China’s Yang Yongqiang Wins WBO Title in Thrilling Haikou Bout

Chinese boxing fans erupted in cheers Saturday night as hometown hero Yang Yongqiang extended his perfect record to 17-0, defeating Kazakhstan's Ablaykhan Khusainov to claim the WBO inter-continental lightweight title in Haikou! The coastal city in south China's Hainan Province witnessed a masterclass in strategy as Yang combined precision jabs with TikTok-worthy footwork to outmaneuver his opponent.

The 'Dragon of Haikou' dominated early rounds with surgical strikes before weathering Khusainov's mid-fight surge. After 12 heart-pounding rounds, judges unanimously crowned the 26-year-old phenom – cementing China's growing influence in global boxing.

\"This belt belongs to every Chinese boxing fan,\" Yang told reporters post-fight, shouting out compatriots Zhang Zhilei and Xu Can. \"We're building something special here – watch this space!\"

In the co-main event, China's Lyu Bin showed warrior spirit but fell short against Filipino sensation Vencent Lacar in their WBO oriental flyweight clash. The split decision left fans buzzing about Lacar's lightning counters and Lyu's relentless body shots – setting up potential rematch drama!

With this victory, Yang joins China's new generation of combat sports stars punching above their weight on the world stage. Who's ready for the next round?

Reference(s):

China's Yang claims WBO inter-continental lightweight title in Haikou

cgtn.com