[2025.10.23] LOUIS CHEUNG'S "FIGHT" SAVES TOMMY CHU FROM THE ABYSS

Tommy Chu looks convincing as he spars with Louis Cheung
courtesy of on.cc

Tommy Chu and Louis Cheung have many sparring scenes in GOLDEN BOY
courtesy of mingpao.com

Tommy Chu Pak Hong 6 years ago took the role of a boxer in the film GOLDEN BOY (GUM TUNG). At the time he was at his lowest point of his life. He thanked Louis Cheung Kai Chung for helping him get out of the trough. "In fact I wasn't the one who supported Ah Chung, instead he asked me to make this movie to support me. At that time I faced the biggest difficulty in my life, and also a big black hole in my life. I had no direction in the future and very lost, yet Ah Chung asked me to take part in this film. He supported me with action, which gave my life a clear goal again and regain my confidence.

In order to play a fighter, Chu Pak Hong and Cheung Kai Chung needed to accept tough physical training. With no martial arts background, Chu Pak Hong found an MMA coach in advance to learn to box for 1 year. His weight increased from 130 pounds to more than 200 pounds during training. During the official shooting he had to lose water to make his muscles more defined and his weight was reduced to 160 pounds. Ah Chung made fun of him for being stronger than Hollywood movie star Christian Bale, because he was fat and thin in a short period during filming back then, and had team behind him to support him. However Chu Pak Hong could only use the his own methods to lose weight. When filming the boxing match, Chu Pak Hong revealed that because he was not used to the series of "dehydration" processes he was confused for awhile. "I remember when I was disrobing for the match, I was confused due to the side effect of "dehydration". At the same time I had to remember my marks, boxing. At that moment I really couldn't remember. I was afraid of hurting people, missing my mark, not punching hard or fast enough. I was panicking, afraid of affecting the production progress. Ah Chung patiently told me, 'Little Brother, don't be afraid. Just punch me. You just punch me hard for real, you don't have to hold back for me.' His encouragements one after another were truly very touching."