'I AM BOXER' offered a fresh spectacle with an extreme fight pitting three boxers against each other.
On the 26th (Fri), episode 6 of tvN 'I AM BOXER' (directed by Lee Won-woong, writer Kang Sook-kyung) featured the fourth fight, a three-way match prepared by master Don Lee and world champion Dmitry Bivol, through which five of the 15 top boxers survived.
First, Bivol, the current unified light heavyweight champion of the four major organizations—WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO—appeared, heating up the atmosphere of 'I AM BOXER.' That broadcast revealed an impromptu mitt-training session between master Don Lee and world champion Dmitry Bivol, drawing attention. Word has it the two met for the first time that day without prior practice or coordination and did the mitt training live.
Bivol showed the class of a world champion even in light training, and Don Lee also impressed many by showing his skills as a veteran boxing coach. In particular, Bivol displayed rhythmic footwork and precise impact even in an impromptu situation, and Don Lee, who took those shots, said, "He hits lightly and comfortably, but all his weight comes through," and took the mitts with composure. The boxers who watched this in person also reacted enthusiastically to the two and expressed admiration.
The fourth fight designed by Don Lee and Bivol had three competitors participating simultaneously, taking turns facing each opponent one-on-one in a circular space, with 60 seconds per round and unlimited rounds, so only one person per matchup survived, creating intense tension. If there was a K.O., the boxer who delivered the K.O. survived while the other two were eliminated; if there was no K.O., the master and the referee decided the winner by judgment.
In the match that opened the three-way battle, featuring Cho Hyun-jae of the Armed Forces Athletic Corps, MMA fighter Kim Min-woo and UDT veteran Yuk Jun-seo, Cho Hyun-jae, who targeted a K.O. with speed and stamina, and Yuk Jun-seo, who performed well against the competitors, drew attention. The bout, which ended after a whopping 21 rounds, resulted in Cho Hyun-jae surviving by referee decision.
Meanwhile, in the match between Armed Forces Athletic Corps member Lee Chae-hyun and Rich, 192 cm Im Yoon-chan, and Muay Thai fighter Shin Dong-hyun, an unprecedented bloody scene occurred in the three-way match. Im Yoon-chan was struck by Lee Chae-hyun's punch, which tore the area around his eye. They decided to watch one more round each, but because no survivor emerged, an overtime match between Lee Chae-hyun and Shin Dong-hyun was decided. Im Yoon-chan, who has a personal friendship with Lee Chae-hyun, cheered for Lee, and Lee Chae-hyun, who fought fiercely for Im Yoon-chan's share as well, did not give up despite bleeding and seized victory, warming the hearts of viewers.
Afterward, Kwon Oh-gon survived by defeating Lee Sang-geun and Kim Hyun-jun, and Lee Gi-jun advanced to the next fight by beating Kook Seung-jun and Park Young-ho, focusing attention on the match between Kim Dong-hoe, Kim Taek-min and Hong Seong-min, which would determine the final entrant to the next fight. Kim Dong-hoe boasts 14 consecutive national sports festival titles, Hong Seong-min is a three-time national sports festival winner, and Kim Taek-min has three consecutive national sports festival titles, so the big match among the country's top three amateur fighters heightened immersion. By referee decision, Hong Seong-min, who excelled in every aspect, achieved the triumph of surviving.
In addition, through meetings between Don Lee, Bivol, Kim Jong Kook and Dex, among the 10 eliminated contestants, Kook Seung-jun, Kim Hyun-jun, Yuk Jun-seo, Park Young-ho, Shin Dong-hyun and Kim Min-woo were given a deathmatch opportunity to determine three additional qualifiers. The deathmatch was a tire brawl, with Kook Seung-jun and Park Young-ho facing off first; Kook Seung-jun targeted Park Young-ho's body despite a 21 kg weight difference, while Park Young-ho pressed with physicality and strength, raising curiosity about how the bout between the two boxers would be decided.
Meanwhile, that broadcast ranked first among cable and general programming channels in the same time slot for tvN's target men and women aged 20-49 in both nationwide and metropolitan ratings. (based on paid platforms integrating cable, IPTV and satellite / provided by Nielsen Korea) The one who survives between Kook Seung-jun and Park Young-ho will be revealed on Jan. 2 (Fri) at 11 p.m. on tvN 'I AM BOXER'.<
[Photo] tvN I AM BOXER video capture
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