XIA RETAINS WBO CHINA NAT?L TITLE, GRAHAM WINS WBO AS-PAC BELT
By Rene Bonsubre, Jr.
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 29 Nov 2015
SUZHOU, CHINA ? Xia Shunkai of China did not disappoint the sell-out crowd inside the Suzhou Sports Center when he scored a stunning first round knockout win over Amour Amran Umbaya of Tanzania.
The taller Xia cornered the East African and landed a hard body shot. Umbaya dropped his guard and a perfect right straight landed on his face a split second later sending him flat on his back.
Referee Surat Soikrachang of Thailand signaled the end without more ado at the 1:44 mark of the opening stanza. Umbaya regained consciousness immediately when the medical personnel at ringside attended to him.
Aside from the WBO China National cruiserweight belt, Xia also retains his China Professional Boxing Club Association (CBCA) belt. He is now 6-0,3KO?s. Umbaya drops to 7-4-1,4KO?s.
Xia also had the privilege of winning in front of the legendary former cruiserweight and four time heavyweight champion, Evander Holyfield, who was a special guest for this fight card.
Australian heavyweight Peter Graham captured the WBO Asia-Pacific title by stopping another Tanzanian, Alphonce Masumbuko.
Masumbuko brought the fight to Graham when the opening bell rang but Graham effectively parried Masumbuko?s aggression.
Graham softened Masumbuko up with his long jab and body punches. A brutal series of head shots sent Masumbuko down twice in the third round.
Masumbuko bravely charged forward in the fourth but was sent to the canvas again prompting Referee Danrex Tapdasan of the Philippines to stop the fight at the 1:01 mark.
Graham is now 10-3-1, 5KO?s while Masumbuko is 12-4-1,11KO?s.
The two WBO bouts were supervised by WBO Asia Pacific chief Leon Panoncillo and officiated by the Professional Boxing Commission (PBC) of China.
The most thrilling fight of the night belonged to Ge Wengeng of China and Jomanz Omanz of the Philippines.
Ge built an early lead when repeatedly tagged Omanz with head shots the first three rounds. Omanz began to attack the body but Ge continued to be elusive and piled up the points.
Omanz started his furious rally in the sixth when he shifted his attack to the head and had Ge retreating. Omanz punished his opponent on the ropes on several occasions and the crowd yelled themselves hoarse in trying to push Ge to fight back.
Omanz came up short in landing the knockout punch in a spine-tingling eighth and final round where both boxers matched shot for shot.
The scores were 78-74,77-75 and 77-75 for Ge who was awarded the CBCA superbantamweight belt.
For the other undercards:
In another competitive match, Wang Jian won a hard fought unanimous verdict over Wulan Tuolehazi. Scores ? 78-74,78-74 and 77-75.
The all female four rounder between Chen Yuqin and Shi Haijie ended in a draw.
The undercard matches were officiated and sanctioned by the China Professional Boxing Club Association (CBCA). Saturday night?s boxing show was promoted by Dingyuan Promotions.
POST SCRIPT:
Evander Holyfield was mobbed for photos by Chinese fans and officials during his stay here in Suzhou.
The boxing show also had entertaining dance numbers, models wearing angel wings and a Michael Jackson impersonator.
PHOTO ? Xia Shunkai receiving encouragement from Evander Holyfield before his title bout against Amour Umbaya.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Rene Bonsubre, Jr..
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