The fight I was particularly interested in watching was the main event -- Korea's very own Park Ji Hyun against Hungry's Krisztina Belinsky. I've followed Ji Hyun's professional boxing career for a couple of years now, ever since I saw her fight in 2008. In 2009 we fought on the same fight card out in Bucheon and I remember her wishing me good luck in the changeroom.
Ji Hyun's opponent was a boxer from Hungry, Krisztina, and I talked to her and her coach staff prior to the fight. It's always a strange situation for me when I'm greeted by foreign female boxers fighting in Korea because I know all too well what it means to be the outsider fighting a fight that feels like everyone in the stadium wants you to lose. I'm no longer feel like the foreign female pro boxer in Korea though because I've made it my business to make my face and name known in Korea's boxing community. I always make it my priority when I first arrive to watch a fight to greet the various judges and boxing commission members I know and then I tour the space to greet the fellow boxers and coaches whom I've met before. And I've always got a pocket full of my boxing business cards to hand out if the occassion should come up. So I no longer feel out of place at these kind of events but instead feel right at home. Mind ya, I always feel so pumped up and hyper watching live bouts. Sometimes I'm convinced I'd jump right in the ring if only they'd let me. Watching live bouts definitely acts as an in-your-face reminder that I love boxing. I love being inside the ring!!!
Anyways, back to today's main match -- Ji Hyun and Krisztina.
Krisztina didn't speak much English so I chatted for a bit with her main coach. She seemed confident about going into the match and I was eager to be there to watch. Both Ji Hyun and Krisztina weighed-in at 46kgs but both looked equally jacked! When I came out of Krisztina's dressing room I told Snickers, "If I had a ripped body like that, dang, I'd be naked 24/7!" Of course I was just joking but I couldn't help but be totally in aww of their awesome, incredibly fit condition. These fighters definitely came to fight.
It was a good fight but not as exciting as I had anticipated it being. I'm not too sure if it was nerves or what but the ref had to tell both fighters to actually fight. In the first round or so both boxers just weren't throwing so many punches. The action really heated up though and the crowd was loving it! Side note here -- Koreas are very respectful fans in that you'll never hear one of them booing the opponent or shouting out nasty comments like "Go home" or "You suck". I definitely have to commend them for that!!!
In the sixth round Ji Hyun won by TKO and the crowd went crazy! Honestly, though I felt bad for Krisztina because of being able to empathize with her situation, I couldn't help but feel proud of Ji Hyun. Korean girls may not being the typical girls I'd ever hang out with back in Canada but those of them who turn into professioinal boxers are surely a breed of their own. Unlike in Canada or where ever where a tough girl working out is considered sexy and envied, here in Korea these Korean female boxers meet so many obstacles that so many others will never have to deal with let alone could ever really understand the full extent of what I'm talking about.
I may not be Korean but I'm a professional boxer living in Korea, married to a Korean man -- a Korean male boxer, so I'm constantly facing obstacles and opposing opinions about what both myself and my husband are doing stepping into the ring. And if I think I have it bad, dang, I would never want to be a Korean female in boxing, so major props to Park Ji Hyun for going against all the social norms, expectations and obstacles she must face on a daily occurance in order to do what she loves -- to box.
After the fight I talked to both opponents. I hugged Krisztina and even ended up giving a hug to Ji Hyun's mother who I had spotting crying during the live fight. I also had to sit down with the IFBA President to go over the rules and expectations of what it means to supervise a fight so that was the next thing on my agenda for the day. When the IFBA President left the building she handed me the IFBA champion belt, telling me to hold on to it until I go to supervise the fight in July, and then I scored a "Western hug". Every time I see the IFBA President in Korea, we exchange a warm Western hug to say goodbye, something that's become a kind of inside joke but sweet parting.
QUESTION OF THE DAY...
What do you give up to do what you love?
QUOTE OF THE DAY...
Just do it.
-- Nike
1 comment:
Hi Amy,
I actually heard about that fight that Ji Hyun and Kristina were going to have but didn't know who won etc. That's good that the Korean girl won. I'd rather see a TKO than a total knockout because at least maybe the girl is standing and can be judged if she can go on or not. When I spar with Shauna I usually know when I've had enough or given and eight count to see if I can shake it off. I think it makes sense right? I'm glad you visited with both boxers and that was nice of you. It's good you empathized with Kristina. It's always tough to lose but that is just part of the sport, right? :)
Good pictures too.
Beth
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