of power, Wilson rag dolled Navarrete and became the first man in the world to drop the staunch WBO champ.
Impressive stuff, and for Wilson, there are surely big wins ahead.
But Charly Suarez is far and away the best boxer in the Philippines right now, so for Wilson, he represents another significant but exciting challenge.
So how about it NO LIMIT,
let's fight our two roosters and let's see who comes out victorious !!!!
This is a huge fight for Australia, and for sure, for betting shops, as everyone in the Philippines will be putting their cash on the "cab driver" from Davao !
Saturday April 22nd
"The Rising Stars" live from The Grand Ho Tram Resort and Casino. Nguyễn Văn Hải will star on this show.
Saturday May 27th
"VSP PRO" live from VSP Gym in Ho Chi Minh City.
Nguyễn Văn Duong and Philippines bodysnatcher Mark John Yap will star as the main event on a show that will feature Vietnam's up and comers.
The beautiful coastal strip of Vung Tau Vietnam plays host to a bevy of talented international boxers this coming Saturday.
Romeo Tenorio Jr of the Philippines will contest a 6 rounds battle with Korean Gun Kim.
The "Hanoi Hitman" Nguyễn Văn Hải will fast track his rise in the rankings if he is successful in the demise of Chinese dual belt winner Xiao Tao Su in an 8 round main undercard.
You can catch all the action here next Saturday night.
THE RISING STARS
The Grand Ho Tram Resort and Casino Vietnam
Saturday April 22nd
Romeo Tenorio Jr 51.9kg weighed in slightly heavier than his South Korean opponent Gun Kim 51.7kg for tomorrow night's undercard bout at Vung Tau.
Tenorio and Kim will contest a 6 round contest in the Super Flyweight category.
Philippines Romeo Tenorio Jr looked primed and ready at today's weigh in Vietnam for THE RISING STARS show.
"Yong" from the Elorde Davao stable has always shown ability, and his first outing after the pandemic, his win over Julius Bala was a promising return.
Gun Kim is a promising and rangy South Korean, who is 2-1 but perhaps unlucky not to be unbeaten. His loss to Jae Young Kim was by split decision, yet most good judges agree that he should have been awarded the victory.
The match is the first international foray for Romeo Tenorio, and is a great opportunity for the Philippines fighter to secure his 9th win.
ROMEO TENORIO JR v GUN KIM
The Grand Ho Tram Resort and Casino Vietnam
Saturday April 22nd
WATCH IT HERE LIVE !!!
The beautiful coastal strip of Vung Tau Vietnam plays host to a bevy of talented international boxers this coming Saturday.
Romeo Tenorio Jr of the Philippines will contest a 6 rounds battle with Korean Gun Kim.
The "Hanoi Hitman" Nguyễn Văn Hải will fast track his rise in the rankings if he is successful in the demise of Chinese dual belt winner Xiao Tao Su in an 8 round main undercard.
You can catch all the action here next Saturday night.
THE RISING STARS
The Grand Ho Tram Resort and Casino Vietnam
Saturday April 22nd
VSP strong man Nguyễn Văn Hải "the Hanoi Hitman" takes on China's rising star Xiao Tao "the Sadist" Su next Saturday at Ho Tram Vietnam.
Despite the greater experience of his Chinese rival (11-2), Nguyễn Văn Hải was upbeat :
"Every opportunity to fight is a blessing for me. I like to show my skills, and now that I am learning the differences of professional boxing, I also like to show my power.
I have had many fights in different sports, also in amateur boxing. I know to respect all opponents, because they have trained hard to win also. But I also know how to be ruthless, and the China fighter will find out next Saturday what it feels like to face a Vietnam fighter. I wish him good luck! "
Romeo Tenorio heads to Vung Tau to take on South Korean sharp shooter Gun Kim.
It's sure to be love at first sight !
The Grand Ho Tram Resort and Casino Vietnam
Saturday April 22nd
Nguyễn Văn Hải is revered as perhaps the most experienced multi discipline fighter in Vietnam - but he also lays claims to being pound for pound the strongest !
A man with a passion for physical fitness, Nguyễn Văn Hải went for close to three years without a boxing match, all the time training young pupils in Hanoi in various fight techniques. But a return to the ring last year in Manila against Jerald Into rekindled his love for the sport, and he has since scored two impressive pro wins.
VSP Boxing star Hải will be fighting the main undercard bout in Ho Tram Vietnam next weekend, and will be joined by young Philippines prospect Romeo "Yong" Tenorio, who gets his first taste of competition on foreign soil.
Nguyễn Văn Hải (4-1) takes on resuming top Chinese prospect Xiao Tao Su (11-2) over 8 rounds in what should be a thriller.
Asked his feelings on the bout, Hải was very enthusiastic:
" I am very excited to be able to do what I love once more. Each match for me is a gift.
I respect all opponents, but I plan to give him a welcome to Vietnam that the fans will love !
I know I will hurt him and plan to finish him "
Nguyễn Văn Hải v Xiao Tao Su (China)
8 rounds Lightweight 61kg
The Grand Ho Tram Resort and Casino Vietnam
Saturday April 22nd
Mark John Yap makes a guest appearance in Vietnam next month, when he introduces local champion and Olympian Nguyễn Văn Duong to his unique brand of violence.
The Philippines Romeo Tenorio Jr takes on the South Korean master blaster Gun Kim.
The Hanoi Hitman Nguyễn Văn Hải meets outstanding Chinese boxer Xiao Tao Su in what will definitely be no place for the faint hearted !
Lots of great international fight action in Vung Tau Vietnam this month !!
The fight card has been released!
The Grand Ho Tram Resort and Casino
Saturday April 22nd
Paul Fleming is arguably the most talented fighter that Australia has ever produced, and he carried an unbeaten record of 28-0 to the ring when he recently took on Charly Suarez in Sydney.
The Aussie champ put four titles on the line, and a world title eliminator was also up for grabs.
In what was a cracking contest, Fleming brought all his trademark energy and flair. The man known as "Showtime" is renowned for making great fights, his previous effort having been voted Australia's best of the year in 2022.
Suarez waits for notification from the Fleming team as to whether they wish to option a rematch clause in their contract.
The Hanoi Hitman Nguyễn Văn Hải is back April 22nd at Vung Tau !!
Philippines Romeo Tenorio will also appear on this card at The Grand Ho Tram Resort and Casino.
This is a clip from last year in Manila, where Hai took on hot unbeaten Lightweight prospect Jerald Into.
It was the Vietnam boxer's first time to see a boxing ring in more than 2 years, but it turned out to be a quality bout.
Hai has won both follow up engagements since this match, and is now 4-1 in the pro ranks.
Davao boxer Romeo "Yong" Tenorio is set to make a surprise ring return on April 22nd in Vietnam against a South Korean opponent.
Tenorio has been called in at late notice to battle Gun Kim, a young boxer with a 2 win and 1 loss record. The promising Korean had his original combatant succumb to injury, and Romeo has answered the call.
Yong was starting to put it together in the pro ranks, winning 4 of his last 5 bouts prior to a three year break courtesy of the pandemic. But he resumed in promising fashion in October 2022, beating Julius Bala by unanimous decision, and will be looking to impress in his foreign debut later this month.
Romeo Tenorio will fight Gun Kim at the Grand Ho Tram Resort and Casino on Saturday April 22nd.
Vietnam's Nguyễn Văn Hải and the Philippines Romeo Tenorio take on international opponents at The Grand Ho Tram Resort and Casino on April 22nd.
DUONG TO BATTLE PHILIPPINES CHAMP ?
Vietnam's premier fighter Nguyễn Văn Duong hasn't seen much ring time since the Olympics, and will make a return for the SEA Games in early May. But his lack of recent competition has many wondering if the Bac Ninh boxer still has what it takes to fight at the highest level.
Philippines champion Mark John Yap will visit Vietnam in May for a training camp, and former 3X OPBF titleholder is open to working with the local talent while he is here.
A winner of 32 professional fights, Yap tore the heart out of Japan's feared Bantamweight division, going unbeaten in 10 fights over a 3 year period. His most recent fight was in January of this year, where he jumped two weight classes and knocked out former Manny Pacquiao sparring mate Leonardo Doronio.
Asked whether he would be open to an exhibition bout whilst he is in Vietnam, potentially against a killer like Nguyễn Văn Duong, the Philippines star smiled and said :
" Sure, why not, it sounds like a lot of fun ! Let's make it happen !! "
