Former boxing champ opens gym to train future competitors｜Taiwan News

Former Asian Games boxer Kuo Chih-lai is a veteran of the boxing world known as the “small colossus of the ring.” After retiring, he opened his own gym where he organizes matches and trains Taiwan’s next generation of boxing champions. When Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim was a legislator, even she trained with Kuo to improve her strength. He even sold his land and factories in his determination to cultivate Taiwan’s next king of the ring.
Imagine your opponent is right in front of you, constantly swinging punches and dodging.
Former boxing star Kuo Chih-lai hasn’t lost his touch, even at nearly 80 years old. After retiring, he founded his own gym to coach upcoming boxers. Even Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim trained with him for a time while she was a legislator. Whenever she had time, she’d come to the gym to throw a few punches.
Hsiao wailed on the bag and sometimes sparred with Kuo himself in one-on-one lessons that lasted for half a year.
Kuo Chih-lai
Former boxer
I really admire her. After sparring for five minutes, you’re dripping with sweat. I told her to take a rest, your whole body is drenched. Go clean off. She would tell me she didn’t have time to rest. I snuck off here and need to run back for a session. I really admire that kind of spirit. She told me, and I’ll always remember this: No wonder boxers are successful.
The same about Hsiao’s spirit for training and fitness could be said of Kuo. The man just shy of 160cm started boxing when he was 17. Then his dream was to become one of the best in Taiwan.
Kuo Chih-lai
Former boxer
I’m not cut out for boxing. Everyone else was a head taller than me. But I still wanted to train until I became one of the best.
Although he didn’t win any international medals in his time competing for Taiwan, he’s always held an unshakeable place in the boxing world. Even after entering business in retirement, he still maintained an abiding presence in the ring.
Kuo Chih-lai
Former boxer
Now our boxers are all winning medals in the Asian Games and Olympics. I sold my factory to do something more meaningful. Taiwan needs to have an international boxing champion.
Lin Yu-ting who took gold at last year’s Paris Olympics, along with bronze medalists Chen Nein-chin and Wu Shih-yi, and World Boxing Cup champion Huang Hsiao-wen all often compete in practice competitions hosted by the professional boxing association founded by Kuo. The veteran continues to work hard to ensure Taiwan’s athletes have a spot on the world boxing throne.
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What is the gym called?