KIMURA TKOS ZOU IN 11TH TO WIN WBO WORLD FLYWEIGHT TITLE

Filipino international referee Danrex Tapdasan raising the right hand of new WBO world flyweight champion Sho Kimura after scoring an 11th round TKO against China’s Shiming Zou on July 28 in Shanghai, China.

JAPANESE challenger Sho Kimura knocked out Shiming Zou in the 11th round to crown himself as the new World Boxing Organization (WBO) World flyweight champion on Friday night at the Shanghai Oriental Sports Center in Shanghai, China.
Kimura bombarded Zou with combinations on the body and head in the 11th round to drop the former two-time Olympian.
Zou stood up after the mandatory 8 count and motioned by Filipino international referee Danrex Tapdasan to walk towards him.
“You OK?,” asked Tapdasan, who said that Zou looked at him and shook his head and said “NO”.
“I immediately stopped the fight after I had determined that he can’t continue,” said Danrex Tapdasan in an interview on Facebook.
The fight ended in 2:28 of the 11th round via a technical knockout.
Zou was even leading on the two judges Sawaeng Thaweekoon of Thailand (96-94) of Thailand and Edward Ligas (97-93) of the Philippines while American judge Robert Hoyle saw Kimura lead by 96-94.
“Zou did not cover himself for his hands were always downed,” said Filipino international boxing promoter-matchmaker Brico Santig of Highland Boxing Promotions.
“I think Kimura was pressured to catch up since Zou was leading on the scores,” added Santig.
Hong Kong boxing promoter Jay Lau of DEF Promotions, on the other hand, said: “Zou did his best. It was a very good fight. I salute both boxers.”
“What an upset! (It was a) great effort by the Japanese (Kimura). It was a great fight,” said Sanman Boxing Promotions chief executive officer Jim Claude Manangquil of General Santos City, who watched the fight on livestreaming.
It was only Zou’s first title defense of the crown he won via a unanimous decision against Prasitsak Phaprom of Thailand last November 5 at the Thomas & Mack Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
The 36-year old Chinese superstar suffered his second setback against nine wins and two knockouts while the 28-year old Kimura improved his record to 15 wins with 8 knockouts against only one loss and two draws.
Kimura had earlier won the WBO Asia Pacific flyweight title in 2016 before he went to Hong Kong to stop Thailand’s Wisitsak Saiwaew via a 2nd round knockout last May 13.