This weekend's most over-looked, though rightfully so, world title fight is in China as Xiong Zhao Zhong (21-4-1, 11) looks to make the second defense of his WBC Minimumweight title. Originally Zhong was listed to fight Omari Kimweri though unfortunately Kimweri has had issues with his passport and instead been replaced by inactive Thai Lookrak Kiatmungmee (7-4, 4) who is one of the weakest and least qualified world title challengers in recent memory.
Unfortunately for Zhong this was supposed to be his chance to defend in front of his people against a credible, though somewhat obscure, opponent. Instead Zhong will be facing a man who has been inactive for around 2 years and was far from a world beater when he was active.
Zhong, a strong, powerful, tough and bullish fighter is a real beast at 105lbs. He is far from "boxer" but is a fighter and very tough to discourage. Against Kiatmungmee it's difficult to see anything but a Zhong victory via stoppage as he walks through the limited Thai.
For Kiatmungmee he's really not got a chance, however it's great that he's filled in to allow Zhong his chance at history.
Prediction-Zhong TKO5
Showing posts with label Xiong Zhao Zhong. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Xiong Zhao Zhong. Show all posts
Friday, 29 November 2013
Tuesday, 25 June 2013
Xiong Zhao Zhong v Denver Cuello
The first title fight of the coming weekend takes place in Dubai as the little known, but yet historic, Xiong Zhao Zhong (20-4-1, 11) defends his WBC Minimumweight title against the highly ranked Filipino Denver Cuello (33-4-6, 21) in what should be a highly enjoyable contests, even if it is in an unfavoured division.
The champion, the first male "world champion" from his native China is widely regarded as a paper champion, a man given a title to help raise the profile of boxing in the untapped Chinese market (something Bob Arum is now trying to tap in to with Zou Shiming). The WBC allowed Zhong, who had never previously fought at the 105lb division, to fight for the vacant belt late last year against the somewhat hopeless Javier Martinez Resendiz.
Zhong defeated Resendiz last year via decision for the belt in a relatively close contest after the WBC had paid a step aside fee to their mandatory contender, Filipino Denver Cuello (who of course, now fights for the belt some 7 months later).
Stylistically Zhong is pretty limited, he's tough and does have plenty of power on his shots, in fact he dropped the then WBC Flyweight champion Daisuke Naito back in 2009 but from a technical stand point he's "acceptable but limited". There is no great work from him and his victories to date don't belie some under-lying "extra gear" that he could move in to if push came to shove.
What Zhong does have going in his favour is the fact he is a naturally bigger man having competed at both Flyweight and Light Flyweight for much of his career. This should help him take the shots of Cuello and even allow him to bully the challenger a bit but at 30 years old he is certainly getting on a bit for a fighter in the lower divisions and he's also stepping in with his best opponent since Naito some 4 years ago.
In the Filipino challenger we have a fighter who has waited his turn for a world title fight, then had to wait a bit longer. More and more obstacles have been thrown in his way over the years and yet they've not prevented him from becoming one of the most exciting fighters in the lower division.
Fighting from the southpaw stance the 26 year old Cuello has become known as "Mr Excitement" due to his vicious power which has helped him become on of the top ranked Minimumweights on the planet and helped him stop 10 of his last 12 opponents.
Having started his career 3-2-4 Cuello has turned things around remarkably well and has lost just 1 of his last 27 fights (and even that was a highly controversial DQ in Mexico against a Mexican fighter). He has done things "the hard way" and developed as a fighter thanks to it. He is now a solid offensive fighter with a hurtful array of shots to the head and body and a fighter who will be a real nightmare for anyone in the division.
Going in to this bout it's obvious the WBC would rather see Zhong retain the title so they could push things in China (and hopefully "help" IK Yang and Zou Shiming to world title bouts). With this in mind I actually see Cuello more determined than ever to stop his opponent. This might back fire with the toughness of Zhong but the body shots that Cuello throws are bound to take an effect sooner or later.
Prediction-Cuello TKO7
The champion, the first male "world champion" from his native China is widely regarded as a paper champion, a man given a title to help raise the profile of boxing in the untapped Chinese market (something Bob Arum is now trying to tap in to with Zou Shiming). The WBC allowed Zhong, who had never previously fought at the 105lb division, to fight for the vacant belt late last year against the somewhat hopeless Javier Martinez Resendiz.
Zhong defeated Resendiz last year via decision for the belt in a relatively close contest after the WBC had paid a step aside fee to their mandatory contender, Filipino Denver Cuello (who of course, now fights for the belt some 7 months later).
Stylistically Zhong is pretty limited, he's tough and does have plenty of power on his shots, in fact he dropped the then WBC Flyweight champion Daisuke Naito back in 2009 but from a technical stand point he's "acceptable but limited". There is no great work from him and his victories to date don't belie some under-lying "extra gear" that he could move in to if push came to shove.
What Zhong does have going in his favour is the fact he is a naturally bigger man having competed at both Flyweight and Light Flyweight for much of his career. This should help him take the shots of Cuello and even allow him to bully the challenger a bit but at 30 years old he is certainly getting on a bit for a fighter in the lower divisions and he's also stepping in with his best opponent since Naito some 4 years ago.
In the Filipino challenger we have a fighter who has waited his turn for a world title fight, then had to wait a bit longer. More and more obstacles have been thrown in his way over the years and yet they've not prevented him from becoming one of the most exciting fighters in the lower division.
Fighting from the southpaw stance the 26 year old Cuello has become known as "Mr Excitement" due to his vicious power which has helped him become on of the top ranked Minimumweights on the planet and helped him stop 10 of his last 12 opponents.
Having started his career 3-2-4 Cuello has turned things around remarkably well and has lost just 1 of his last 27 fights (and even that was a highly controversial DQ in Mexico against a Mexican fighter). He has done things "the hard way" and developed as a fighter thanks to it. He is now a solid offensive fighter with a hurtful array of shots to the head and body and a fighter who will be a real nightmare for anyone in the division.
Going in to this bout it's obvious the WBC would rather see Zhong retain the title so they could push things in China (and hopefully "help" IK Yang and Zou Shiming to world title bouts). With this in mind I actually see Cuello more determined than ever to stop his opponent. This might back fire with the toughness of Zhong but the body shots that Cuello throws are bound to take an effect sooner or later.
Prediction-Cuello TKO7
Thursday, 22 November 2012
Xiong Zhao Zhong v Javier Martinez Resendiz
This coming weekend marks an historic occasion in the boxing world as we will see the first ever world champion, at any weight, to be crowned in China as local favourite Xiong Zhao Zhong (19-4-1, 11) faces Mexican Javier Martinez Resendiz (13-3-2, 6) in a bout for the vacant WBC Minimumweight title. In fact it may well be fair to say that this is the biggest professional boxing contest to have ever taken place in China.
For Xiong, it's fair to say the pressure is really on his shoulders. At 30 years old Xiong may never get another chance to claim a world title, especially not in his homeland. Saying that however Xiong has fought at the world level before losing a close and competitive decision to Daisuke Naito for the WBC Flyweight title back in 2009.
Sadly despite being China's most famous professional boxer, Zhong is really not that good, certainly not matching his amateur counter-parts (such as Zou Shiming, Zhang Xiaoping and Zhang Zhilei). He's a decent fighter with out a doubt and has a solid punch on him, though his WBC "Silver" Light Flyweight title appears to be little more than a political move by the WBC to move into China's untapped market.
Zhong may have an issue here. Despite standing at a diminutive 4'11" he has never, to my knowledge, weighed inside the 105lbs Minimumweight limit and has actually been as high as 113lbs when he faced Japanese fighter Takuya Kogawa. If he can make 105lbs he could be a real handful, especially if he's 90% of the fighter he was when he faced faced both Naito and Kogawa (he gave both men a very hard time).
Zhong's co-challenger, Mexican, Resendiz is almost certainly being seen as a sacrificial lamb by the WBC however I wouldn't be surprised if Resendiz can upset the proverbial applecart. Firstly, as mentioned, Zhong isn't really that good. Just two fights ago Zhong was upset by Japanese Flyweight Shin Ono (14-5-2, 2) who had gone 2-3-2 going in to the fight.
Not only is Zhong not very good, but Resendiz is a tough fighter who hasn't been stopped in 18 fights so far, including a 10 rounder with current "interim" WBA World Minimumweight champion Jesus Silvestre. If Zhong can't dent him there is every chance that Resendiz can make him look as average as he is.
For me, being frankly honest, I think Resendiz will need a knock out to score a draw. This is the big "coming out party" of professional Chinese boxing and it'd take something shocking to happen for someone to piss on Jose Sulaiman's parade. I expect the fight to be close, even controversial but I simply do not see Zhong being denied if it goes to the cards.
Prediction-Zhong SD
For Xiong, it's fair to say the pressure is really on his shoulders. At 30 years old Xiong may never get another chance to claim a world title, especially not in his homeland. Saying that however Xiong has fought at the world level before losing a close and competitive decision to Daisuke Naito for the WBC Flyweight title back in 2009.
Sadly despite being China's most famous professional boxer, Zhong is really not that good, certainly not matching his amateur counter-parts (such as Zou Shiming, Zhang Xiaoping and Zhang Zhilei). He's a decent fighter with out a doubt and has a solid punch on him, though his WBC "Silver" Light Flyweight title appears to be little more than a political move by the WBC to move into China's untapped market.
Zhong may have an issue here. Despite standing at a diminutive 4'11" he has never, to my knowledge, weighed inside the 105lbs Minimumweight limit and has actually been as high as 113lbs when he faced Japanese fighter Takuya Kogawa. If he can make 105lbs he could be a real handful, especially if he's 90% of the fighter he was when he faced faced both Naito and Kogawa (he gave both men a very hard time).
Zhong's co-challenger, Mexican, Resendiz is almost certainly being seen as a sacrificial lamb by the WBC however I wouldn't be surprised if Resendiz can upset the proverbial applecart. Firstly, as mentioned, Zhong isn't really that good. Just two fights ago Zhong was upset by Japanese Flyweight Shin Ono (14-5-2, 2) who had gone 2-3-2 going in to the fight.
Not only is Zhong not very good, but Resendiz is a tough fighter who hasn't been stopped in 18 fights so far, including a 10 rounder with current "interim" WBA World Minimumweight champion Jesus Silvestre. If Zhong can't dent him there is every chance that Resendiz can make him look as average as he is.
For me, being frankly honest, I think Resendiz will need a knock out to score a draw. This is the big "coming out party" of professional Chinese boxing and it'd take something shocking to happen for someone to piss on Jose Sulaiman's parade. I expect the fight to be close, even controversial but I simply do not see Zhong being denied if it goes to the cards.
Prediction-Zhong SD
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