I Am Boxer (2025) s01e01 Episode Script

1
[announcer]
The winner of I Am Boxer will receive
a grand prize of 300 million won
and a top-of-the-line flagship SUV.
[exhaling]
Hi, I'm Don Lee,
actor and local gym owner,
and the Master of I Am Boxer.
For years, I've envisioned this stage.
For boxers brimming with incredible talent
but who never got their chance to shine.
[boxer 1]
I'll put my heart and soul into this.
[boxer 2]
Either I go down or my opponent does.
[boxer 3]
It all comes down to who wants it more.
I wanted to give them
the biggest stage of their lives.
[bell rings]
[announcer] This is where Korean fighters
will come to challenge themselves.
-[contestant 1] What?
-[contestant 2] What the heck?
-This is it!
-[referee, in English] Box!
-Box.
-[in Korean] Go, go!
-That's it!
-You got it!
Background, age, weight class…
None of it matters here.
[Lee]
Number one fighter among celebrities.
[crowd cheering]
[onlooker] That's it! You're doing great!
[boxer 1] Shut your mouth, bastard.
[boxer 2] I thought you can
knock me out? [chuckles]
[commentator] He's on a roll.
[onlooker]
Yes, that's it! Down, down, down!
Losing's gonna freaking suck, man!
[Lee] At the end of it all,
only one will survive
and claim the title of champion.
[commentator]
This fighter has returned to the ring.
[Lee] An extreme journey of survival.
This is where you must pour
your mind, body, and soul.
I've been thinking hard about
whether I should quit.
Boxing still excites me
just as much as ever. [cries]
-[Lee] Tonight…
-[shouts]
…witness the toughest boxers
battle it out in the most intense fights.
I Am Boxer
starts right now.
[exhaling]
Whoa, that's a lot of names. This is huge.
Hello, I'm Kuk Seungjun
from the Hwasun County boxing team.
I've been boxing for 13 years.
I was a gold medalist at the 100th
and 105th Korean National Sports Festival.
Seeing those boxing trunks
with my name on them
really got me pumped.
There's no turning back now.
I have to win this.
There's plenty competition.
Hello, I'm Kwon Ohgon,
former Korean champion
in both the lightweight
and super lightweight divisions.
-[commentator 1] He's going in…
-[commentator 2] Nice one!
[Kwon] I guess you could say
I'm a bit well-known in the boxing world.
[commentator] Oh! He's down!
[Kwon] I'm ready to take on anyone,
so feel free to step right up.
-Damn.
-Whoa, it's huge in here.
[Seol laughs]
Hello, I'm Seol Yeongho,
winner of a martial arts survival show.
Can I be honest here?
It's time to clean house.
Every group calls itself a federation,
and everyone claims they're a champion.
I've sparred with these
so-called pro boxers,
and a lot of them were
worse than MMA amateurs.
Wow, that belt looks killer.
[Kwon] I really didn't like him.
Ever wear a belt
when you were still in the game?
Of course I did.
-I have yet to wear one.
-This one looks nicer.
[both laughing]
Ooh. Any familiar names?
[Seol] Oh! We've got soldiers here too?
-You guys from KAFAC?
-Yes, that's right.
So you guys are all boxers?
-Yes.
-Yes, that's right.
We've even got KAFAC guys here.
-Private first class?
-[soldiers laughing]
Still got a long way to go.
[Seol]
I thought they all looked pretty soft.
-Hey, look. A camera.
-Wait, is it rolling now?
Oh!
Isn't that Yoon Hyeongbin?
Wow, this place is massive. Wow.
And the guy next to him
used to be an MMA fighter.
[soldier 2] Wait, seriously?
[soldier 3] Well, we've got
some ROAD FC fighters too.
Hey, look at that.
[contestants murmuring]
Wow, this is insane.
Huh? What the hell?
Oh!
This is nuts, for real.
Hello, sir.
-Oh, hi.
-[contestants exclaiming, laughing]
Good to see you.
-Damn, this is no joke.
-This is crazy.
-I'm such a fan.
-Thank you.
-Go easy on us.
-Well, I'll do my best to win.
Could I get a handshake?
-Of course.
-Thank you.
Man…
He didn't even look human,
more like a walking fridge.
What are you doing here? I mean…
This isn't fair to the rest of us.
Hello, I've been in combat sports
for about 20 years now.
I've won championship titles
in seven different competitions.
I'm on the heavier side
of the heavyweight division.
I've got the kind of power
you don't usually see around here.
-[commentators shouting, exclaiming]
-Knee kick!
Myung Hyunman takes a fiery victory!
I want to prove
that I'm the best in this country.
I should've gotten life insurance.
[chuckles]
You'll be in trouble
if you don't have coverage.
-Wow.
-Well, he's good-looking.
Wow.
You'd never guess they're fighters
just by looking at their faces.
Everyone is so good-looking.
-Wow.
-This is crazy.
Wow.
Whoa.
He looks like a celebrity.
Wow.
Oh, it's Yuk Junseo.
Hello, I'm Yuk Junseo.
I'm an artist
and a television personality.
Currently, I do weight training, running,
and boxing, all in one day.
I'm always pretty much fired up.
I'm always hungry for more.
My ultimate goal is to win. [laughs]
Confidence has never been an issue for me.
If anything, I've got an excess of it.
[contestant shouting]
-[shouts]
-Whoa.
Wow, he's huge.
-Wow.
-He's in high school?
-You're a high school senior?
-Yes.
-A high school senior?
-Yes.
Wow, he's super tall.
This is intense.
He's just squinting
because his eyesight is bad, right?
-Wow.
-Nice to meet you all.
We've got all the top heavyweights
in Korea here.
-Even Master Dduk is here.
-Karate, right?
Oh, they're Muay Thai fighters?
-What sport do you do?
-Kickboxing.
I was a volleyball player.
Volleyball? I see.
[contestants exclaiming, applauding]
Wow, they've got an incredible physique.
They must be bodybuilders.
Hello there.
Wow.
[contestants exclaiming, applauding]
It's Julien Kang.
It's Julien. Now that's a total celebrity.
He's got a crazy physique.
Seriously, man.
He's number one fighter among celebrities.
Julien Kang, the guy's built like a tank.
He's famous for his fighting background.
Search his name,
and you'll see "pro fighter" every time.
He's always been ranked top three
when it comes to fighting.
-Hello.
-He's built differently.
-Hello. Hi.
-I'm a big fan.
He's like Captain America.
Wow, this place is packed.
[Kang] We've got
a lot of strong guys here.
-Damn, the lineup's crazy.
-[applause]
Well, damn it.
I might as well go home now.
-Game over.
-Game over.
Well, if it isn't
the Korean national champion.
Here comes another beast.
Oh, come on. This is downright unfair.
Is that Jung Dawoon?
[cheering, applause continues]
Time to go home. [laughs]
Hello there. Oh, hey! [chuckles]
I didn't expect
a fighter like him to show up.
He's from
the world's top MMA organization.
That instantly raises the bar
for this show.
I'm a middleweight
who's fought on the world stage.
When you step into my ring,
you'd better be ready to give it your all.
[applause continues]
-He started out as a boxer, though.
-That's why he's good at close combat.
Jung Dawoon without a weight cut
sounds like a nightmare.
Should've just stuck to selling
soy-marinated crabs.
-[contestant laughing]
-Fucking hell.
-[applause continues]
-Oh!
[contestants exclaiming]
We have two champions?
Are they boxing champions?
That's Kim Taesun.
-Super featherweight.
-Oh, super featherweight?
Wait, isn't he real famous?
Yes, that's Minuk. He's formidable.
Snyper Kim. He's the world-ranked.
He's the real deal in boxing.
Hello, I'm Kim Minuk,
a former national team athlete
and OPBF champion.
Most pro and amateur boxers
have probably heard of me.
I'll show you what Kim Minuk is made of.
Just wait and see.
There are already so many big names here.
This is amazing. Everyone here is no joke.
We have top-level fighters
from all over the country.
This won't be easy at all.
See? The main contenders are already set.
-The latecomers?
-Yeah.
Wait a sec.
Wait, "Kim Donghoe"?
Looks like everyone's here.
-Kim Donghoe's coming.
-Wow.
Hear that? "Kim Donghoe."
-He's won 13 straight national titles.
-Yeah, I know.
-He's coming?
-Yeah.
Wow.
I got chills just now.
I think we're fucked.
[contestants exclaiming, applauding]
Wow.
Kim Donghoe and Kim Taekmin? For real?
-Hello there.
-Hello.
Oh, man.
There's our legend. The Ghost.
No one in this room can match him.
There's our champion.
-The current top two in boxing, right?
-Yeah.
Is that you, Sungmin?
Why are you both here? [laughs]
Just one of you would've been plenty.
-This is wild.
-Kim Taekmin is a bit much, man.
I've been keeping an eye on Kim Taekmin
for a while now.
He's my role model.
I've never even thought about losing
no matter who I face.
Kim Donghoe.
He's won the National Sports Festival…
He's won it 13 years in a row.
He's going for his 14th win now.
Can anyone in Korea beat him?
I highly doubt it.
They think they've landed a hit,
but I've already slipped away
like a ghost, they say.
If we're talking pure boxing,
I think I'm practically untouchable.
I'm confident I'll win this thing.
But what if some amateur beats him?
Then that's it for him, right?
-But that's not happening.
-Exactly.
That's never happening.
How many are we, a hundred?
Everyone's here, right?
One person's still missing.
-The actor?
-I think so.
I'm a fan.
-He's not here yet?
-Guess he's coming last.
-[contestants exclaiming, applauding]
-There he is.
The perfect finisher for this lineup.
Seriously, Jang Hyuk is here?
-No way.
-It's Jang Hyuk.
I wasn't sure it was him,
but it really is.
It's Jang Hyuk.
Oh!
Hello, I'm Jang Hyuk, an actor.
Thank you for having me.
[Jang] Working on a film project
always took a toll on me.
Then one day,
I happened to walk into a boxing gym.
I felt recharged after a boxing session.
That's what kept me going.
[announcer] Jang Hyuk,
you've passed the pro boxing test!
[Jang] I wanted to see for myself
how far I could go in this thing.
[announcer] All contestants have arrived.
The blockbuster boxing survival show,
I Am Boxer…
starts right now.
I thought, "So this is it. It's begun."
There's no turning back now.
From here on out, I have to go all in.
[Kim Donghoe]
It doesn't matter who I'm up against.
Either I go down or my opponent does.
I'm taking first place.
The victory is mine.
I'll fight with everything I've got
till my opponent's on the canvas.
This is intense. I'm nervous.
-[contestants chattering]
-It's opening.
[contestants exclaiming]
What the heck?
-No way.
-[in English] Oh, my God.
[in Korean] Wow, this is enormous.
God, this is freaking insane.
Wow, this is sick.
[in English] What the hell is this?
[in Korean]
This is blockbuster-level, all right.
This is massive.
That's a killer concept.
I didn't think a set could be this big.
This is no joke. It's insane.
Looks like it'd be fun to fight in here.
My blood was pumping,
and I wanted to get fighting.
What now?
What are we doing here?
I was super curious.
It's even scarier
because there's nothing here.
Why isn't there anything here?
Are we supposed to fight without a ring?
-Just like Fight Club, right?
-Yeah.
What now? What's happening now?
Feels like something might be
behind this thing.
Do we fight the moment that door opens?
-Kind of feels like it.
-Oh.
No, there must be something in there.
-A ring, maybe?
-Yeah, look over there.
-That's where the cameras are set up.
-Oh, right.
"Open sesame." You know what that means?
When you say, "Open sesame,"
-the door opens.
-Oh, right. [chuckles]
Whoa, it's opening up.
-[contestants exclaiming]
-Oh, what's that?
-I was right.
-For real?
-Wow, no way.
-This is insane.
Wait, for real?
-They actually put rings in there.
-[laughing]
Nine rings? Really?
Wow, they really put rings in there!
Wait, what? We were right about that?
-Are you serious?
-There's a ring in each space.
Holy crap.
Couldn't have imagined this.
It's like a fight factory.
A boxing factory.
We're already going one-on-one?
Wow, this is insane.
There were nine rings.
Wow, I never saw that coming.
-So we're all having a match.
-Guess we're sparring today.
Why is the middle one still closed?
What's up with that one? Is it jammed?
Feels like there's something big in there.
Could it be…
-Is Don Lee in there? No way.
-Could it be…
Could it be… No way!
-Oh! Oh!
-[contestants exclaiming]
Whoa!
The moment of truth!
The moment of truth is here!
[contestants exclaiming, cheering]
Man, no way. I've got goose bumps.
[cheering, exclaiming, applauding]
-He looks awesome!
-He's huge.
It felt like I was watching a movie.
He was massive
and really charismatic.
I couldn't believe my eyes.
He's like the Hulk
when he's about to burst out of his suit.
That's the exact impression I got.
He totally looked like
the boss of a fighting promotion.
Like the chairman.
Mavely!
[cheering]
Do I fight him if I make it to the finals?
Is he going to fight us up there?
[contestants exclaiming]
This is insane.
Hello.
-Hello!
-Hello!
I'm Don Lee, your local boxing gym owner,
and the Master of I Am Boxer.
[contestants cheering]
Thank you.
I'm not standing here
because I'm the best boxer in the room.
I'm standing here
as a gym owner, a promoter,
and the creator of this show.
I prepared this stage in the hope of
reviving the spirit of boxing once again.
Let the world see how exciting
and thrilling boxing can be.
That's all I ask.
Are you all ready?
-Yes!
-All right. Best of luck.
It's incredible
what he is doing for boxing.
I have mad respect for him.
He's genuinely passionate about the sport.
Everyone seemed to respect him
for his passion for boxing.
The future of Korean boxing
rests on his shoulders.
I would say Don Lee might love boxing
even more than I do.
When you see him in movies,
his punches are nearly flawless.
He always incorporates boxing techniques
into his action sequences.
It's clear that his understanding
of boxing runs deep.
Thank goodness Don Lee didn't pursue
a professional career in boxing.
If he had, we would've been rivals.
I'm so grateful to him.
I'll be cheering for the show all the way.
I have no doubt
it's going to be a huge success.
[Lee] All right then, let's bring out
the two hosts who'll be joining us
on I Am Boxer.
-[contestants exclaiming]
-Come on up.
Hello, I'm Kim Jongkook,
one of the hosts of I Am Boxer.
-Nice to meet you all.
-Oh, come on.
Hello, I'm Dex,
the other host of I Am Boxer.
Looking good!
Looks like this show's gonna be a hit.
The host lineup's amazing.
I Am Boxer features a series of fights
that push every boxer to their limits.
All contestants must fight for survival,
regardless of weight class, age,
or profession.
Just a straight-up fight.
That's badass, just how it should be.
It was thrilling.
I could be up against
someone like Myung Hyunman
or even Kim Donghoe.
Well, I'm here.
[in English]
There's no backing out now. Let's do it.
[in Korean] Now, this is a big one.
The winner of I Am Boxer will receive
a champion belt…
and a top-of-the-line flagship SUV.
[contestants exclaiming]
And finally,
a grand prize of…
[imitates drumroll]
-A hundred million won?
-Two hundred million?
…three hundred million won!
…three hundred million won!
-Three hundred million?
-[laughing]
Yay!
I literally gasped.
I was honestly shocked.
There isn't
a single professional boxer in Korea
who can make a living solely from boxing.
Typically, pros make
about 100,000 won per round.
Pretty low, huh?
If I win this,
I could actually quit boxing.
I could pay off my loans.
I thought, "I really want to win.
I want to win and open my own gym."
All right, everyone.
It's time to reveal the first round.
Round 1 of I Am Boxer is…
the One-on-One Showdown.
…the One-on-One Showdown.
[contestants gasping, murmuring]
Right from the start, huh?
[Lee] The One-on-One Showdown
will take place across nine rings.
It is a head-to-head fight.
Half of us will get cut, then.
I thought,
"It's time to throw down for real."
This is exactly what I wanted.
To fight to the end.
It'll be a hell of a fight.
My adrenaline was kicking in.
The ring I'd like to choose is…
Ring No. 2. Ring No. 4. Ring No. 8.
[Lee] Once the Master selects
one of the nine rings,
-the fight begins immediately.
-[bell rings]
The One-on-One showdown
is a single match with no rounds.
-That sounds tough.
-Yeah.
[Lee] And the time limit is…
-[contestant] Two minutes?
-[contestant] Three minutes?
-[Lee] There isn't one.
-What?
[Lee] There isn't one.
-We just keep fighting then?
-Are they crazy?
You're kidding, right?
We'll need, like,
ten ambulances standing by for this.
-No way. Is this for real?
-They want us to fight till we drop.
So, it only ends when someone drops?
No time limit?
Honestly, that got me excited.
Unlimited time? I love it.
I absolutely love it.
-[bell rings]
-[Lee] The fight continues…
All right, let's stop here.
[Lee] …until the Master calls it.
When the fight ends,
Master Don Lee will choose the winner.
-So the Master's like a god?
-This is just like Squid Game.
[Lee] The contestant not chosen
by the Master
is immediately eliminated from I Am Boxer.
That's harsh.
That's just harsh.
[Lee] Round 1 of I Am Boxer,
the One-on-One Showdown,
starts now.
We actually get to see this, huh?
-I know.
-I know, right?
-It's amazing.
-It's a festival.
-Yeah, it really is.
-[laughing]
-Boxing fans are gonna lose their minds.
-Definitely.
[Lee] Before we begin
the One-on-One Showdown,
please welcome the referees.
[contestants exclaiming, applauding]
[Dex] How cool.
How many are there?
I actually have a referee license myself.
You have to box
for over 20 years to get one.
-So referees can fight too?
-That's right. [laughing]
Wow, that's what you took from that?
No, I was just curious.
[Lee] Round 1 of I Am Boxer,
the One-on-One Showdown.
Now, let's reveal the first matchup.
I'm nervous.
-[grunts]
-[contestants exclaiming, cheering]
Let's do this! Whoo!
Man, this does it for me every time.
Wow, are they in there already?
They must be nervous.
[contestants exclaiming, cheering]
All right!
Who's it gonna be?
-Isn't that Kim Minuk?
-Oh, it's Kim Minuk.
Kim Minuk versus Kim Taesun?
-An active boxer versus a boxing legend.
-That's a legendary match.
Oh, wow.
-Wow, it's Donghoe.
-What?
-It's Donghoe up there.
-[laughs]
The Ghost.
I didn't know Sangsoo was here.
[in English]
He used to be a World Sambo Champion.
-[contestants chattering, laughing]
-[in Korean] Dude, this is nuts.
That's gonna be fun to watch.
There's Yuk Junseo.
-Yuk Junseo's here too?
-[contestant exclaiming]
Oh, there's Julien Kang.
-[contestant exclaiming]
-Look at those shoulders.
-They look unreal.
-Goodness.
[in English] Oh, my God.
[Lee, in Korean] Before we begin,
let's start with the warm-up.
-Oh, a warm-up?
-[contestants exclaiming]
-Whoa, look at that.
-Let's go!
Wow, awesome.
What's he doing over there, fencing?
[contestants laughing]
[Jongkook] Oh,
everyone has their own concept.
Oh, he's fencing over there.
-What's up with that?
-[Jongkook] He's fencing.
[boxer] They're having a staring contest.
[Sungmin] Yeah, looks like they'll go on
until their minute is up.
That’s freaking hilarious.
[contestant] You see them do that
all the time
on High School Emperor.
What's up with…
What's up with those two?
[contestant 2] Sparks fly at that age.
They're something else.
They're young and full of character.
[contestant 3] They're all so unique.
What an unusual sight.
It's freaking hilarious.
But this helps them
size each other up, right?
Absolutely. It's actually quite helpful.
-Oh, really?
-Yeah.
Man, I can't wait to see this.
Seriously.
[announcer] Round 1 of I Am Boxer,
the One-on-One Showdown.
Master, please select
one of the nine rings
to start the first match.
The first ring I'd like to choose is…
-[contestant 4] Here we go.
-[contestant 5] I wonder who he'll pick.
[contestant 6, in English]
Who's the first match?
-[in Korean] Ring No. 1.
-[contestants gasping]
[Lee] Ring No. 1.
-[gasping]
-[contestant] I knew it.
[contestant 2] Let's go, high schoolers!
-Let's go!
-[contestant 3] Come on!
Those two really went all out
during their staring contest.
We asked them to warm up,
-but they gave us a face-off. It was fun.
-[Jongkook laughs]
[Dex] Those kids.
[announcer] Ring No. 1.
From the red corner,
we have the formidable 188-cm heavyweight.
Park Sungwoon, aka Toongsoon!
PARK SUNGWOON
GEN Z HEAVYWEIGHT FIGHTER
[contestant 4] Let's go!
Whoever is louder wins.
And from the blue corner,
we have the 194-cm high-school fighter,
Rindaman, Lee Seungbin!
LEE SEUNGBIN
18-YEAR-OLD HIGH SCHOOL BEAS
He's a high schooler?
-[sighs]
-[chuckles]
-Kids these days… Yeah.
-They're built differently.
You can't tell their age
when you see them out and about.
I'm Lee Seungbin,
a senior at Jinju Jungang High School.
I've been training in MMA
for two years now.
Height, 195 cm. Weight, 101 kg,
with a reach of 210 cm.
You never see fighters
of my build in Korea.
I'm way above the Asian average.
One solid hit from me,
and they all go down.
That's why I'd say my reach
is my most lethal weapon.
He's taking a serious hit.
[producer] Who would you like
to go up against?
That guy, Park Sungwoon,
from High School Emperor.
He's always running his mouth,
and it's seriously annoying.
That guy's a total clown.
I'm training in MMA now.
[contestant] Really?
-[Sungwoon] One, two.
-Ah, I see it.
I may be big, but I'm fast on my feet.
Hit and move. See?
I'll show you
how we young ones really fight!
[contestants, cheering] All right, kid!
Let's go, young ones!
He's got great energy.
-Careful not to hit the head, okay?
-Yes, sir.
No clinching, no low blows.
Let's bow and get started.
To your corners.
[Sungwoon] There's no avoiding this fight,
so I might as well beat you to a pulp
and move on. Sorry.
[Seungbin] I'll knock you out
and send you home early tonight.
PARK SUNGWOON
VERSUS LEE SEUNGBIN
-Please show us a fiery match.
-[contestants applauding]
-Box.
-Let's go!
[contestants] Go! You got this!
[contestant] Let's go, young ones!
[contestants laugh]
[contestant 2] He's got the basics down.
[Seungbin] So he used to do tae kwon do.
He keeps a distance,
then suddenly dives in.
I planned on waiting for that moment
to catch him and drive him back.
I already knew a bit about Rindaman.
He's a big guy with a long reach,
so I figured I had to land a hit first
and take control of the pace.
[contestants groan]
-[Jongkook] Oh, he's trapped!
-He's trapped.
-[Jongkook] He's getting hammered.
-Whoa!
[Jongkook] All right!
Oh, man.
He's not walking out of that ring.
That's it. He's getting groggy.
He's groggy!
[whistle blows]
LEE SEUNGBIN
STANDING EIGHT COUN
The count's on. One…
Is he getting counted?
He's getting counted.
-Oh, God!
-Stop!
To your corner. Two,
three, four,
-five, six…
-[Dex] A standing eight count.
…seven…
[contestant] He's counting.
-[contestant 2] Wow, the kid's got vigor.
-[contestant 3] Yeah.
[referee] Four, five, six…
seven, eight.
[contestant] Wow, it's over.
TKO, FIGHT OVER
[contestants gasp, cheer]
Everyone, fucking come at me!
[announcer] The fight is over.
[Dex] That's a highlight moment.
[Lee] That was impressive.
I'm honestly speechless.
-I mean--
-[Jongkook] I just hope Seungbin's okay.
Let's give him a big hand.
[contestants applauding]
[Jongkook] Oh, boy. He must be upset.
We've got a TKO.
The survivor of this match is
Park Sungwoon, from the red corner.
[contestants applaud]
[Lee] He's quick on his feet,
and he's got impressive footwork.
You're known for your taunts, right?
Let's see how good you are.
Well, if Kim Donghoe wins today…
Kim Donghoe just dropped his head.
[Lee] You probably shouldn't go that far.
[contestant] He's gonna kill you, kid.
He's gone past the point of saving.
How about you show some love
for Kim Donghoe now?
He's watching right now.
-What the heck?
-[contestants laugh]
[Jongkook] He's got moves!
[Lee] All right, well done.
-That's adorable.
-Do you think he practices those moves?
-They're all so funny.
-I know.
He's checking on him. That's sweet.
[contestant] Who do you think is up next?
-[contestant 2] Well…
-I say top left or…
I think it's top left.
[contestant 1] Top left?
Or Ring No. 2? Julien Kang?
My next pick is…
Let's see now.
[boxer] I can't wait for my match.
[boxer 2] Now's the perfect time to go.
Ring No. 8.
[announcer] Ring No. 8, it is.
From the blue corner, we have
Vietnamese pro boxer, Lee Juyeong.
Lee Juyeong is super good.
I'm Lee Juyeong, a professional boxer.
I just turned 18 this year.
I made my pro debut at 16,
as the youngest in the league.
I come from a multicultural family.
And I used to be really skinny and shy.
Kids would pick on me a lot back then.
That's why I started boxing, to survive.
I have a two-year-old younger brother,
and we don't live in
the safest neighborhood.
If I win the prize money,
I want to move my family out of there.
I've seen Lee Juyeong fight before.
-He's really good.
-He is?
-I see.
-What about his opponent?
He's a Black Cmbat flyweight fighter.
Hello, I'm Kim Minwoo,
a professional MMA fighter,
known as "Mad Dog"
in the flyweight division.
Once I latch on to a target,
I never let go.
Hence, the nickname.
MMA fighters possess
a unique kind of toughness.
If I can channel that energy into boxing,
I believe I have a shot at winning.
[contestant] If this were MMA,
he could end it with one low kick.
-But this is boxing.
-Yeah.
He's got the upper hand.
[Sungmin] MMA strikes
and boxing techniques are very different.
Boxers definitely have the upper hand.
MMA fighters are stronger, of course.
I don't think boxers here in Korea
are that intimidating.
-MMA fighters these days are pretty tough.
-[Jongkook] Yeah?
[Lee] They've leveled up a lot.
[Minwoo] Boxing isn't my discipline,
but I'm ready to show my grit
as an MMA fighter
and as Mad Dog.
[Juyeong] He'd better bring his A-game.
I'm not an easy fight.
KIM MINWOO VERSUS LEE JUYEONG
-Ring No. 8, box.
-[bell dings]
-Start!
-[contestants] All right, let's go!
[Lee] This one's going to be fun.
[contestant] Whoa, he's good.
He's got solid technique.
He's good.
You can tell just from his jab.
-Whoa.
-Dang.
Dang, he's good.
Yes, nice.
That's the first time you've said "nice."
Yeah, his timing is spot-on.
[Juyeong] I threw quick, short jabs,
and they still landed sharp.
I thought, "Yeah, I've got this."
-[contestant] He's good.
-[contestant 2] He is.
He knows when to wait.
Great guard control.
[contestants cheer]
Wow. That's how you do it.
-That one landed solid.
-Great.
See how he reads his moves and counters?
[contestant 3] Now this is worth watching.
This is real boxing.
This is pro boxing.
[contestant 4] Wow. Nice one.
[contestant 5] But that MMA guy's
no slouch either.
-His punches are sturdy.
-[contestant 6] He's no easy fight.
[contestant 5] No.
He's got a striking base after all.
[contestant 5] Right, he's a striker.
[contestant 6] That MMA guy's super good,
though.
[contestant 5] Kim Minwoo's sharp.
His timing is good.
That was great.
Whoa, amazing.
They're going back and forth.
They're both good.
-They're both trading. Yeah.
-They're both good.
Very nice. They're both good.
He's countering pretty well.
[contestant 7] That MMA guy's
got serious boxing skills.
[bell dinging]
Stop!
[announcer] The fight is over.
[contestant] The red corner guy's good.
-[contestant 2] For an MMA fighter.
-[contestant 3] Yeah, he's good.
-Who's your bet?
-Blue corner, of course.
He'll win for sure.
[announcer] Master,
please announce the survivor.
[contestant] Oh, boy…
-Hold on, give me a moment.
-[Dex chuckles]
This one's pretty tough.
[contestant] Red corner might've taken it.
[contestant 2] Blue corner's won,
don't you think?
His punches were heavier,
but he threw more attacks overall.
[contestant 3] They both did well.
For the first time today,
Don Lee kept saying
that they're good.
That's how great the fight was.
-Well done.
-Thank you.
[contestants applaud]
The survivor of this match is…
[Minwoo] Honestly, it was half and half.
I couldn't tell who was going to win.
[Juyeong] I thought I was going to win,
to be honest.
[contestant] Whoever wins,
I wouldn't be surprised.
Lee Juyeong from the blue corner.
LEE JUYEONG SURVIVES
Thank you, sir!
[contestants applaud]
[Lee] Wait, hold on.
Wait, hold on.
Wait, I'm not done.
Kim Minwoo from the red corner
also survives.
[contestants gasp]
RED CORNER KIM MINWOO SURVIVES
-Thank you, sir!
-Was that like the Golden Buzzer?
-He can do that?
-Yeah, fair enough.
[Lee] It was neck and neck
between you two.
I want to see you both again,
so I decided to advance you both.
I'm not sure if that's okay, though.
-Is that allowed?
-I don't know.
I'm not sure.
Actually, you can't see them from here,
but there are professional judges
watching this with us.
The final result
includes their evaluations as well.
So I hope the rest of you
continue to bring that same energy.
Great work.
-Thank you, sir!
-Appreciate it!
I think they both deserved it too.
-They were both so good.
-[Jongkook] Yeah.
[Lee] My next pick is
Ring No. 4.
Ring No. 4.
-[contestant] It's Yuk Junseo's ring.
-[contestant 2] Let's go!
Damn, look at his body.
That's awesome.
It's the UDT charm.
-Junseo is my senior from the military.
-[Lee] That's right.
-[Jongkook] Oh, really?
-Yes.
We know each other.
[Jongkook] This looks like a tough match.
-As for YunB, he's trained for years.
-Oh, I see.
Hey, everyone. I'm a rapper
and the best fighter among Korean rappers.
The name's YunB.
Having experienced both music
and combat, I know how to fight.
As the guy known as
the best fighter among Korean rappers,
I'm confident.
If my punch lands,
even pros might go down.
World champions?
Believe me, this could knock them out.
That's him acting it up for the show.
I'll show him the difference
between show and a real fight.
I'll prove it with the results.
YUNB VERSUS YUK JUNSEO
Junseo's punches…
-They're insanely strong for his size.
-Really?
[contestant] I hear
YunB has a fiery personality.
I think he'll throw quick jabs,
like pow, pow, pow.
-Let's begin right away. Box!
-[bell dings]
[contestants] Let's go! You got this!
[contestant] He's fast.
[contestants gasp]
[contestant] Oh, Yuk Junseo's good.
[contestant 2] He took one on the chin.
[contestant 3] Stay calm!
-[contestant 4] He's getting worked up.
-[contestant 5] Don't let him clinch!
[contestant 6] They're both forcing it.
Junseo needs to tuck his chin in.
-He might…
-If one of those lands…
He'd better watch out.
[contestant] He's got
great distance control.
[contestant 2] His jabs hit hard.
[contestants gasping]
[contestant] He's good.
Whoa.
Oh, nice jab!
-Nice!
-He's good!
-[contestant 2] Nice.
-[contestants gasp] Whoa!
Stop! Time!
-[contestant 3] That was clean.
-[contestant 4] That landed beautifully.
[referee] Stop! Time!
[contestant 5] That was amazing.
RED CORNER YUNB IS DOWN
[contestant 6] That's a clean knockdown.
-Two, three…
-[contestant 7] That was a solid hit.
-…four, five, six…
-He's gonna lose his best fighter title.
-Wow, Junseo's on another level.
-…seven, eight.
-[referee] Look at me. You okay?
-Okay.
-Yes, sir.
-All right, come on.
-You think you can keep going?
-Yes.
-He wants to keep going.
-Really?
That's cool.
-Let's go!
-You got this, man!
[contestant] He wants to push
through to the end.
[contestant 2] Guard up!
-[contestants cheer]
-Oh, no.
Stop!
Stop!
TKO, FIGHT OVER
[announcer] The fight is over.
[contestant] A standing KO!
That was more fun than I expected.
-Lots of KOs today, huh?
-Totally.
He's way better than I thought.
-I'm surprised.
-Same here.
YunB, that was impressive,
fighting till the end.
That was our second KO on I Am Boxer.
My punches hit harder
than you'd expect for my weight class.
I knew that was my strength,
and luckily, it worked well today.
Even his voice is handsome.
How annoying.
That's just unfair.
-He's too perfect.
-I know.
[Junseo] Just like today's match,
I'll pour out everything I've got
for the upcoming missions.
My next pick is…
Oh… Are we doing this?
Ring No. 2.
He's just built differently.
Man, that build. It's insane.
Do we finally get to see this?
-Julien Kang, you mean?
-Julien Kang?
[contestants cheering]
-This is gonna be a big match.
-Yeah.
[announcer] Ring No. 2.
From the red corner,
the toughest fighter in entertainment.
Julien Kang!
[contestant] His arms seem longer
than his legs.
His reach is like a spear.
-It's two meters…
-[Jongkook] I know.
It's basically the length of a spear.
He's in a different league.
-He's got long limbs.
-Good-looking guy.
Hello, I'm Julien Kang.
TOP CELEB FIGHTER
Compared to other entertainers,
I've got a bigger frame
and more martial arts training experience,
so I might be a top contender here.
My reach is long for my height too.
So that gives me a bit of an edge.
I really love boxing.
I want to show that I'm a fearless boxer,
one who never gives up.
[Jongkook] Song Hyunmin weighs 130 kg,
though.
Right, that's rare.
SONG HYUNMIN
Gosh, he's tall too!
-They're heavyweights.
-This will be fun.
-[contestant] Finally, it's Julien Kang.
-[contestant 2] We might see another KO.
-But you never know.
-Right.
[contestants] Let's go! You got this!
Let's go! Come on!
Ring No. 2, box!
[bell dings]
-Box!
-[contestant] Let's do this!
[Lee] Man, that reach!
Look at that reach.
A few hits like that could put you out.
[contestants] Let's go! You got this!
That's it.
[metal clangs]
-Break!
-Did I hear a rope snap?
That sounds heavy.
I heard something break.
His reach is insane.
How do you close the distance? Oh, look.
[contestant] Oh, that's a heavy shot.
God, his punches are so heavy.
Come on, you got this!
[contestant 2] He's good.
Julien's good.
[contestant 3] Oh, he's going in.
-[referee] Stop!
-Oh, goodness.
-Damn.
-[contestant 4] That's got to hurt bad.
Three…
[Hyunmin] When I took that heavy punch
in the face,
I was completely dazed.
I've never been hit that hard in my life.
I thought I was getting smashed
with a baseball bat.
Seriously.
You put your guard up, right?
But when you realize
how powerful the punches are,
-you stop attacking.
-[Dex] Ah…
-You just keep your guard up.
-You freeze.
Yeah, you can't help it.
[contestant] Man, that looks brutal.
[contestant 2] He's living up
to his reputation.
Step forward. Can you continue?
-Yes.
-Okay.
[contestant] Yes, push through.
Just land one shot. Just one.
Fighting till the end is what matters.
[contestant 2] Press in
and land one clean hit.
-[contestant 3] He's got to go in! Go in!
-[contestant 4] Go!
Shoot, too short.
[contestant 5] Man, that reach!
It's his physique.
[referee] Break!
-Come on, you got this.
-[Lee] Come on.
[contestant] Come on, let's go!
Break!
-[bell dings]
-Stop!
[announcer] The fight is over.
[contestant] So this is what Julien Kang
is made of.
He's strong.
You can really feel the weight
behind his punches.
For the first time in the ring,
I actually heard something tear.
Sounded like the ring collapsing.
[metal clangs]
-[contestant] Oh, my goodness.
-Break!
I think "intimidating" is the best word
to describe this match.
It really was intimidating.
Julien is definitely a tough one to beat.
[contestants applauding]
RED CORNER JULIEN KANG SURVIVES
[contestant] He really is a top fighter.
He proved himself.
He's just as good as they say.
[contestant 2] Man,
these matchups are fire.
But the more I watch and see the winners,
the more I start to freak out. [chuckles]
Feels like we're left
with the real heavy-hitters now.
What's left are wars to be fought.
They're all outstanding.
[Jongkook] Oh, are we gonna go there?
My next pick is…
[contestant] Oh, I'm nervous.
This is nerve-racking!
Oh, man…
[producer] Do you have a top contender
in mind?
Kim Donghoe.
He's hit the peak as an amateur boxer.
Probably the best in Korea.
He's definitely a top contender.
-Donghoe.
-[producer chuckles]
I swear, I'm only good at boxing.
[contestant] He's going for his 14th win
at the National Sports Festival.
Whether I'm up against a friend
or a junior, I fight to win.
[Dawoon] This is my first time seeing
Kim Donghoe fight.
I've heard his name a thousand times.
People call him
"Son Goku from Dragon Ball".
-Is that so?
-Among the amateur boxers.
[announcer] The 14-time consecutive
champion of the National Sports Festival,
representing Boryeong City Hall,
Kim Donghoe!
[Sangsoo] I mean, seriously…
I couldn't help but laugh.
I mean, come on…
You matched me up with the final boss.
It's just cruel.
But still, I am an MMA fighter.
I wanted to face him properly once.
For pride's sake, you know?
[announcer] From the blue corner,
the former World Sambo Champion,
-King of Endurance, Lee Sangsoo!
-[contestant] King of Endurance.
FORMER WORLD SAMBO CHAMPION
Is he someone famous too?
Sangsoo?
-He's a veteran in combat sports.
-Really?
He started with judo, then sambo,
then MMA.
I participated in
the "World Sambo Championship"
and won it three years in a row.
I came here to prove I've still got it.
-Sangsoo is known as King of Endurance.
-That's right.
I should know.
I've tested his tolerance myself.
KIM JONGKOOK
MYUNG HYUNMAN
JAY PARK, JULIEN KANG
ALEX PEREIRA
Wow, that's rough!
[Sangsoo] My abs can withstand anything.
Go ahead, take your shot.
[Jongkook] Offense versus defense.
[Lee] A matchup
between the living legends.
People would want to see
if he can still hold up in the ring.
Right.
-Against one of the best boxers too.
-Exactly.
[Donghoe] I bet
every fighter here knows me.
I've got to live up to their expectations.
I know he can take hits,
so how do I crack him?
[Sangsoo] Korean boxing isn't yet
on the same level as the global scene.
I'll show you what world-class looks like.
Ring No. 5.
-Box.
-[bell dings]
[contestants] Let's go! Go, go!
[contestants] Let's go! Go, go!
Damn, he's fast.
[contestants gasping]
Wow, great rhythm and timing.
Okay!
-His punches land so smoothly.
-Yes, they're heavy.
[contestant] That's beautiful.
[contestant 2] Go in.
You have to go for it.
-Whoa.
-Nice!
Nice.
Wow, Sangsoo's doing well.
-Not bad at all.
-Yeah.
[Lee] He's leaving his body open.
Whoa, he's…
[contestant] Because body shots
don't affect him.
[Donghoe] I've always been confident
in my punches, so I went for his body,
but he didn't even flinch.
[Lee] He's taking those body shots
like it's nothing.
-He should stop going for the body.
-[chuckles]
It's a waste of energy.
[contestants exclaiming]
[Kim Donghoe]
I realized body shots wouldn't work,
so I switched it up
and went for the head instead.
[contestant] Oh, boy.
That's good.
How does he move like that?
Let's go, Lee Sangsoo!
-You got this!
-You got this!
He's not missing a single punch.
[contestant] Damn, he's good.
There it is. His signature move.
[contestants exclaiming]
He keeps firing from every stance.
He's super skillful.
Stop!
-[announcer] The fight is over.
-[contestants exclaiming]
That's pure art.
He makes it look so effortless.
We were supposed to be talking,
but my jaw just dropped.
I just sat there speechless.
-He wouldn't go for my body.
-[judges laughing]
[Sangsoo] He faked it,
then went straight for my face.
He was amazing.
I did throw a few body shots.
Most people flinch, but not him.
He kept coming like it was nothing,
so I was shocked.
Nothing gets through Sangsoo's body.
[laughing]
He's a legend for a reason, though.
His punches look light,
but they're insanely powerful.
[contestant] Oh, really?
They did look light.
I guess they're heavy.
He puts even more weight
behind his punches by relaxing his body.
All right, so the survivor of this match
is Kim Donghoe from the red corner.
[contestants exclaiming, applauding]
The Boxing Ghost.
[Lee] And finally…
Okay, here we go.
It's time.
The main event of the day.
This one's going to be intense.
You're telling me these fighters are here?
They are top-tier fighters.
[contestant] The current champion.
-He's the East Asia champion, right?
-Yeah.
The former versus the current.
This feels like the finals already.
-This one's got to be the most fun.
-Definitely.
I'll choose Ring No. 6.
-The legends.
-This is gonna be fun.
This could be a historic match.
[announcer] From the blue corner,
Korea's reigning featherweight
and East Asia lightweight champion,
Kim Taesun.
[contestants exclaiming]
He's a rising star.
His stamina is insane, and he's fierce.
He just keeps pressing hard.
[announcer] From the red corner,
former national team member
and East Asia
super lightweight champion, Kim Minuk.
-[contestant] It's Snyper!
-[contestants exclaiming]
Honestly, Kim Minuk was
one of my all-time favorites.
Snyper, huh?
I don't follow boxing closely,
but I know who Kim Minuk is.
You could say he's a star boxer.
Who will win, the old or the new champion?
I'm the current WBA Asia East champion
and the Korean super featherweight champ,
defending my title for the fourth time.
Go in, go in!
[commentator 1] Okay!
This is a battle of pride!
-[commentator 2] Oh, he stopped the match!
-The referee put a stop to it!
[Taesun] My record so far is 13 wins,
9 by KO, 3 losses,
and 2 draws in 18 fights.
I'm a former national team player
and a previous East Asian champion.
[commentator 1] He's got him in a bind!
-He is down!
-[commentator 2] Congratulations!
That was Kim Minuk
of the Republic of Korea!
And he is now
the super featherweight champion!
[Minuk] My record is 16 wins,
12 by KO, and 1 loss.
I got the nickname "Snyper"
because I score knockouts
with straight punches.
That's why people started calling me that.
I'll show you
how I made a name for myself.
Come on then, bring it on.
I'll finish you off, sir.
KIM MINUK VERSUS KIM TAESUN
This is going to be good.
I'm going to get a closer look.
You don't see this every day.
[chuckles]
-There's an age gap, so who knows?
-Right.
Kim Minuk has his moves,
so you never know.
One of them is gonna take a serious hit.
I feel like Taesun might take a hit.
I don't know. We'll have to see.
[contestant sighs] This is intense.
[sighs]
All right, Ring No. 6.
Why am I feeling nervous?
[Minuk clears throat]
-Box.
-[bell rings]
-[contestant 1] Let's go!
-[contestant 2] You got this!
Even the air feels heavier.
[contestants exclaiming]
It's fine. He rolled with it.
-[grunting]
-His defense is solid.
He's not missing anything.
-Watch out for body shots.
-[contestants exclaim]
-Watch out for body shots.
-[contestants exclaim]
-That was a clean hit.
-That's Snyper for you.
He's totally composed.
He's like, "Come at me."
[contestants exclaiming]
He's making it fun.
[contestant laughs]
Man, that's a good punch.
That's insane.
He's still got it.
-Those punches sound like gunshots.
-Yeah.
I think Minuk's punches are more powerful.
-He just plants it in.
-He's fast.
Man, Kim Taesun's good.
I took a hit to the body. It hurt.
I let my guard down
for a split second and got hit
just as I was inhaling.
[grunting]
That'll knock you out for real.
I told you, it'll knock you out.
If Taesun keeps going like that,
he'll win.
I already knew his style,
so I knew he'd stay guarded.
I came in strong from the start,
aiming to break through his guard.
-[contestants exclaiming]
-Good shot.
He cut him off with a single punch.
[grunting]
[contestants exclaiming]
[Minuk] That's actually my best position,
when I'm up against the ropes.
I studied his punches. The angles,
what he was good at, and so on.
I sized him up right then and there.
[contestant] He's reading him like a book.
That's insane.
That's a good punch.
His shots are as sharp as a razor.
He puts weight behind each one.
[contestants exclaiming]
No way. Just like that?
[exclaims, chuckles]
God, Kim Minuk is good.
Once you're cornered, you're in trouble.
He's reading all his moves.
He's copying his moves.
His punches are really crisp.
They're landing perfectly.
You can see the precision.
His class really shows.
He's going toe-to-toe
with the current champ.
Look at him dodge to the side.
-[grunts]
-[exclaims]
-[contestants exclaiming]
-[gasps]
That's high-class boxing.
That body shot was awesome.
This is fun!
How cool.
Wow, boxing is really cool.
-[bell rings]
-[contestants exclaiming, applauding]
[announcer] The fight is over.
[chuckling] This was super fun.
It feels like we should be paying
to watch this.
There's no way we're watching
something this good for free.
That's true.
All right, I'll pay. Who do I pay?
[contestants laughing]
[Dex] I dare say,
this might've been the best boxing match
I've ever seen in my life.
[contestants exclaiming, applauding]
[Dex] That was a top-class fight.
[chuckling] I think we should give him
some time to think.
-This must be a tough call.
-This is tough.
-I can't tell who'll win.
-[contestant laughs]
Both of them were incredible.
I honestly can't tell.
Okay.
The winner of this match is…
Kim Minuk.
Kim Taesun, right?
Let's see.
[tense music plays]
-Kim Minuk from the red corner.
-[contestant exclaims]
-[Lee] Kim Minuk from the red corner.
-[contestant exclaims]
RED CORNER KIM MINUK SURVIVES
He took out an active fighter.
[Minuk] I've still got it.
My punches still pack a serious punch.
I'll take the win for Round 2 as well.
And the championship, for that matter.
Wow, here's Group 2.
Looking forward to this.
[contestants exclaiming]
Who's that?
-That's so cool.
-They look awesome.
-It's Hong Junyoung.
-[contestants exclaim]
Oh, this looks like fun.
What? Seriously?
Look at that. This is gonna be fire.
MYUNG HYUNMAN VERSUS JUNG DAWOON
Is that Yoon Hyeongbin?
Wow, he's something else.
I'm super curious about O3ohn.
These matchups look like real pro matches.
Ring No. 8's going to be wild.
Those two are gonna go at it.
He's a Black Cmbat fighter?
PARK SEONGJUN
"UNDERDOG"
He never loses.
That's what makes him so cool.
JAEIL
LA BOXER
[Dex] What's with the push-ups?
-Look at them.
-What's up with that?
Hey, stop that.
-You'll tire yourselves out.
-[Lee] Save your energy.
-Those power punchers.
-They're bodybuilders.
The fight I'd like to see first is…
Ring No. 4.
[contestants exclaiming, applauding]
LEE CHAEHYUN VERSUS JAEIL
-Let's go!
-Go, Lee Chaehyun!
Let's do this, Chaehyun!
-Salute!
-All right!
Hello, I'm Lee Chaehyun,
an amateur boxer with the KAFAC,
24 years old.
In 2024, I ranked first
in the under-67kg division
at the Korean Boxing
Association Championship.
My style's the complete opposite
of most professional fighters.
They struggle to land clean shots,
but it's easier for me to connect.
That's why they call me the "Pro Killer."
-Chaehyun's good.
-He's almost national-team level.
He's with KAFAC.
He could join the national team.
Yeah.
Jaeil will do better.
-Jaeil?
-Yeah, he's good.
He's amazing.
[Jaeil] My name is Jalen
and I'm from the US.
My Korean name is "Jaeil."
I'm currently preparing
for my pro debut in Korea.
[in English] A counterpuncher is
like Floyd Mayweather.
[exclaims]
Korean professional boxers
disregard the boxing fundamentals.
I think I can beat
all of the pro boxers in Korea.
[in Korean] I am the best of the best.
I bet he has a secret weapon.
It'll all come down
to timing and explosiveness.
Why am I shaking here?
[contestants exclaiming]
-Let's go!
-Let's do this thing!
Let's begin the match. Box!
-[bell rings]
-Box!
[contestants exclaim]
He's quick.
He's coming in hot.
-He's freaking fast!
-[exclaims]
His punches are insane.
Dang, it's not landing.
Jaeil's throwing more punches,
but it doesn't look like
they're connecting much.
[Chaehyun] My opponent
had powerful punches.
But boxing's all about
landing more punches than you take.
He kept coming at me,
so I figured I'd just counter every time.
[exclaiming]
[contestant] Awesome.
[exclaims] He's precise.
[contestants exclaiming]
His punches are clean.
He's super fast.
Great, he's fast.
-[bell rings]
-[referee] Stop!
-[contestants exclaiming]
-Yeah!
RED CORNER LEE CHAEHYUN SURVIVES
-Wow, he's good.
-[Jaeil] Yeah.
-What a shame. He's good, you know.
-Such a shame.
The matches just keep getting better.
We're in for a thrilling,
action-packed match this time.
He's one of the hottest fighters
from MMA’s Black Cmbat right now.
Park Seongjun. [exclaims]
-Underdog.
-Underdog.
-From Black Cmbat.
-Yeah.
Let's go, Underdog!
He's pretty famous.
I hear he's really good.
[Dex] Park Seongjun is a star player
at Black Cmbat.
I think his grit might be
the reason he's so popular.
Facing him is a gold medalist
at the National Sports Festival.
Whoa.
[Lee] An elite boxer, Kuk Seungjun.
He's a National Sports Festival medalist?
Whoa, that means he's good.
[Lee] Let's see Ring No. 8.
[exclaims]
[contestant]
Whoa, they look great up there.
Kuk Seungjun is really tall, I see.
[Sungwoon] Oh, the good-looking guy?
Kuk Seungjun?
At first, I thought he was a K-pop idol.
He's got a handsome face,
and it felt like I'd seen him on TV.
He's got a chiseled face.
I bet he got cast for his looks.
He's just so handsome.
[Seongjun]
First of all, he's so good-looking.
His face is just…
It left me speechless for a second.
I thought he was an actor.
Part of me thought I got lucky
because he seemed like an easy opponent.
I'm Park Seongjun, an MMA fighter
also known as "Underdog."
It's the same with pro boxers.
The stronger one wins in the end.
If we're talking pure boxing,
I think he'll be easy prey.
I'll show everything I've got
in this match, without fail.
KUK SEUNGJUN VERSUS PARK SEONGJUN
-An MMA fighter versus a boxer, huh?
-Right.
The thing is,
Seungjun doesn't take hits well.
MMA fighters are at a disadvantage.
I'm curious to see how he fights.
[contestant]
Wow, I have a feeling this will be fire.
Ring No. 8, box!
[bell rings]
Box!
-[bell rings]
-[shouts]
[contestants chattering]
He's going straight in.
[contestants groan]
He can attack, all right.
I knew it, he's fiery.
-Whoa.
-That's it.
That's how he cuts in.
See? He's coming in strong.
That's the only way.
This could be over in no time.
Man, he's fast.
Oh, nice.
Wow, he's not backing off.
[contestant] That's insane.
Whoa, he's stumbling.
He's strong.
Looks like he wants to knock him out.
[exclaims] How is he so good?
He's showing what real boxing is.
It's heating up, all right.
-Ooh.
-This is it.
I love how Seungjun
didn't back down one bit, like a pro.
Oh, that body shot.
[exclaims]
He's got more to show.
[Seungjun]
MMA fighters usually keep a wider guard.
I first aimed for the left body shot,
which landed perfectly
and opened up the other side.
Medalists sure are different.
[contestants exclaim, chatter]
He's crushing him.
His body shots are sharp.
[contestants exclaim]
-He keeps going for his body.
-Like he's a punching bag.
He's taking too many body shots.
He's taken quite a few blows.
If I'd taken hits like that,
I'd be down already.
Wow, another one.
Wow, that one must've stung.
-[bell rings]
-[referee] Stop!
-To your corners.
-[announcer] The fight is over.
He's got great body shots.
He's got the reach to hit from a distance.
He's so cool.
I think these two just gave us
the most explosive match yet.
Yeah, as expected.
[Seongjun] I got pounded good.
Made me wonder if this was the difference
between boxing and MMA.
The survivor of this match is…
Kuk Seungjun from the red corner.
Congratulations.
[Seongjun] I thought he was just an actor
who boxed for fun.
But turns out he's the real deal.
I got pummeled out there.
[Lee] The ring I'm choosing next is…
[contestant 1] Yoon Hyeongbin, perhaps?
[contestant 2] Come on, Ring No. 6.
Comedian-turned-MMA-fighter Yoon Hyeongbin
and rising pro boxer Kim Jaewon.
Let's watch their match next.
YOON HYEONGBIN VERSUS KIM JAEWON
This is gonna be fun.
-Hyeongbin's amazing.
-Awesome.
Let's do this!
[cheering]
Go, man!
Officially speaking,
I've got a 100% win rate
and a 100% KO rate.
I'm the real One-Punch Man.
Brush my fist and you hit the deck.
I always win with my punches.
As a fighter, I believe I can beat anyone.
I'm confident.
[Jaewon] My punch hits different.
No one else can compare.
I've got one-hit power.
My fists may be smaller,
but I can take someone out in one shot.
He's quite strong, actually.
It's a one-punch kind of match, huh?
You're right.
[Lee] Ring No. 2.
Box.
Box.
[bell rings]
-Yeah!
-Box!
They're going at it right away.
Break!
He's clinching.
Box!
That looks like holding and hitting.
-The clinch?
-That's a dirty boxing move.
Holding and hitting.
It's giving MMA vibes.
Fighting like that
will tire out your opponent fast.
[Hyeongbin]
That was just a part of the plan.
Start from mid-range,
go straight into a clinch,
wear him down, then break away.
Clinches really wear you out.
-They do.
-Yes.
He isn't giving him an opening.
[Jaewon] I wanted to keep my distance
and control the exchanges,
but he kept clinching and hammering me.
It felt like I couldn't show my skills.
Break.
He needs to move first.
[contestants exclaim]
Whoa, he's as strong as expected.
Dang, his punches.
He's going for it.
He took a hit.
Whoa, his power's no joke.
Keep going!
[contestants exclaim]
He keeps grabbing him.
Hyeongbin, let's go!
-Come on!
-That body shot!
That one landed.
Looks like Hyeongbin is getting tired.
[bell rings]
Stop!
[contestants applauding]
Who do you think will win?
[Lee sighs]
Who's he going to pick?
His clinch was solid, though.
It definitely threw the other off a bit.
How was the match, Jaewon?
Honestly, I could've done more.
-[chuckling]
-I really think I could've won.
I just got caught up in too many clinches.
I could've won.
-[laughing]
-That's honest of him.
I think clinching is
a skill in its own right.
-Yes, you're right.
-Right, right.
[Lee] The winner of this match is…
Kim Jaewon from the blue corner.
Thank you, sir!
-[Lee] Congratulations.
-Thank you!
-Congratulations.
-[Jaewon] Thank you!
Thank you. Great game.
-Great work.
-Well done.
[Lee] Now, let's move on to the two men
with incredible builds.
Ring No. 3.
[contestant] We've got bodybuilders.
It's like a bodybuilding contest.
What are they? Sports models?
Wow, amazing.
Which coconut shoulders will win?
-Box.
-Box!
[contestants clamoring]
-[exclaims]
-Whoa, they're good.
He's taking multiple uppercuts!
Are those abs made of iron?
He's done.
Park Youngho is really feisty.
[Lee]
Park Youngho from the red corner wins.
Let's move on to Ring No. 7.
[contestant exclaims]
O3OHN VERSUS KIM JONGOH
He looks like Jung Haein.
-He's good-looking.
-That's cute.
O3ohn!
Ah, a fellow singer.
[laughs]
I'll prove why I deserve to be here.
I'll show you my passion
and drive for boxing.
[bell rings]
Oh, he's strong.
That hairstyle and his moves
scream boxer from the '70s!
Wait, he's good.
Why is he good?
[Lee] The winner of this match is
O3ohn from the red corner.
Ring No. 6.
We have Kwon Asol and Hong Junyoung.
KWON ASOL VERSUS HONG JUNYOUNG
This is a big match.
[contestants exclaiming]
Nice cross.
Nice!
-Hong Junyoung's got great footwork.
-[exclaiming]
He's also throwing a lot of punches.
Kwon Asol's going to tire out soon.
[Lee]
The winner of this match is Hong Junyoung.
All right, folks.
Next up is the showdown
between Korea's two strongest.
[contestants clamoring]
MYUNG HYUNMAN VERSUS JUNG DAWOON
-No way.
-This is insane!
-[exclaims]
-That's a scary sight.
Here we go.
Better watch this up close.
Let's watch from up here.
We can't miss this.
It's the main event!
Wow, this is incredible.
You can't see this anywhere else.
[Lee] Asia's top kickboxer…
versus one of the UC’s strongest.
They're finally facing off.
Incredible. I can't wait to see this.
It's a battle of the monsters.
-Wish this had a full three rounds.
-[laughing]
A battle of the two strongest in Korea.
Who's your pick?
-I still say Jung Dawoon.
-I honestly can't pick.
[Dawoon]
Fans debate about it all the time.
Who'd win between Myung Hyunman
and Jung Dawoon?
Honestly, I never gave it much thought.
I have the same answer for anyone.
I'm just on another level.
The difference is astronomical.
You'd better be ready to give it your all.
People call me "the old, retired fighter."
They say I just sell
soy-marinated crabs now.
But Myung Hyunman is back.
Dawoon, I'm not the kickboxer
you once knew.
Now, I'm just a boxer. So brace yourself.
[Lee] It's the ultimate showdown.
-Box!
-[bell rings]
-Box!
-[bell rings]
-[contestants clamoring]
-Box!
It's like watching bears fight.
They're breaking each other.
That was slick.
One of them might actually die.
Those shots look lethal.
Right there. That can knock you out.
That hook knocks you out.
-Right?
-Yeah.
[contestants exclaim]
[exclaiming]
[contestants exclaim]
-[exclaims]
-[referee] Stop!
He's down!
He's down.
-Whoa, I actually flinched.
-Whoa.
Whoa! No way!
[Dawoon] I thought I heard a bomb go off.
He's terrifying.
He landed that punch right behind the ear.
-The temporal region.
-Yeah.
[contestants exclaiming]
-[referee] Stop!
-[Lee] He's down!
That was a heavy hit.
This could end in a KO.
-Four, five, six…
-[Dawoon] My vision flashed.
I was stunned.
I thought, "This is bad."
[contestant] Go, Dawoon!
The look in Dawoon's eyes has changed.
One of them is going down for sure.
-Insane!
-Who do you think will win?
Oh, it's Jang Hyuk!
[Hyuk]
How far can I make it on my own two feet?
[contestants exclaim]
Get in there. Get in there.
His rhythm's hard to read.
Do we have bleeding?
The bleeding won't stop.
Damn, this place is massive.
Just how many punching bags are there?
Round 2 is…
-a team round.
-Keep going!
[Lee]
The losing team is immediately eliminated.
-Let's go, guys!
-Run!
Last one! Come on!
-Push through!
-[screams]
We can win this thing!