Vietnamese enters semifinals of women's world boxing championship

In New Delhi, India, on Wednesday night, against Fuertes, who won last year's event in Turkey, the 28-year-old right-handed Vietnamese chose a southpaw stance to produce better punches.

She evaded most of Fuertes' strikes and responded with left hooks and punches to the midriff.

All five referees gave Tam the first round 10-9.

The second round saw the same scenario with Tam scoring four accurate hooks to her opponent’s head.

In the third and final round, she kept a safe distance and constantly moved around to avoid being cornered.

The only time she was hit was when the referee stopped the bout but Fuertes still threw a punch, but it was not powerful enough to bother her.

Tam got the maximum 30 points to Fuertes’ 27.

Advancing to the semifinals guarantees her at least a bronze medal and US$25,000 in prize money.

Her opponent in the semifinals will be France’s Wassila Lkhadiri, who won European bronze medals in 2014 and 2019.

Tam has won the Asian gold twice, in 2017 and 2022, and an Asian Games bronze in 2018. She has also won two SEA Games gold medals.