I started off my career in the marine industry as an apprentice. To prepare us for the challenge ahead, the company offered a one year full-time and two year part-time studies at one of the institution. There were thirteen of us. In term of sizes or of built. I was the smallest among them. Just because of that, the biggest-sized in our batch would find ways to antagonized me. Not knowing the bad temper that I possessed, I told my other colleagues that I would lay hands on him if so provoked in future.

One day, we were having lunch at the training centre instead of at the canteen, with fans blowing at our direction. Well, they were having a round of gambling. What happened next was a dollar note landed on my plate of food. Naturally, I started to look up. There, this giant ticked me off, telling me not to look at him as the dollar note belonged to him. Without hesitation, I got hold of a chair and smashed it onto his head. Luckily for him, one fellow colleague blocked it and he got off with slight injuries. He threatened to report this matter to the training manager of the company. I told him it was not an honour by doing so. Instead, I offered him an advice, that was to complain to his mother that today, as a six-footer three and fat, he was beaten up by a person who was half his size. Less than two months later, I was playing with my fellow colleagues, some pushing around at the corridor of the institution. He was sitting on the railings and before I banged on him, he pushed me away from behind. Needless to say, another bout took place. Instincts told me to aim for his eyes. One punch was more than enough to give him a black-eye. Now, all this fighting was witnessed by two training instructors from the institution.

When class started we were called up by the first instructor. He made it plain to us that whatever happened, he just wanted the both of us to shake hands and called it quit. When the second instructor came in, facing the whole class of about thirty students, he gave an insight of what fighting was all about. He explained that in fighting, one must not be afraid of sizes, if not, then we were already half defeated. He was full of praise for me, taking on a giant. He nicknamed me 'The Fighting Cock'.

I understood why I was praised instead of being reprimanded. For this second instructor was a fighter in his own rights. He was a tae-kwon-do black-belt holder taking in students when he was in Australia. These fightings soon spread like wild fires in the company. Henry 'The Fighting Cock' shot to fame.