XIONG, NOVOA MAKE WEIGHT, READY FOR WBC WORLD TITLE RUMBLE TODAY IN CHINA (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS)
By Carlos Costa
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 05 Feb 2014
China continues celebrations of the New Year of the Horse with international boxing as their world champ, WBC Minimumweight World Champion Xiong Zhao Zhong (left) defends his crown from the onrush of Mexican challenger Oswaldo "Gallito" Novoa today at Haikou's City Hall in the paradisaical Island of Hainan in Southern China, both warriors weighting-in identical 104.7 lbs (47.5 kgs).
The rumble will the third world title defense for the shorter Xiong Zhao Zhong (22-4-1, 12 KOs), who claimed the vacant WBC 105-pound belt by outpointing Mexican Javier Martinez Resendiz in late 2012.
Xiong defended it twice in 2013 against Filipino Denver Cuello (who fought with only one arm due to a shoulder injury), and against unheralded Thailander Lookrak Kiatmungmee.
Meanwhile, the 32-year-old challenger Oswaldo "Gallito" Novoa (12-4-1, 7 KO's), currently ranked as WBC No. 2, aims at spoiling the new year celebration of the Chinese world champ by defeating him in his own backyard to take the coveted green and golden belt to his home in Guadalajara, Mexico.
According to some observers, odds seem in favor of the more experienced Xiong who might feel very comfortable fighting with the whole crowd in his favor. Will the Mexican "Gallito" Novoa be able to dethrone him?
EXCITING SUPPORTING BOUTS
In the main supporting bout, Thailand's former WBC super featherweight world champion Sirimongkol Singwancha (75-2, 47 KO's) will make the first defense of his WBC Asian Welterweight title from the furious attacks of 21 year-old Chinese challenger Yang Xing Xin (6-2-2, 4 KO's).
Yesterday, Sirimongkol weighed-in at 146.8 lbs (66.6 kgs) while Yang tipped the scales at 146.2 lbs (66.3 kg), as reported by Japanese boxing blogger and photographer extraordinaire Bangkou Gurentai in Haikou.
Sirimongkol, 36, who years ago was forced to suspended his boxing career to serve jail time for drug smuggling at Thailand's Central Correctional Institute of Pathum Thani, is now focused in walking the right path to become a world champion again. Will the Thai veteran be able to do it?
The much less experienced Yang Xing Xin seems destined to be another scalp in Sirimongkol's the long list of wins. But in boxing we never know.
In an exciting girls fight for the vacant WBC International female featherweight crown, Canadian Lindsay Garbatt (8-6-2, 3 KO's) of Oshawa City, Ontario, will collide with 23 year-old Xu Chun Yan (3-3, 1 KO).
"Lethal Lindsay," sporting her perfectly worked-out abs, scaled-in at 125.6 pounds (57 kgs) while the Beijing fighting girl made 125.9 lbs (57.1 kgs).
Also, WBC Youth and WBC Asia Continental Super (122 lbs) bantamweight champ Qiu Xiao Jun (10-2, 4 KO's) of China, will make the first defense of his WBC regional titles from dangerous Australian Jason "Nugget" Cooper (8-1-1, 4 KO's).
The champion Qiu made 121.5 lbs (55.1 kgs) during the official weight-in, while the Aussie warrior from Deception Bay, Queensland, scaled-in at 121.7 lbs (55.2 kgs)
The exciting international card today in Hainan, China, is a production of active Chinese promoter Liu Gang, director of Zovi Boxing Promotions, and will be broadcast live in the People's Republic of China on CCTV 5.
Top photo: Zhong (L) and Novoa pose during the weighin.
Veteran Thai Sirimongkol Singwancha defends his WBC Asian Welterweight Title from Chinese challenger Yang Xing Xin.
Qiu Xiao Jun of China (R) defendS his WBC regional titles from Australian Jason Cooper
Dian Lindsay Garbatt (L) vs Xu Chun Yan of China.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Carlos Costa.
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