First sanctioned fights held in mainland China
[BOXING] The first sanctioned professional boxing event has been staged in China, heralding a new era for boxing in greater Asia.
Thailand's welterweight champion Sintung Kietbusaba - with five knockout wins already - won the Asian Boxing Council title when he knocked out China's Huang Yan Chao in the main event last Saturday in the People's Government indoor sporting arena in Chengdu. A less experienced Chao knocked down Singtung early in the fight with a sharp right hook, but the Thai champ quickly recovered and fired a series of combination punches to knock out the brave Chinese contender at the 2:48 mark in round six. In the other ABCO title contest, China's Wu Zhi Yu won the cruiserweight title in dramatic style when he demolished New Zealander Bruce Glozier with a hard right hook for the full 10-count at the 27-second mark of the opening round. In the other contests, France's Frederic Gosset won an eight-round unanimous decision over former Thai champion Kongthawat Singwancha, South Africa's Miyan Solomons stopped New Zealand's Vai Toevai in the third round and China's Mo Xiang won a unanimous decision over Korean Lim Chang Hyun in an eight-round non-title bout. The historic event was promoted by Liu Gang of Zovi Boxing Promotions and sanctioned by the WBC through ABCO. WBC vice-president and president of ABCO, Pol General Kovid Bhakdibhumi, said China was now emerging as a power in professional boxing. "Boxing has a bright future in China. The Chinese are currently training a strong boxing team for the Olympic Games in 2008, and the prospect of having China as a strong boxing nation will improve the standing of boxing all over greater Asia." Meanwhile, Thailand's great flyweight champion Pongsaklek Wongjongkam will defend his WBC title against Japan's Daigo Nakahiro on Labour Day (May 1) at the boxing arena of the 11th Infantry Regiment in Bangkok. This will be Pongsaklek's 14th title defence - and only one short of him being inducted into the WBC Hall of Fame. Pongsaklek registered the quickest knockout defence in flyweight history - overcoming Japan's Daisuke Naito in 34 seconds of the opening round in April 2002. The Thai champion is set to score another record with the most defences in flyweight history, equalling Mexican fighter Miguel Canto, who defended his crown 14 times from 1975 to 1979. Overcoming Nakahiro, however, won't be easy. The Japanese contender has an impressive record of 13-1 (4 KOs). Patrick CusickThe Nation
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