Lagos, Nigeria — At 26, De General has not only become a household name for his bold promotion of Chinese culture — from martial arts to food to chinaware — but he’s also quietly building his legacy in the boxing ring. When he isn’t showcasing the elegance of qipaos, mastering kung fu forms, or ordering spicy hotpot, he’s in the gym, gloves laced, skipping rope in hand, drawing strength from every jab, uppercut, and jab-cross combo.
Boxing, he says, is more than sport — it’s a mirror. In the ring, he confronts fear, tests limits, and learns humility. Outside, he carries those lessons into his cultural outreach: discipline in learning Mandarin tones, respect in honoring Chinese traditions, courage in blending cultures in a sometimes skeptical world.
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“Boxing taught me that strength isn’t just physical—it’s mental. When you think you can’t throw one more punch, that’s when you find something deeper inside,” De General told The Lagos Chronicle. “That inner fire fuels my love for China’s culture just as much as kung fu or Chinese scroll-paintings do.”
His training sessions are intense: early morning runs, shadowboxing under the dawn, working the heavy bag until his palms sting. He cross-trains in martial arts borrowed from kung fu masters, merging the fluidity of traditional Chinese movement with the raw power of Western boxing technique. It’s not always easy — balancing study, travel, shoots, cultural events, and gym time takes a toll — but De General insists the payoff is worth it.
“When I wear Chinese traditional dress, or cook a Sichuan-style dish, people see something new. But when I step in that ring, they see what hard work, perseverance, and respect can do. I’m trying to show that culture lives when you live it — not just when you show it.”
