Six-foot Zhi Lin Xia of China earned a unanimous decision over Carlito Brosas on Saturday night to capture the vacant WBE Asia Pacific welterweight title at the jam-packed Mandaluyong Sports Complex in Manila, Philippines. Xia (8-2 with 3 KOs), 147-lb, became the first Chinese professional fighter to see action in Southeast Asia. Brosas (14-10-1, 8 KOs), 146-lb, struggled to connect as Xia wisely used his 3″ reach advantage, continually landing one-two punch combinations. Scores were 118-110, 116-111 and 115-111. On the undercard of the card promoted by Gabriel “Bebot” Elorde Jr., IBF #11 minimumweight contender Ernesto “Hard Rock” Rubillar (35-28-7, 13 KOs) quit at 2:39 of round six to lose by technical knockout after he suffered an injury to his elbow against Jun de Asis (6-4, 3 KOs), a late sub. Flyweight Drian Francisco improved to 4-0, 2 KOs after earning a shutout unanimous decision in a six rounder against Rommel Ople, who uses the ringname Manny Pacquoan (1-4, 1 KO).
