Xiong Chaozhong or Xiong Zhaozhong (born October 3, 1982) is a Chinese professional boxer. He is the first Chinese/Hmong to win a boxing world title, having held the WBC mini-flyweight title from 2012 to 2014.
Early life Xiong was born in rural Wénshān to two Hmong farmers, from which he was the second child. Xiong grew up in poverty and after one year in high school, he dropped out to find work to support his family. Xiong ended up working in coal mines and in a banana plantation. Xiong used to fight often in his youth, resulting in his cousins to convince him to try boxing professionally, so as a result Xiong moved to Kunming. It was in Kunming, China where he began to train under Zovi Boxing behind the Garden Hotel in northern Kunming. While there, he was trained by American coach Abraham Darwish for 7 years. With no amateur experience, Xiong was developed into a world-level fighter.
Professional career
Xiong debuted as a professional shortly after arriving in Kunming with a points draw against Yu Ling Feng on August 15, 2006. Xiong won his next 11 fights, eight of them by stoppage, and claimed the WBC-ABCO Continental light-flyweight title. However, he would lose the title in his first defense, losing a unanimous decision to Filipino journeyman Julius Alcos. On May 26, 2009, Xiong challenged Daisuke Naito for the WBC flyweight title in Tokyo. Xiong had a considerable size disadvantage, but he was able to drop Naito in round 6. Per WBC rules, Xiong had two points deducted for accidental headbutts which opened cuts on Naito. Naito also had a point deduction after an accidental headbutt cut Xiong in round 10. Naito retained his title with a close unanimous decision (114–110, 114–111, 113–111) win. Over the next three years, Xiong suffered two more losses in Japan, losing decisions to Takuya Kogawa and Shin Ono.
Xiong defeated Javier Martínez Resendiz for the vacant WBC mini-flyweight title in Kunming. This victory made Xiong the first Chinese boxer to ever win a world title. Xiong cut Martínez in the third round and outboxed him for most of the fight, winning a unanimous decision (116–114, 116-112 and 119–110). Xiong's next fight took place in Dubai, where he faced Denver Cuello in a mandatory defense. Xiong was dropped in the first round. However, Cuello was unable to use his right hand because of a torn rotator cuff. Nevertheless, the fight remained close and Xiong won a narrow majority decision (113-113, 113–110, 115–112). After a further defense, Xiong faced Oswaldo Novoa in February 2014. Xiong was stopped via technical knockout in round 5, losing his world title on his third defense.
On October 25, 2014, Xiong attempted to regain a world title, facing WBA mini-flyweight champion Hekkie Budler in Monaco. Budler and Xiong traded knockdowns in the second and third rounds. The rest of the fight remained close, but Budler retained with a unanimous decision win (114–112, 114–112, 118–108). Xiong's final title challenge took place in 2018, when he faced WBA mini-flyweight champion Knockout CP Freshmart. Knockout outpointed Xiong to take a wide unanimous decision win (118–110, 118–110, 116–112). Xiong announced his retirement after the fight.
Professional boxing record
ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes36LossKnockout CP FreshmartUD1227 Jul 201835Win27–7–1Panya PradabsriMD123 Oct 201734Loss26–7–1Jose Antonio JimenezSD1225 May 201633Win26–6–1Crison OmayaoUD1018 Sep 201532Win25–6–1Hiroya YamamotoUD1022 Feb 201531Loss24–6–1Hekkie BudlerUD1225 Oct 201430Win24–5–1Jack Amisa9 (10), 25 Jul 201429Win23–5–1Roilo GolezTKO5 (10), 16 May 201428Loss22–5–1Oswaldo NovoaTKO5 (12), 5 Feb 201427Win22–4–1Lookrak KiatmungmeeTKO5 (12), 30 Nov 201326Win21–4–1Denver CuelloMD1228 Jun 201325Win20–4–1Javier Martínez ResendizUD1224 Nov 201224Win19–4–1Osvaldo RazonUD1212 Jun 201223Loss18–4–1Shin OnoUD822 Apr 201222Win18–3–1Guy-Hun LeeKO4 (12), 25 Mar 201221Win17–3–1Daisuke IidaUD1219 Nov 201120Win16–3–1Rodel Tejares1227 Jun 201119Win15–3–1Pongpan Patanakan GymKO4 (12), 18 Dec 201018Win14–3–1Yasuaki SatoUD109 Jul 201017Win13–3–1Herrio PatakomgymKO3 (10)24 Jan 201016Loss12–3–1Takuya KogawaUD107 Jul 200915Loss12–2–1Daisuke NaitoUD1226 May 200914Win12–1–1Zhao Kang JiaUD817 Dec 200813Loss11–1–1Julius AlcosUD126 Nov 200812Win11–0–1Yang ChaoTKO7 (8)26 Jul 200811Win10–0–1Numchai TaksinisanKO1 (12)21 Mar 200810Win9–0–1Lin Guo WeiKO1 (6)1 Dec 20079Win8–0–1Numchai KiatpaibounUD69 Oct 20078Win7–0–1Li BengKO2 (6)25 Aug 20077Win6–0–1Zhou Hai FengKO5 (6)14 Jul 20076Win5–0–1Bai Jun2 (6), 8 Jun 20075Win4–0–1Zhang Rong ZheTKO6 (10)21 Apr 20074Win3–0–1Wang Xin Yu624 Mar 20073Win2–0–1Zhang Rong Zhe2 (6), 26 Jan 20072Win1–0–1Zhang Rong Zhe421 Dec 20061Draw0–0–1Yu Ling Feng415 Aug 2006
References
External links
Interview with Xiong Chao Zhong