Hanoi (VNA) – Boxer Nguyen Van Duong is proud to be headingto Tokyo next year after defeating the renowned Chatchai-decha Butdee from Thailandin the Olympics qualifiers in Jordan in March, quenching Vietnam’s 32-yearthirst for its next boxer to attend the world’s largest sporting event.

The country has longed for something like this tohappen since boxers Dang Hieu Hien and Do Tien Tuan both competed at the SeoulGames in 1988 as wild cards.

Sweet revenge

Unseeded Duong started his fight against third-seeded Butdeelike a hurricane, showering his opponent with a slew of fast and powerful jabsthat left his Thai rival gasping for air. In the first 47 seconds of the openinground he floored the Thai famous boxer twice, giving him an automatic victory underthe new rules of the tournament.

This earned him a bronze in the men’s featherweight category(52-57kg) and an all-important Olympic berth. It was such sweet revenge, as hewas beaten by Butdee himself in the SEA Games finals last year.

“He was not at his peak, as his previous match wasquite tiring,” Duong humbly told the Vietnam News Agency. “I lack his experience,so I told myself I had to knock him out to not lose.

“The victory means a great deal to me. It’s like a bigstaircase leading me to new heights and taking me to a much larger arena.”

But the Olympic berth did not come as easily as it mayseem, as the road to success has been quite a long odyssey for the toughfighter.

Small but lethal

Duong is smaller than most boxers. From northern BacGiang province, he looked nothing like an Olympian-in-waiting when he discoveredthe sport of boxing in 2009 at the age of 13,weighing just 32 kg and standing shorter than average.

“I went with my cousin to a boxing class the PublicSecurity team in Hanoi held,” Duong said. “They initially said no because of mystature, but Coach Nguyen Anh Dung saw my effort and qualities so gave me achance.”

His parents were concerned about him when he firstbegan to box. “But they never made it too hard for me,” he said. “They didn’t pushme to do what they wanted, and were always supportive of my decision to box.”

Duong said there was a time, in 2012, when he wantedto give up boxing, after suffering successive losses. Believing he and boxingwere “not meant to be”, he did indeed quit.

“But after just a week I couldn’t stand it anymore, andcalled my mum to say I was going back to Hanoi for training.”

“It’s your decision,” she replied. “You have to do thebest you can.”

“And I eventually made it!”


Duong claimed three titles at junior nationalchampionships and two others at open tournaments in the featherweight category beforejoining the national team in 2015.

He won a silver at the SEA Games in the Philippineslast December, and has grabbed three wins by points in three semi-professionalbouts and won by knockout in his only professional bout. Duong also fought in anumber of international events, including Victory 8.

Legendary Australian trainer Dave Hedgcock called Duonga “natural born killer.” “He’s something special,” Hedgcock said.

The Vietnamese fighter idolises Canelo Alvarez, aMexican boxer best known for his superior offensive skills and described as an “unstoppabletank”.

There is a common misperception that weighs heavilyupon Duong – that boxers are as dangerous and aggressive outside the ring asthey are in it.

“That stereotype is completely wrong,” Duong said.“People don’t know me as a person. They only know I’m a skilled fighter and thinkthat I love showing off my skills.”

“Though I’ve been doing this for many years now, I don’tget into fights easily. It’s just not cool to hit others or be hit.”

“Inside the ring, I can be a combative warrior. I havehad many coaches and they all told me I look like I’m about to kill someonewhen I step into the ring. But in real life, I’m just a normal person – cheerful,friendly, and actually quite gentle.”

“My mum sometimes teases me that I would make a goodhen-pecked husband,” he said with a laugh.

Sticking to the goal

The on-going COVID-19 outbreak has forced most sportingevents into a hold, but Duong has managed to stick to a tight training scheduleof six days a week.

A normal day starts at 6am, training with coaches.As boxing is one of the most physically-demanding sports, there are long sessionsof running and weight-lifting in the morning, to help him increase his enduranceand strength.

In the afternoon, he focuses on shadow boxing andheavy bag work, and studies the technical side of things.

For Duong, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics being moved to nextyear is good news. “I think it is good for me because I will have more time tosharpen my skills, like speed, strength, and tactics,” he said.

“There is one more year to go, so I’m working extrahard on technique and tactics right now.”

“I will give my best shot. Every match will be a finalfor me.”

“My greatest strength is that I am more determinedthan others.”/.