TFC calls bout 'a crucial test' of Lee's readiness for the world stage
South Korean heavyweight contender Lee Seung-jun, known by his nickname "Hippo," will take on Kazakhstan's Muratjan Bomba Yusupov at TFC 24.
The two fighters are set to meet in a heavyweight main card bout at "TFC 24: Break Through," scheduled for Oct. 23 at the Event Hall on the third floor of the Textile Center in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
Standing 186 centimeters tall and weighing 120 kilograms, Lee carries an MMA record of 8 wins, 9 losses and 1 draw. He relies on sharp jabs and grinding dirty boxing in the clinch as his primary weapons, and the upcoming fight continues a pattern of international competition — 11 of his bouts have come against foreign opponents.
Yusupov holds a 6-1 MMA record and is a silver medalist from the GAMMA World Championship, an international amateur MMA tournament. He is known for his punching power and knee kicks.
Yusupov said through TFC that he would "definitely finish Lee Seung-jun by KO in front of Korean fans."
Jeon Chan-yeol, co-representative of TFC, said the bout would determine whether Lee is ready to compete at the world level. "He needs to stay sharp and prepare with full focus," Jeon said.
TFC 24 will also feature a welterweight bout between Seol Yeong-ho and Watanabe Yuta, a former DEEP welterweight champion, as well as a heavyweight matchup between Kim Nam-sin and Lee Ho-jun. A bout between Shin Yun-gangsan and Kim Jae-yeong has also been confirmed as the main event of the second card.
TFC 24 is scheduled to feature a total of 10 bouts — six on the main card and four on the undercard.
yjc@heraldcorp.com
