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"I had a dream of fighting on the world stage": Flyweight fighter Lee Jae-hoon to compete in Japan's largest martial art
๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท South Korea /Sports

"I had a dream of fighting on the world stage": Flyweight fighter Lee Jae-hoon to compete in Japan's largest martial arts organization, RIZIN FF, on July 18

From Chosun Ilbo · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Flyweight fighter Lee Jae-hoon will compete in Japan's largest martial arts organization, RIZIN FF, on July 18.
  • This marks Lee's first overseas professional match, where he will face Tatsuki Shinotsuka.
  • Lee, who has been active in the Road FC flyweight division, expressed a desire to compete on the world stage.

South Korean flyweight fighter Lee Jae-hoon is set to make his international debut on July 18, challenging the Japanese martial arts scene by competing in RIZIN Landmark 15 in Hiroshima. This marks a significant step for the 22-year-old fighter, as it will be his first professional bout outside of South Korea, where he has been a notable competitor in the Road FC flyweight division.

Lee will face Tatsuki Shinotsuka, a Japanese fighter, in what is anticipated to be a challenging but rewarding experience. The fighter has openly expressed his long-held ambition to test his skills on the global stage, and this opportunity with RIZIN FF, one of Japan's premier combat sports organizations, is a crucial platform to realize that dream. His participation signifies not only a personal career milestone but also a representation of Korean mixed martial arts talent aiming for international recognition.

From a Korean perspective, Lee's venture into RIZIN FF is viewed with a mixture of anticipation and national pride. While Western media might cover this as just another fighter's international bout, for Korean fans and media outlets like Chosun Ilbo, it's about showcasing Korean fighting spirit and skill against formidable international opponents. There's a strong desire to see Korean athletes succeed abroad, proving that talent from the peninsula can compete and triumph in any arena. Lee's ambition to 'fight on the world stage' resonates deeply, reflecting a broader national aspiration for excellence and recognition in various fields, including sports. This fight is more than just a match; it's a chance for Lee to etch his name in international MMA history and for Korean martial arts to gain further global respect.

I had a dream of fighting on the world stage.

โ€” Lee Jae-hoonExpressing his long-held ambition to compete internationally.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Chosun Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.