“Savage” Hee Won Hong has unfinished business with “Korean Gangster” Won Sik Park, but as he works his way back from major shoulder surgery, settling that score is only one part of a much bigger comeback.
“Savage” Hee Won Hong had plenty to say during a recent Q&A with fans — and he decided to do it in perhaps the most relaxed way possible.
Sitting at home with sashimi and a glass of Hibiki whisky, Hong worked his way through nearly an hour of fan questions covering everything from his injury and fighting career to money, future opponents, and life away from competition.
But one name kept finding its way into the conversation: Won Sik Park.
There’s Still Some Heat With the “Korean Gangster”
Hong and Park were previously expected to fight before the matchup ultimately fell apart.
Despite undergoing significant shoulder surgery, Hong revealed just how committed he had been to making that fight happen. When he originally learned that surgery would be necessary, Hong said his first thought wasn’t to pull out of the fight.
Instead, he wanted to fight Park first and have surgery afterward.
That doesn’t necessarily mean Park remains at the top of his list.
Hong admitted that once a matchup falls apart, some of the excitement disappears. From a career perspective, he would rather face opponents who are ranked higher or offer him more upside.
But when the question became personal, Hong had a different answer.
Asked if there was someone he specifically wanted to fight after returning, Hong pointed to Park.
The reason?
According to Hong, Park had publicly cursed at him.
From Hong’s perspective, that was pretty straightforward.
If you publicly talk to another fighter like that, you’re basically asking to fight.
Hong clarified that Park isn’t necessarily the opponent he wants more than anyone else from a competitive standpoint. But if emotions are going to be part of the equation, “Korean Gangster” is the name that comes to mind.
Hong Questions Park’s Standing
Hong didn’t stop there.
When asked about fighters he believes are overrated or underrated relative to their rankings in Black Combat, Hong named Park as someone he considers overrated.
Hong questioned the level of competition Park has faced since joining the promotion and referenced his previous loss as part of his reasoning.
It certainly doesn’t sound like the foundation for a future friendship.
Still, Hong stopped short of guaranteeing he would accept another fight with Park.
Later in the Q&A, when asked directly whether he would take the matchup if it were offered again, Hong was hesitant. He questioned whether he should give Park another opportunity after the way their previous fight fell apart.
His answer, essentially, was that they would have to see when the time comes.
So there’s interest.
There’s definitely some bad blood.
But there’s no fight — at least not yet.
First, Hee Won Hong Has to Get Healthy
Before any of that can happen, Hong has a much bigger opponent in front of him: recovery.
Hong revealed that he underwent a major shoulder procedure involving three separate areas and made it clear he has no intention of rushing back just to compete sooner.
As frustrating as being sidelined has been, another injury from returning too quickly would only make things worse.
Hong hopes to resume lighter training around the winter and is targeting a return to competition sometime next year. Ideally, he would like to be back before the fall, although he acknowledged that his recovery could push that timeline later.
And sitting on the sidelines clearly hasn’t been easy.
Hong openly admitted that he has struggled mentally with being unable to train and compete. For someone accustomed to constantly training, moving around, and pursuing something, suddenly being stuck at home has been a difficult adjustment.
Taking care of his dog, spending time with friends, and focusing on recovery have helped — but Hong isn’t pretending he enjoys being away from the cage.
He wants back in.
A New Hee Won Hong at Welterweight?
When he does return, fans could see a slightly different version of “Savage.”
Hee Won Hong said he intends to compete at welterweight, believing the division is a better fit for his size.
The time away has also given him an opportunity to look at his own game.
Hong considers his consistency and work ethic one of his biggest strengths, but he sees several areas that need improvement. He wants more impact behind his striking, more efficient movement, and a wider variety of offensive weapons.
And when asked what version of himself he wants fans to see when he finally returns, Hong wasn’t interested in giving a complicated answer.
He wants to be more dangerous.
He wants to put people away.
UFC Dreams — But One Step at a Time
Like almost any fighter, Hong isn’t going to pretend the UFC doesn’t interest him.
He said getting the opportunity to compete there would obviously be something he would want. But unlike fighters who began training with the UFC as a lifelong destination, Hong came into MMA relatively late.
His immediate focus remains much closer to home.
First, he wants to succeed in Black Combat.
Hong also offered an interesting answer when discussing what he ultimately wants from his fighting career.
It wasn’t simply a championship.
It wasn’t even necessarily the UFC.
Hong wants to reach a point where MMA provides him with meaningful financial success.
He views fighting as a profession and an investment in himself. Even if the money isn’t where he wants it to be today, he believes the time and effort he’s putting into the sport can eventually turn into something much bigger.
That may explain why Hong isn’t interested in making his comeback solely about revenge.
A fight with Won Sik Park?
He’d clearly entertain it.
There’s history. There’s tension. And after the words exchanged between them, there would be no shortage of story behind it.
But “Savage” Hee Won Hong appears to have something bigger in mind.
Get the shoulder healthy.
Drop to welterweight.
Come back stronger.
And then start climbing.
If Won Sik Park happens to be standing across the cage somewhere along the way?
That could make things a little more interesting.
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