The time when everyone's curiosity is answered is approaching. I AM BOXER comes to viewers with the beauty and authenticity of boxing.
tvN's new variety program I AM BOXER is a massive blockbuster boxing survival show personally designed by global action star and 30-year boxing gym owner Ma Dong-seok to revive K-boxing. Producer Lee Won-woong, who directed The Iron Squad, and writer Kang Sook-kyung, who was active on Physical: 100, have reunited to deliver a heated survival on the ring.
The scale befitting a massive blockbuster boxing survival is a viewing highlight: collaboration with art director Lee Young-joo, who created sets for Physical: 100 and Culinary Class Wars, collaboration with the country's top experts on boxing rings, and the use of a 1,000-pyeong set where the main matches take place and a 500-pyeong boxing gym set amplify the fun of watching. In particular, the final winner will receive a prize of 300 million won, a champion belt, and a luxury SUV.
Notably, former Tongyang champion Kim Min-wook; Kim Dong-hoe, who won 14 consecutive national athletic meet titles; national athletic meet gold medalist Guk Seung-jun and Lee Chae-hyun of the Military Athletic Corps; action actor Jang Hyuk, who dreams of becoming a boxer; Korea's first UFC light heavyweight fighter Jung Da-woon; and UDT veteran and visual artist Yook Joon-seo are all listed in the I AM BOXER lineup.
By now people are curious. It's the kind of thing like "If A and B fight, who would win?" I AM BOXER opened recruitment to anyone who loves boxing regardless of age, weight class, or experience. According to writer Kang Sook-kyung, who scratched at their first meeting with Ma Dong-seok saying "Isn't there a reason some sports are unpopular?" about 2,000 people applied, from elementary school students to those born in 1964.
Applicants who met Ma Dong-seok and the coaches through selection did not give up even after being notified that there could be matches with weight-class differences. Even though some matches had differences of more than 20 kg, participants climbed into the ring bravely, fueled by a spirit of challenge, and reportedly produced surprising results.
Ma Dong-seok said, "When someone who reached the top in one sport faces someone who has done boxing all their life, that curiosity is resolved." Kim Jong-kook said, "People are very curious about who would win if a celebrity fighter and a real athlete faced off, and there are matches that can answer that. There are also fights between different sports," and Dex said, "It also answers the question of what happens when someone who has trained for years faces someone who just learned. We show matches people might be curious about at least once. I expect the community will go wild."
Producer Lee Won-woong said, "We announced that matches with weight-class differences could take place, yet no one gave up. Facing that situation in reality is not easy, and sometimes the difference can be more than 20 kg. Upsets and reversals often occur in those cases, which was entertaining to watch," describing I AM BOXER's distinguishing features and its legendary matches.
It appears Ma Dong-seok and Dex will not be shown facing each other one-on-one on I AM BOXER. But since matches with weight-class differences and contests between different sports are also promised, the outcome of a match between the two might still be predicted. tvN's new variety program I AM BOXER, which is expected to ignite communities with various topics, premieres at 11 p.m. on the 21st.
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