Taiwan isn’t a country that comes to mind when you think of the boxing landscape in east Asia. In fact the country is pretty obscure when it comes to professional sports in general as the island nation’s most popular sports (baseball & basketball) are run in relatively new semi-pro leagues.
Boxing does have its history as the Republic of China Boxing Association dates back 110 years according to its website. In 2016 they sent two boxers to the Olympics in Rio where neither Lai-Chu-en nor Chen Nien-chin advanced past the first round.
Chinese Taipei as they’re called by the International Boxing Association (AIBA) has found more recent success in the amateur women’s competitions picking up two gold medals in 2018 followed up with a gold and bronze in 2019.
Despite the rising profile on the amateur side, professional boxing has not had a presence. In fact, a deep dive on BoxRec found only a single Taiwanese professional registered, Rocky Lin, who fought the legendary Ricardo Lopez in 1992 but boxed only once out of his homeland.
This could all change as new player as emerged in Eagle Boxing, Taiwan’s first franchised boxing gym:
Eagle Boxing is looking for investments of NT$500,000 (or $18,000USD) and will supply the equipment, coaches and merchandising. By creating a network of gyms across the nation and providing a place for motivated coaches to pass on their knowledge, we’re seeing the very beginning of a grassroots movement to promote not just the sport of boxing, but the healthy lifestyle that comes with being active.
Prize fighting ambitions are a ways off but given the growing pedigree at the amateur level, we could see an new power emerge in the OPBF scene in the coming years.
