Chinese boxer trounces stereotypes, depression to become 'Queen of the Ring'

FILE PHOTO: Huang Wensi celebrates her victory after the referee awards her a technical knock-out during the seventh round of her fight against Thailand's Jarusiri Rongmuang for the Asia Female Continental Super Flyweight Championship gold belt in Taipei, Taiwan, September 26, 2018. REUTERS/Yue Wu

TAIPEI/NINGBO, China (Reuters) - Huang Wensi narrows her eyes and swings her fists towards her opponent, delivering a series of sharp punches before the referee finally separates the two, who have been duelling for seven rounds.

"I made it, my son!" screamed the 29-year-old as she danced in the ring before her rival, Thailand's Jarusiri Rongmuang, from whom she snatched away the Asia Female Continental Super Flyweight Championship gold belt at the match in Taipei.

Huang Wensi thanks the Taiwanese crowd after her match against Thailand's Jarusiri Rongmuang for the Asia Female Continental Super Flyweight Championship gold belt in Taipei, Taiwan, September 26, 2018. REUTERS/Yue Wu

Huang is one of a small but growing number of women in China to embrace professional boxing, relishing its intense nature despite traditional stereotypes that steer women away from such activities.

As a mother, she is also a rarity within a small circle of professional female boxers and clinching her top title on her son's birthday last October made victory all the sweeter.

"A woman is not just limited to being a wife or mother in the house," said Huang, adding that her son, now aged 2-1/2, had jumped for joy during her video call to tell him of the win.

Huang Wensi celebrates her victory after the referee awards her a technical knock-out during the seventh round in her fight against Thailand's Jarusiri Rongmuang for the Asia Female Continental Super Flyweight Championship gold belt in Taipei, Taiwan, September 26, 2018. REUTERS/Yue Wu

"I live for myself. This makes me truly happy. I hope there are more moms who could see this game. Besides living for family, you could also live for yourself."

Born in a small town in China's southern province of Guangdong, Huang started learning to box in 2002 after a coach spotted her potential at school. She joined a provincial team three years later, but retired in 2011, after an injury.

In 2015, she met the man who is now her husband and her son was born a year later. But after his birth, she suffered such severe depression that she was driven to contemplate suicide, she said.

Huang Wensi looks at her iPad whilst in bed unable to sleep, which she attributes to having drunk milk tea to celebrate her victory in Taipei, Taiwan, September 27, 2018.REUTERS/Yue Wu

That event spurred her comeback as a professional boxer, after spending a few years in gruelling practice to regain her physique and strength, said Huang, who also works as a teacher in the coastal city of Zhejiang.

"I knew that was my only way out."

After the victory, fans and friends surrounded Huang to celebrate her medal.

Huang Wensi cries backstage after winning her match in Taipei, Taiwan, September 26, 2018. REUTERS/Yue Wu

"Don't call me a king," she said. "Please call me the queen of the ring."

(This version of the story corrects reference to dreadlocks in paragraph 3)

Huang Wensi in action during her final training session in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, China, before she heads to Taiwan for her Asia Female Continental Super Flyweight Championship match, September 23, 2018. REUTERS/Yue Wu

(Reporting by Yue Wu and Brenda Goh; Writing by Brenda Goh; Editing by Clarence Fernandez)

Huang Wensi sits in her corner during her fight against Thailand's Jarusiri Rongmuang for the Asia Female Continental Super Flyweight Championship gold belt in Taipei, Taiwan, September 26, 2018. REUTERS/Yue Wu

Huang Wensi applies makeup in her hotel room before the match in Taipei, Taiwan, September 26, 2018. REUTERS/Yue Wu

Huang Wensi relaxes in her dorm after a long day training in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, China, September 23, 2018. REUTERS/Yue Wu

Huang Wensi and her husband travel for nearly a full day to bring their son back to their hometown where he will stay with his grandmother, in Lianjiang, Guangdong province, China, June 30, 2018. REUTERS/Yue Wu

Huang Wensi takes part in a weighing session to make sure she fits the criteria for the super flyweight category in Taipei, Taiwan, September 25, 2018. REUTERS/Yue Wu

Huang Wensi is interviewed by a local tv station in Taipei, Taiwan, September 25, 2018. REUTERS/Yue Wu

Huang Wensi trains in the local park, accompanied by her husband and sister (unseen), in Lianjiang, Guangdong province, China, June 30, 2018. REUTERS/Yue Wu

Huang Wensi in action during her final training session in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, China, before she heads to Taiwan for her Asia Female Continental Super Flyweight Championship match, September 22, 2018. REUTERS/Yue Wu

Huang Wensi in action during her final training session in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, China, before she heads to Taiwan for her Asia Female Continental Super Flyweight Championship match, September 22, 2018. REUTERS/Yue Wu

Huang Wensi in action during her final training session in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, China, before she heads to Taiwan for her Asia Female Continental Super Flyweight Championship match, September 22, 2018. REUTERS/Yue Wu

Huang Wensi's husband Deng Peipeng, looks after their son while accompanying her on a training session in a local gym in Lianjiang, Guangdong province, China, July 2, 2018. REUTERS/Yue Wu

Huang Wensi and her son wait to catch their last train back to their hometown in Lianjiang, Guangdong province, at Shenzhen East Train Station, in Shenzhen, China June 29, 2018. REUTERS/Yue Wu

Huang Wensi's sister watches her training at a local gym in Lianjiang, Guangdong province, China, June 30, 2018. REUTERS/Yue Wu

Huang Wensi trains in the local park, accompanied by her husband and sister, in Lianjiang, Guangdong province, China, June 30, 2018. REUTERS/Yue Wu

Huang Wensi and her husband Deng Peipeng spend time in their hometown in Lianjiang, Guangdong province, China, June 30, 2018. REUTERS/Yue Wu

Huang Wensi and her husband Deng Peipeng spend time together in their hometown in Lianjiang, Guangdong province, China, July 1, 2018. REUTERS/Yue Wu

Huang Wensi and her father argue over family matters during a dinner at home in Lianjiang, Guangdong province, China, June 30, 2018. REUTERS/Yue Wu

Huang Wensi play-fights with her brother-in-law at home in Lianjiang, Guangdong province, China, June 30, 2018. REUTERS/Yue Wu

Huang Wensi spends time with her son where she works, before sending her son back to her hometown in Lianjiang, Guangdong province, in Cixi county, Zhejiang province, China, June 28, 2018. REUTERS/Yue Wu

Huang Wensi warms up for her match in Taipei, Taiwan, September 26, 2018. REUTERS/Yue Wu

Huang Wensi and her assistant coach stand as the coach says a few motivational words before a match in Taipei, Taiwan, September 26, 2018. REUTERS/Yue Wu

Huang Wensi tries to work up a sweat to lower her body weight in Taipei, Taiwan, September 25, 2018. REUTERS/Yue Wu

Huang Wensi has her hair done before the match in Taipei, Taiwan, September 26, 2018. REUTERS/Yue Wu

Huang Wensi spends time with her son where she works, before sending her son back to her hometown in Lianjiang, Guangdong province, in Cixi county, Zhejiang province, China, June 28, 2018. REUTERS/Yue Wu

Huang Wensi and her husband travel for nearly a full day to bring their son back to their hometown where he will stay with his grandmother, in Lianjiang, Guangdong province, China, June 29, 2018. REUTERS/Yue Wu

Huang Wensi fights in her match against Thailand's Jarusiri Rongmuang for the Asia Female Continental Super Flyweight Championship gold belt in Taipei, Taiwan, September 26, 2018. REUTERS/Yue Wu

Huang Wensi fights against Thailand's Jarusiri Rongmuang for the Asia Female Continental Super Flyweight Championship gold belt in Taipei, Taiwan, September 26, 2018. REUTERS/Yue Wu