He will fight Thailand's Yuttanna Wongda on February 15 in a 12-round match at the Highland International Boxing Promotion event at Manila Arena.

Wongda, 31, has a modest record of 14 wins (10 by knockout) and 25 losses in 39 bouts, but is vastly more experienced than Hoang, who only turned professional in 2019.

Truong Dinh Hoang (R) wins against South Korea's Lee Gyu Huyn after 10 rounds in the WBA championship match in Hanoi, October 19, 2019.

At the SEA Games last year, Hoang won a silver medal in the 81-kg category.

He won gold in the 2015 SEA Games, but retired due to a severe eye injury he suffered in the Olympics 2016 qualifiers.

He made a comeback last year and turned professional, though at 29 he was considered too old to do so.

In his first professional bout in May 2019 he defeated Arthit Bunphloeng of Thailand. He then sprang a surprise by beating South Korea's Lee Gyu Huyn in 10 rounds in Hanoi on October 19 last year to win the WBA title.

Before his title defense Hoang will take part in the middleweight category at the 2020 Olympic qualifiers from February 3 to 14 in Wuhan, China. The five top boxers will qualify.

Swimmers named best athletes of 2019

Swimmer Nguyen Thi Anh Vien won Best Female Athlete of the Year while swimmer Nguyen Huy Hoang was named Best Male Athlete of the Year at the fifth Victory Cup in Hanoi on January 15.

Vietnamese athlete wins gold medal at Asian Pencak Silat Championship

Vietnamese athlete Nguyen Thi Cam Nhi has bagged the gold medal in the women’s 70kg category at the 5th Asian Pencak Silat Championship, which took place in Yanji, China, from December 25 to 30.

Nguyen Thi Oanh takes top position at poll for most outstanding Vietnamese athletes in 2019

(BGO) – The Bac Giang born athlete Nguyen Thi Oanh excellently took the top position at the poll for the most outstanding Vietnamese athletes in 2019, announced on December 30 by the Organization Board of the election for the best athletes and coaches in 2019.

VnExpress Marathon Hanoi Midnight registers 2,000 athletes in 11 days

Hanoi's night run has attracted 2,000 enthusiasts since Super Early Bird registration started on December 16.

Athletes compete at World Vovinam Championship

The biggest Vietnamese martial art festival in history has kicked off in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, with the participation of 365 trainers and athletes from 24 countries and territories.

Source: VNA