'I AM BOXER' master Don Lee also finds it hard to judge superiority as the semifinals unfold.
tvN 'I AM BOXER' (directed by Lee Won-woong, writer Kang Sook-kyung) surpassed 420 million cumulative online video views as of Sunday the 11th, continuing its hot popularity. Meanwhile, in episode 9 airing today (the 16th), "Pretty Boy" Jo Hyun, "Body Killer" Guk Seung-jun, "Prince" Lee Chae-hyun and "Thunder" Kwon O-gon enter the semifinals, the final hurdle to the championship, fighting hotter and fiercer than ever.
The semifinals are three-minute, eight-round bouts, two rounds longer than the quarterfinals, so stamina and boxing skill are expected to play a greater role. In the match between Jo Hyun and Guk Seung-jun, Jo Hyun's use of the ring contrasts with Guk Seung-jun's strategy of operating from the center of the ring, drawing attention.
Also, both fighters treat each round like the final round and engage in razor-close contests that keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Master Don Lee, after watching the back-and-forth contest between Jo Hyun and Guk Seung-jun through the seventh round, said helplessly, "Now it's the eighth round. I can't judge this," drawing attention to which of the two will make it to the final.
The match between professional killer Lee Chae-hyun, who has never lost against a professional boxer, and Kwon O-gon, a former lightweight and super lightweight champion who has fought up to 10 rounds, is also stirring interest. In the first round, Lee Chae-hyun keeps moving relentlessly to lure his opponent into a trap with a rhythm fight, while Kwon O-gon defends and looks for openings. Both fighters produce unpredictable, adrenaline-pumping bouts until the end, increasing viewers' desire to watch the live broadcast.
Meanwhile, on that day's broadcast, a special match featuring eliminated contestants prepared by Kim Jong Kook and Dex doubles the fun. Park Young-ho and Park Seong-jun team up, and Park Seong-woon and Lee Gi-jun form a team to compete in a 2 vs. 2 tag match. "Tungsooni" Park Seong-woon not only taunted fitness model Park Young-ho as "balloon muscles" but also filled the venue with laughter with his signature cheerful performance, promising a fresh spectacle.
The semifinals between Jo Hyun and Guk Seung-jun and between Lee Chae-hyun and Kwon O-gon and the results can be seen on tvN 'I AM BOXER,' which airs today (the 16th) at 8:30 p.m.
[Photo] tvN I AM BOXER
[OSEN]