HONG KONG — A highly anticipated boxing showdown concluded dramatically Saturday as Macau’s BlackJoe defeated Hong Kong challenger Lo Sai Hoi (also known as “Seafood”) by unanimous decision, 178-166, in the main event of the Invincible Cup 2025. The six-round, two-minute-per-round contest, hosted by Derek Cheung, featured high-octane action, a significant injury, and an unconventional post-fight consequence, as the defeated Sai Hoi fulfilled his pre-match promise to kneel and address the victor as “Father.”
The rivalry match, which gripped audiences across the region, delivered intensity from the opening bell, though the early stages were marked by caution.
Grueling Rounds Test Fighters’ Stamina
The intensity escalated quickly in the second round when BlackJoe successfully breached Sai Hoi’s defense multiple times. A heavy blow landed squarely above Sai Hoi’s right eyebrow, causing an immediate deep cut that left the Hong Kong fighter bleeding significantly for the remainder of the bout, a testament to the power behind BlackJoe’s punches.
Despite the injury, Sai Hoi mounted a formidable comeback in the middle rounds. During the third and fourth rounds, he pressed BlackJoe aggressively, repeatedly pinning him against the ropes and forcing the Macau fighter onto the defensive. Sai Hoi’s momentum peaked in the fifth round, where he managed to knock BlackJoe down twice, demonstrating his raw power advantage.
However, the weight of the fight, coupled with his high-output fourth and fifth rounds, appeared to drain Sai Hoi’s stamina. Capitalising on this exhaustion, BlackJoe rallied in the sixth and final round. Utilizing superior fitness and distance control, BlackJoe peppered his opponent with scoring blows, successfully reversing the momentum and clinching the necessary points advantage for the eventual judges’ decision.
Victor Attributes Win to Stamina and Tactics
Following the announcement of the scores—178 to 166 in his favor—the crowd erupted, chanting BlackJoe’s name and echoing the phrase “Father!” in anticipation of Sai Hoi’s promised gesture. True to his word, Lo Sai Hoi knelt before the victor, honoring the pre-fight agreement.
In his post-match comments, BlackJoe acknowledged the difficulty of the contest, attributing the close result to the differential in size and weight.
“Winning against Sai Hoi was far from simple because he is much heavier than I am,” BlackJoe stated. “If he had fought at my weight class, I believe I would have secured a knockout by the fourth or fifth round. The fact that he could absorb my heavy punches shows his resilience.”
BlackJoe emphasized that his superior conditioning proved decisive.
“I was fortunate that his stamina flagged,” he added. “Otherwise, we may have ended in a draw. He outweighs me by nearly 10 kilogrammes, and if I had taken a solid punch from him, I likely would have gone down. There were moments when I felt dazed after taking his hits, but I pushed through, telling myself I had to win.”
When asked about his strategically relaxed fighting style, BlackJoe explained that a deliberate focus on distance was key against a heavier opponent.
“I couldn’t afford to trade blows with someone so much heavier; I had to fight at a distance,” he said. “This required a lighter, more tactical approach, and I’m delighted that the strategy yielded this result.”
The Invincible Cup, featuring high-profile matches between regional celebrities and athletes, underscores the growing demand for cross-discipline combat sports and dramatic, high-stakes narratives in entertainment across East Asia. The bout also serves as a potent reminder of how deeply personal—and, in this case, publicly humbling—pre-fight pledges can shape the legacy of a sporting spectacle.
