In her first professional fight on Saturday night female pugilist Tang Choi Ieng was knocked down in the first round but came back to win the four bout competition at Macau Boxing House in Fat Lei Industrial Building in Areia Preta.
In front of an usually sparse but vocal crowd Tang, Macau’s first professional female boxer studying for her master’s degree in Physical Education at the Macau Polytechnic Institute (IPM), overcame the first round knockdown by opponent Qiu Li Chen to win the fight 36-39, 38-37, 38-37.
There were six bouts on the card on Saturday, which saw fighters from Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Zhuhai as well as two from Macau in the “Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area Professional Boxing Competition II”.
Macau’s other representative on the night was Ho Chon Pong who also won his fight.
‘Knew fight was mine’
Speaking to The Macau Post Daily after the fight Tang, holding an ice pack on the bruises on her cheeks said, “I am very happy, even though it is painful, to have won the fight”.
When asked what she thought when she was knocked down in the first round Tang said, “After the knockdown I knew I had the ability and that I am not that bad and that I am better than her [Qiu] so I had to get up.”
As the fight progressed it was obvious that Tang was the stronger boxer so when asked when she knew that the fight was hers Tang said, “I realised that the fight was mine after I was knocked down and that I needed to come back.”
Tang had a lot of supporters who were chanting her name and cheering every point scored to help her keep landing punches.
When asked want she wanted to do next Tang said, “I want to challenge more fights and have more high quality competition.”
Tang said that her advice to any other ladies thinking of taking up boxing was, “I encourage them to take the first step if they have a slight interest and then try the basic level of competitions [amateur] and then as they get better and better go for better competitors.”
‘Sport gives you confidence’
Tang said “Sport makes you confident and of course in boxing you need that, the confidence leads to better technique, power and endurance as you must be brave to get into the ring.”
Tang added” I want to say thanks to my coach and all the team at Macao Boxing House for having faith in me.”
Confident of Tang’s career in boxing
Tang’s trainer Cheong Wai was grinning from ear to ear when The Macau Post Daily spoke to him. “I am very, very happy, she [Tang] has so much potential. I am confident that in her future career in boxing she will do really well, because after she was knocked down in the first round, she recovered very fast and it was her first pro fight. She has great potential to do well.”
Cheong went on to say, “I want to let more and more people see the growth of our local boxers.”
Tang Choi Ieng (right) punches her opponent Qiu Li Chen at Macau Boxing House in Fat Lei Industrial Building in Areia Preta on Saturday night.
Photos: Lesley Wells
Tang Choi Ieng right poses with her trophy and trainer Cheong Wai after her fight at Macau Boxing House in Fat Lei Industrial Building in Areia Preta on Saturday night.
