Zou claims first world pro title

LAS VEGAS — Two-time Olympic gold medalist Zou Shiming claimed the vacant World Boxing Organization flyweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Kwanpichit Onesongchaigym in a rematch Saturday. The 35-year-old from China easily outpointed Kwanpichit, winning on all three judges scorecards to capture his first world title. Two judges had it 120-107 while the other scored it 119-108. “Now my dream is complete,” said Zou. “I am a pro champ, Olympic champ and world champion.” The Zou-Kwanpichit fight opened an impressive three-title undercard for Manny Pacquiao’s comeback fight against Jessie Vargas. In one of those title bouts, Jessie Magdaleno seized the WBO junior featherweight title with a unanimous decision over former champion Nonito Donaire of the Philippines. Zou, who won gold in 2008 at Beijing and 2012 in London, started quickly by winning the opening round and then knocking down the Thai in the second. With a big size and reach advantage, Zou sent Kwanpichit to the canvas with a perfectly timed right hook to the side of the head with about a minute to go in the round. Zou improved to 9-1 with two knockouts, with his only loss coming in his first title attempt when he lost to Amnat Ruenroeng in Macau last year. Zou posted his second straight win over Kwanpichit, pummeling the Thai to defeat with a similar unanimous decision victory in Macau two years ago. Kwanpichit was riding a two-year, 12-bout winning streak since his sole loss to Zou. Zou gave the Thai plenty of punishment, especially in the first half of the fight, when he used a steady jab and combination punches to keep the more aggressive Kwanpichit at bay. Zou landed a total of 347 punches to just 107 for Kwanpichit. Magdaleno beat the multi-division world champion Donaire in an entertaining fight that saw one judge score it 118-110 for Magdaleno while the other two had the American winning 116-112. “I can’t believe I won the title and I won it against a fighter like Donaire,” said Magdaleno. “I don’t have the words to describe it.” In the other title fight, Mexican Olympian Oscar Valdez stopped Hiroshige Osawa of Japan in the seventh round to retain the WBO featherweight belt. Valdez remained undefeated at 21-0 as he was making the first defense of his title against the top-rated challenger. — AFP