CHINA'S ZONG WINS IBF WORLD FEMALE MINIMUMWEIGHT CROWN

CHINA’s Zong Ju Cai is now the new International Boxing Federation (IBF) World Female minimumweight champion.

The 25-year old southpaw from Jinan, China dethroned Japan’s Etsuko Tada via a split decision in their title-fight held Jan. 30 at the Cotai Arena in Venetian Resort in Macao.

Judges Omar Fernandez of Argentina and Dave Braslow of USA both scored it 98-92 for Zong while judge Joseph Pasquale of USA gave it to Etsuko at 98-92.

It was only the first title defense by Estuko, who won the vacant title by a UD over Mexican Kareli Lopez in 2015 at Central Gym in Kobe, Japan.

Zong also took the vacant IBF Inter-Continental Female minimumweight crown via a UD over Thailad’s Siriporn Thaveesuek in Beijing, China last year.

She also earlier beat Filipina Gretchen Abaniel by a UD to win both the vacant WBC International female minimumweight and WBC Asian Boxing Council Continental female minimumweight titles in Wenshan, China on Feb.22, 2015.

Her only defeat was from the hands of WBC ABCC female champion Myna Ketsana on points in Laos in her second outing held in Laos in 2014.