Boxer Lu Bin: Impact belt

KUNMING, March 14 (Xinhua) -- Speaking of Lu Bin, you may remember the controversial penalty in boxing at the 2016 Rio Olympics. In the men's 49kg competition, Lu Bin had the advantage, but the referee accidentally raised his opponent's hand. After that, the scene of Lu Bin kneeling on his knees and kissing the ring broke the hearts of countless Chinese fans.

China's Lu Bin kisses the ring after losing the men's 46-49kg preliminary round of boxing at the Rio Olympics on August 8, 2016. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Lin Yiguang

In 2018, Lu Bin chose to change tracks and become a professional fighter. He is currently actively preparing for the WBA (World Boxing Association) Super Flyweight International Belt with Thai fighter Younata Gansa in his hometown of Yongkang, Zhejiang Province on March 16.

In a recent interview with Xinhua News Agency, 28-year-old Lu Bin said he was ready to compete for the belt. For the competition of the Rio Olympics, Lu Bin has been relieved, and the loss not only allowed him to grow, but also allowed him to gain "wealth".

The battle of the clearance

When I saw Lu Bin, he was preparing for training in Kunming, still lean and thin, and his appearance seven years ago, "You haven't changed much." "Old, there is a sense of vicissitudes." Lu Bin answered the reporter with a smile.

Lu Bin (left) is interviewed by Xinhua News Agency

He has not participated in professional competitions in the past five years, Lu Bin said that he has not retired, but is "cultivating": "Because of the epidemic, I have not gone abroad to compete, but my training has not stopped, I am waiting for the opportunity, and now the opportunity has come."

Lu Bin said that the opportunity is this upcoming WBA professional boxing championship, and his opponent Younata Gansar has a good professional record.

Lv Bin said frankly that for this match, he went to Kunming for retreat at the beginning of the year, "Kunming's altitude of less than 2,000 meters is conducive to improving cardiopulmonary ability, and there are also world boxing champions such as Xiong Chaozhong and Xu Can." ”

Knowing oneself and knowing one's opponent will not be defeated. Lu Bin said that he has studied the videos of Yunata Ganza, and that the opponent has a tough style, heavy punches, great strength, strong sense of striking, and high knockout rate, and he will play the advantages of speed, dexterity and dexterity.

Lv Bin in Kunming's training

"I have better control of speed and timing, I put distance and timing first, my striking sense has improved during this time and my technique has become more comprehensive." Lu Bin is full of confidence.

The pain of self-discipline

Approaching the game, Lu Bin is losing weight. He said that after the competition, what he wanted to eat most was Yunnan's rice noodles and roll noodles. "It's too torturous to lose weight, I can't eat enough, I don't dare to drink water, and I feel very uncomfortable when hunger hits."

Lu Bin said that like many fighters, he also likes to brush short food videos when he is hungry. "If you can't eat, you can fill your eyes, and some fighters will even write down the video content, where to buy it, where to eat, and follow the picture after the match."

Lv Bin in the process of weight loss

Lv Bin used three methods to overcome hunger, one is the spiritual victory method, "the desire for victory and goal can be greater than the desire for food." The second is distraction, "My family is my biggest spiritual pillar, video chat with them, and the time passes quickly." "The third is to try to fall asleep before ten o'clock at night.

Super flyweight fighters need to maintain a weight of 52 kg, which requires a high degree of self-discipline and forbearance.

Lu Bin said that it is love that supports his self-discipline. "I am grateful for my perseverance and hard work for boxing. If I am 80 kg now, even if I have the opportunity, it will not be my turn, it is because of love, so that the opportunity is in front of me, I can reach out and grab it, but I need to pay a lot before reaching out. ”

He runs 10 kilometers every morning, trains for two hours in the afternoon, eats high-protein and low-carbon foods, and has not been thunderous for five years.

"If you can't even manage your weight, how can you manage your life?" Lu Bin said.

Growing pains

People's deepest impression of Lu Bin was nearly seven years ago.

At the Rio Olympics, Lu Bin was awarded a controversial penalty. Just as he was shaking his fist to celebrate the victory, the referee raised his opponent's hand, and Lu Bin's expression changed from excitement to surprise, disappointment and doubt. This incident caused quite a stir at the time.

Lu Bin (right) in the men's 46-49 kg preliminary round of boxing at the Rio Olympics on August 8, 2016. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Lin Yiguang

Later, the IOC specifically investigated the matter, and the referees and officials involved were banned by the IOC from participating in the enforcement of the Tokyo Olympics. The IOC also suspended the FIFA from participating in the Olympics and set up a special team to charge boxing at the Tokyo Olympics. But Lu Bin's match result can no longer be changed.

After the game, Lu Bin posted on social media that "the referee stole my dream", but he did not lose his mind.

In October 2016, Lu Bin was crowned the "Chinese Boxing King" in the Chinese Boxing Championship. In May 2018, Lv Bin announced his transition to professional boxing.

Today, Lu Bin talked to reporters about that past, tearful but relieved. "At that time, I consoled myself and said that looking back in 10 years, maybe it would be a fortune. Now that seven years have passed, this is how I feel, after all, people cannot be smooth sailing, these experiences have made me more resistant to pressure and stronger inside. ”

Lv Bin in Kunming's training

Lu Bin even put himself in his shoes: "The opponent is a Kenyan veteran, and he may need to win more than me." I really hope to have the opportunity to meet him in the future, talk about that game, talk about his life after the game. ”

"It's really very happy to do my passion as a career. I regret staying at the Olympics and hope to stay professionally. I feel like the second spring of my boxing career is coming. Lu Bin said.

Image: Courtesy of the M23 team, unless otherwise noted