This is a review article written after watching the broadcast.
'You Quiz on the Block' returning Choi Hong-man said he never retired and announced his return as a fighter.
On the May 5 broadcast of the tvN entertainment show 'You Quiz on the Block' (hereinafter 'You Quiz'), in a special episode titled "endless struggle," mixed martial arts fighter Choi Hong-man appeared and was shown mentioning his return as a fighter.
After retiring from ssireum and successfully entering K-1, Choi Hong-man rose in popularity after defeating Bob Sapp and received an annual salary of 2 billion won. After that, he reached the peak of his career by filming consecutive commercials while traveling between Korea and Japan, but in 2008 he suddenly disappeared, drawing attention.
Choi Hong-man said, "I had a health check and a tumor was found in my brain. I underwent surgery at the doctor's recommendation," and added, "At the time I had a contract, so I returned to the ring after three months. I couldn't break the contract. I wasn't in good condition. And I was mentally exhausted."
He continued, "I fought Bada Hari. The decision wasn't made until the third round, so I gave up the overtime. I was anxious, in case. I wasn't in pain," he recalled.
Afterward, Choi Hong-man, who said he received fierce criticism, said, "There were so many comments like 'why don't you finish it' and 'aren't you doing it properly.' They didn't know my circumstances," and complained, "When I won matches people cheered a lot, but when I lost they made up things and cursed me. That kept piling up in my mind."
In the end, he lost as much as 20kg because of malicious comments and began avoiding people. Choi Hong-man explained, "It hurt me. I wondered, 'Should I stop exercising now?' I became more withdrawn," revealing the reason for his disappearance.
He explained, "When I walked and people came from the opposite side, I always felt like they were talking about me. When I went to crowded places I felt anxious. It became so serious that people around me told me to see a doctor, but I didn't even want to go to the hospital. I would have to face people. As it kept piling up, I thought I should avoid it for a while."
About why he came back to the world after living alone away from people for nine years, he said, "There were many people who supported me from time to time. Because many people waited for me and wanted me to fight, after much consideration I decided to return."
Thus, returning to the domestic stage after 10 years, Choi Hong-man won a decision against a Japanese fighter in his comeback match, but at the same time he heard news that his mother was critically ill.
Choi Hong-man said, "After the match my father contacted me. He said my mother was very ill. I didn't know until then. I think my father deliberately hid it. I went to Jeju right away and met my mother. Her breast cancer had metastasized and she was in critical condition."
Shocked by his mother's changed appearance when they met again after two years, Choi Hong-man said, "She had lost so much weight and looked like a different person. It was embarrassing to see with my own eyes. Because of chemotherapy she had probably shaved her head. It was shocking."
Above all, he said, "My mother watched my match and said, 'Don't live your life stressed from now on.' She closed her eyes after saying that," and he became teary with longing.
Meanwhile, Choi Hong-man officially declared he had never retired, saying, "I am exercising steadily now. My condition has been the best recently. I really want to have a final retirement match. My dream is to have a retirement match in top condition," drawing attention.
He added, "While I was away, Seo Jang-hoon and Ha Seung-jin took the title of giant. I'm the original. My goal is to return to my spot."
[Photo] 'You Quiz on the Block' broadcast screen capture
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