A highly-anticipated professional boxing event took place in Haikou, the vibrant capital of south China's Hainan Province, on Saturday night. The local hero, Yang Yongqiang, emerged victorious against Kazakh fighter Ablaykhan Khusainov, securing the WBO inter-continental lightweight title to the delight of the home crowd.
Yang entered the ring with an impeccable record of 16 wins from 16 fights, including 12 knockouts. His opponent, Khusainov, boasted a strong record of 13-1. The bout began cautiously, with Yang quickly asserting his dominance through swift jabs and agile footwork. He effectively controlled the distance, landing significant blows that kept Khusainov at bay.
As the match progressed, Khusainov attempted to corner Yang with aggressive combinations, but his efforts were largely ineffective. From the eighth round onward, the intensity heightened, with both fighters exchanging powerful punches. However, Yang maintained control, countering Khusainov's attacks with a relentless offensive strategy.
After 12 rounds, the judges awarded a unanimous decision to Yang, solidifying his position as a top contender in the lightweight division. Reflecting on his victory, Yang stated, \"I hope Chinese boxing can develop in all areas. I also hope our current fighters, like Zhang Zhilei and Xu Can, can achieve great results on the international stage as soon as possible. We have a heavy task ahead, so I will reflect on my shortcomings and work on improving.\"
In another fight for the WBO oriental flyweight title, China's Lyu Bin faced undefeated Filipino pugilist Vencent Lacar. Despite Lyu's efforts to close the distance and deliver powerful combos, Lacar's height, reach advantage, and impressive speed proved decisive. After 10 intense rounds, Lacar claimed the title by split decision, marking another significant moment in the event.
Reference(s):
China's Yang claims WBO inter-continental lightweight title in Haikou
cgtn.com
