Massive upset as Japan’s Sho Kimura stuns China’s Zou Shiming to claim WBO world title in Shanghai
Japanese ‘no hoper’ delivers a determined performance as he wears down China’s two-time Olympic gold medallist before scoring an 11th round knockout
Japanese “no hoper” Sho Kimura, bleeding heavily from a cut right eye for almost nine rounds, roared back determinedly to score a sensational 11th round knockout of China superstar Zou Shiming in a massive upset to lift the World Boxing Organisation world flyweight title in Shanghai on Friday night.
Kimura, given no chance by bookmakers at 10-1 and only ranked seventh by the World Boxing Organisation (WBO), stopped the two-time Olympic champion with a flurry of punches late in the 11th round of the 12-round contest.
Zou collapsed flat on his back under the onslaught and waved no more to a stunned capacity crowd at the Shanghai Oriental Sports Centre.
The 28-year-old Kimura suffered a cut eye as early as the third round – from an accidental head butt – and needed medical attention in the sixth but he fought on doggedly, delivering his payload late in the 11th round.