Friday afternoon at Olympic Park Arena in Lu Zhou, China, Qiu Xiao Jun (20-2, 19 KOs), aka The Dragon, from Suzhou, China, decisioned WBA Pan-Africa super bantamweight champion Raymond “Chorkor Banku” Commey (13-3, 7 KOs), from Accra, Ghana, to win the WBA International super bantamweight title.
All three judges scored the bout 118-109.
It was Zhou’s first defense of the title he won stopping Amor Belahdj Ali three months ago in Monte Carlo.
“I gave my best to get this win and I did,” he said. “Now I want the black and gold belt.”
Also on the card, WBA Oceania super featherweight champion Can Xu (8-0), aka Monster, from Kunming, China, won a unanimous decision over Brazilian super featherweight champion Isaias Santos Sampaio (26-12, 24 KOs), from Sao Paulo, Brazil, to win the vacant WBA international super featherweight title.
At the end of 12 rounds the judges had it 118-110 and 116-112 twice for the Monster from Kunming.
Last but not least, Zong Ju Cai (7-1, 1 KO), from Jinan, China, won a unanimous decision over Debora “La Pantera” Rengifo (6-2-1, 3 KOs), from Caracas, Venezuela, to win the WBA International female minimumweight title after 10 rounds. The final scores were 98-92, 96-94 and 99-91 in favor of Zong Ju Cai.
The bouts were promoted by Zowi Boxing Promotion and televised live on CCTV (China Central Television). With Mr. Liu Gang handling the promotion, 200 million Chinese fight fans tuned in.
More title fights in China may be in the WBA’s future.
“I’m pleased by what happened here today,” said Gang. “Two hundred million people watched this great event. I hope Gilberto Jesus Mendoza is satisfied with what he saw, because we have many more fights planned for the future.”
“I am pleased,” said Gilberto Jesus Mendoza. “We saw a great production today and we will talk about it.”
This article was penned by the author who is not related to the WBA and the statements, expressions or opinions referenced herein are that of the author alone and not the WBA.
