Steven Lim and Sylvester Sim are two names you probably haven’t thought of in a while.
After all, it’s been more than a decade since they were on TV screens for the first season of Singapore Idol. Neither took the title in 2004 — it eventually went to Taufik Batisah — but at least Sim made it to runner-up. Lim, on the other hand, was infamous for his antics (such as stripping down to his yellow briefs while attempting to sing ‘She Bangs’) and went on to become somewhat of a laughingstock for his determination to chase fame in his own peculiar way. At least the dude’s making the most out of his 15 minutes.
Here they are in all their fuzzy ’00s glory.
Anyway, now that you’ve done a slightly cringe-worthy stroll down memory lane, get ready to watch the Idol alums duke it out in a battle of the has-beens sparring session as bona fide ‘celeb fighters’ (words from the press release, not us).
Both men will be part of September’s inaugural Asia Fighting Championship (AFC), a Muay Thai competition that will see top fighters from Korea, Macau and Malaysia exchange blows with local fighters. Basically, Sim, now 34, and Lim, now 41, aren’t exactly on the line-up of the main event, but we’re sure they have their own fans who’ll be there to support them.
If you’re thinking it all sounds like a last ditch attempt at another five minutes of fame, Sim insisted their upcoming showdown isn’t a publicity stunt, according to The New Paper.
“Steven Lim is a joke; I am not. This is going to be a serious fight, and I am heading into the ring to fulfil the dream (to fight in the ring),” Sim told the newspaper. “Steven is one of the most hated public figures in Singapore, and people want to see me beat the s*** out of him, so I thought he would make a good opponent.”
Meanwhile, Lim retorted in his typical manner: “I started exercising again because of this match… this is a good chance for Steven Lim Kor Kor to shine again. I have a beast in me and people will definitely be shocked.”
Asia Fighting Championship 2017 is on Sep 23, 7pm at Hall A, Sands Expo and Convention Centre. $58-$133.
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