Chinese boxing fighter Yang Lian Hui has pledged to take home the vacant International Boxing Federation junior welterweight world title in a showdown at the Venetian Macao against his undefeated Argentinian rival Cesar “El Distinto” Cuenca tomorrow night.
During a pre-fight press conference yesterday, Yang, also known as IK Yang, declared proudly that his hope of winning the world title as the country’s second professional boxer would surely become a reality. “I’m so sure that I can tell you all, I will keep the gold belt in China,” said the 30-year-old fighter.
Following the March bout at the same locale where he defeated Thailand’s Patomsuk Pathompothong with a sixth-round TKO, Yang (18-0, 13 KOs) became the No. 2 contender with an unbeaten record, putting him in line to fight against the undefeated No. 1 contender, Cuenca (46-0, 2 KOs), in the world championship fight. He said, “After several months of effort, I will enjoy my own time tomorrow, in my own show.”
Determined to return to Los Angeles with a world title, Yang believes that his efforts over the past three months will easily make the goal a reality, despite his opponent being only three victories away from Rocky Marciano’s all-time record. “This is how I see it: to train the simplest is best, and this is my trump,” said Lian Hui. “A warrior who goes to the battlefield unconfident should be told this: to survive, you’ve got to be confident.”
He added: “Basically the training is much the same, but more compact and intensified [in preparation] for Saturday’s fight.”
Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach will not be in Yang’s corner tomorrow due to personal health issues. Instead, Justin Fortune, an Australian and former heavyweight known for lasting five rounds against the great Lennox Lewis, will be there to offer advice. Furthermore, he dismissed Cuenca’s threat, saying that “2 KOs in 47 fights” proved his inability to even “break an egg.”
In response to the must-win remarks, the 34-year-old Argentinian boxer countered: “I believe he’s supposed to say that after the fight. I wanna count all the mistakes he’ll make.” He added that the training he has been undertaking has been power- and speed-oriented, which he believes could overwhelm Yang.
Some Chinese netizens have been speculating over whether the confident Chinese boxer would upgrade himself into a higher weight division if he won the championship, allowing him to match up against other world-famous fighters. However, Yang expressed his satisfaction with his current weight and downplayed the possibility. “I don’t consider or plan on this. I just focus on what comes into my eyesight. Regarding the future contests or tomorrow’s challenges, I would just solve them one by one without giving too much thought,” he said. Staff reporter
Roach’s absence
Yang’s trainer, Freddie Roach, also employed by Zou Shiming, suffers from Parkinson’s disease, and has long-standing issues with his back that requires surgery. His absence from tomorrow’s fight is due to his surgeon’s advice that rigorous long-haul flying would cause harm to his back. Yang Lian Hui pleged yesterday that he will win in honour of his absent Hall of Fame coach.
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