CHINA?S FIRST AND ONLY WBC CHAMPION LOSES HIS TITLE IN BIG UPSET
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 06 Feb 2014
Novoa.
China?s first and only WBC champion Xiong Zhao Zhong has lost his straw-weight title in a big upset against Mexico?s Oswaldo Novoa who won by a 5th round TKO in Haikou, China.
Although Novoa had come down in weight from an original 112 pounds to become the FECAMBOX light flyweight champion, he was the bigger and stronger fighter, forcing the 5 feet tall Zhong to try and outbox him which he succeeded in doing in the early rounds.
Novoa took the initiative with some solid shots in round three and under the open scoring system of the WBC after four rounds, Novoa was ahead 39-37.
The Mexican challenger stepped up his aggressive stance and landed a flurry of punches that had the Chinese champion in deep trouble and when he failed to fight back international referee Bruce McTavish who makes his home in Angeles City in the Philippines stepped in and called a halt.
With the win the 32 year old Novoa improves to 13-4-1 with 8 knockouts while Zhong drops o 22-5-1 with 12 knockouts.
Novoa was coming off a 6th round TKO win over countryman Job Solano last August 3 although Solano didn?t have an impressive record losing 16 fights as against 13 wins with 2 draws and 5 wins by knockout.
Zhong who won the title with a unanimous twelve round decision over Mexico?s Javier Martinez Resendiz in Kunming, China on November 24, 2012 successfully defended his title against hard-hitting Filipino Denver Cuello who hurt his shoulder in round two and battled gallantly with one hand to lose by a majority decision.
In his last fight Zhong scored a 5th round TKO over last-minute substitute Lookrak Kiatmungmee of Thailand who is scheduled to challenge Pan Asia Boxing Association light flyweight champion and WBA No. 2 Randy Petalcorin at the Malvern Town Hall in Victoria, Australia on March 28.
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