CHONGQING, CHINA - Dong Youli of China prevailed over Thotsaphol Thongplew of Thailand in their battle of unbeaten boxers to capture the vacant WBO Asia Pacific Youth welterweight title at the Wansheng Sports and Culture Stadium.
After a feeling out first round, the second canto was punctuated by intense close quarter exchanges. The southpaw Thai then decided to box from a distance while the Chinese boxer bombed at the body when he got in close.
In the third, Dong established his jab and started to land harder punches, but the Thai was still in the fight. In the fourth, a perfect left hook from out of the blue landed on Thongplew?s jaw and sent him sprawling on the canvas. Thongplew had a blank, dazed facial expression when he raised his head and referee Surat Soikrachang correctly halted the fight at the 44 second mark.
Thongplew was able to stand and recover after a minute inside the ring as Dong?s team celebrated his title win.
Dong is now 12-0-1,8KO?s. He was also the reigning WBO Greater China welterweight titleholder and was be facing his first foreign foe. Thongplew drops to 6-1,3KO?s.
Supervising for the WBO was WBO VP for Asia Pacific Leon Panoncillo.
In the main bout of the evening, Yilixiati Ainiwaer of China won a hard fought ten rounder against Yevgeni Makhteienko of Ukraine to retain the WBC ABCO super middleweight title.
The taller Makhteienko had a decent jab and was effective boxing from a distance. But Yilixiati still managed to get in close and bang with heavy hooks. The Ukrainian proved to be tough customer and increased his punch output in the middle rounds. But in the late rounds, Yilixiati closed the gap again and was the harder puncher. They traded shot for shot in the last round much to the delight of the crowd.
The scores ? Edward Ligas (Philippines) ? 97-93, Surat Soikrachang (Thailand) ? 97-93, Tao Zhuwu (96-94) all for Yilixiati.
Yilixiati is now 13-1,10KO?s. He won the title last December in Zhongshan, China by second round TKO against Tornike Gikashvili of Georgia. Makhteienko drops to 10-10,8KO?s. Supervising for the WBC ABCO is Damrong Simakajornboon of Thailand.
For the undercards - Mu Xiaolu beat Zou Bingcheng by unanimous decision, He Jianglu won by unanimous decision against Wang Liming and the female match between Huang Wensi and Wang Qi ended in a split draw.
Su Cheng (China) vs Chaloemporn Sawatsuk (Thailand) has been downgraded to an exhibition after Chaloemporn came in more than 10 pounds overweight and was no longer capable of shedding his excess pounds.
This fight card marks the start of season four of Major League Boxing which is promoted by SECA and Top Rank. The fights are sanctioned and officiated by the Professional Boxing Commission (PBC) of China.
Top photo: Dong Youli celebrates with his team after winning the WBO Asia Pacific Youth welterweight title.
Yilixiati Ainiwaer?s arm raised victorious by Referee Atty Danrex Tapdasan.
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