Actor Lee Sang-yi recently opened up about his newfound passion for boxing and his experience competing in an amateur tournament.
In a recent interview at a café in Samcheong-dong, Seoul, Lee discussed his role in the Netflix series 'Bloodhounds 2'.
The second season of 'Bloodhounds' follows 'Geon-woo' (played by Woo Do-hwan) and 'Woo-jin' (played by Lee Sang-yi) as they take on a global illegal boxing league, delivering another satisfying knockout punch against the forces of money and violence. Lee portrays 'Woo-jin', Geon-woo's eternal family and brother.
Lee shared, "During season 1, I struggled a lot with action scenes as it was my first time. Preparing for season 2, I felt a strong desire to try real boxing, so I started learning," he said. "Action boxing and real boxing are definitely different," he added. "After doing a lot of sparring, at first, I wondered how to dodge everything, but as I got hit, I felt the adrenaline and started enjoying it." He explained the allure of boxing, saying, "It requires a lot of stamina, is great for cardio, and helps with body control. There's fun in dodging, and also in landing a punch."
Lee even participated in an amateur sports tournament, achieving notable success. "After filming, when I was in good shape, my coach suggested I quietly submit an application," Lee revealed. "Fortunately, I won both the preliminaries and finals, earning the 'Outstanding MVP' award." He placed among the top in a competition with around 200 participants.
However, Lee remains cautious about further competitions. "There were some lucky draws, and there are many who are better. Competing in higher-level tournaments might not be easy," he said. "Boxing looks different from the outside, but once you're in the ring, it's completely different, so you always have to be careful." He continued, "While boxing has greatly improved my stamina, the risk of injury makes it challenging to balance with my schedule. This year, with filming and variety show commitments, I need to be extra cautious."
Reporter: Kim Se-ah, TenAsia haesmik@tenasia.co.kr