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Friday night at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila will be about as far away from Han Zihao's humble beginnings in Muay Thai as a man can be. But the Chinese fighter will never forget the hunger.
"I moved to Bangkok when I was 14 years old with a one-way ticket and no money," says Han. "There were four of us at the gym and some days we did not have the 30 baht that we needed between us for a plate of Pad Thai."
They shared a bowl of plain rice. So Han was going to make his bed on the floor of the gym and then he would dream of fighting in front of a crowded arena, fans screaming his name. And, of course, he would dream of having the money to never go hungry again. 
Now, at 23, this day has finally arrived as Han prepares to make his Super Series One Championship debut. 19659002] The largest martial arts organization in Asia gives international Muay Thai fighters and kick boxing the opportunity to share the spotlight – and the biggest scene in the region – with the stars of mixed martial arts. Therefore, on Friday night, we have Han (57-14), born in Henan, among the first Chinese fighters to be installed full-time on the ultra-competitive professional Muay Thai circuit in Thailand, in a bantam weight. clash against Panicos Yusuf (37-5), unique in his own way since it comes from the city of Limassol on the island of Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean.
Han became professional shortly after a national Muay Thai coach sponsored his flight to Bangkok and put him in touch with the Lookbanyai Gymnasium. He had started learning the sanda Chinese boxing profession, but had attracted the attention of the Chinese Muay Thai team and had quickly fallen in love with the martial art. 
"I like the style," Han says. "It's explosive."
Han was – it is worth stressing – 14 years old at the time of departure, without a word of Thai in his vocabulary, and the absolute financial necessity saw Han fight fast for 600 baht to go. It's about 140 dollars in Hong Kong terms. To enter a ring and face men almost always at least twice his age.
"Thai veterans would intimidate me at the gym," revealed Han this week, after posing for promotional photos
make me do all the dirty cleaning work too. But I became strong. When I started to fight, my opponent was looking at me from the other side of the ring as he wondered why a Chinese fighter was in Muay Thai. They thought, "He comes from China, it will be easy." But I showed them. I showed them that I could fight. "
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Han – Who Said to Have Learned the Thai Language" Listening and Copying "- has since joined the Mad Muay Thai Gym and has continued to face some of the best contemporary Muay Thai fighters, including Muangthai PKSaenchaimuaythaigym multiple weight division champion.
Over the past decade Han has witnessed a generation of Chinese Muay Thai fighters set up on domestic combat promotions, after spending relatively short periods of training in Thailand.But Han remains one of the few in China to give himself – warmth and soul – to the country that
On Friday night, Card One: Reign of Kings will be played in front of the sold-out crowd of 20,000 – a certainty considering three superstars of the Philippines' MMAs in Kevin "The Silenc er "Belingon (18-5), against Martin Franco-Australian" The Situ-Asian "Nguyen (11-2) for the interim world Bantamweight belt – with a slight champion Eduard" Landslide "Folayang (19-6) and a talent Joshua straw croissant "The Passion" Pacio (11-2).
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Han and Yusuf both won titles in the myriad of small Muay Thai promotions, but will not have seen anything like. They are near the bottom of the main map, but know that the place is going to be pompous, in terms of atmosphere and opportunity.
"Because I am based in Thailand, few people in China know me," Han said. "But everyone knows One and everyone looks at One, soon everyone will know who I am."
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