Zou Shiming to make WBO title defense on July 28

Zou Shiming will make the first defense of his WBO flyweight title on July 28 in Shanghai, facing Japan’s Sho Kimura in Shiming’s first outing since last November.

Shiming (9-1, 2 KO) won the vacant WBO title with a 12-round decision victory over Prasitsak Phaprom, aka Kwanpichit OnesongchaiGym, on November 5, on the Pacquiao-Vargas undercard in Las Vegas. It was Zou’s second title opportunity, following a loss in 2015 to Amnat Ruenroeng, who held the IBF title at the time.

Kimura (14-1-2, 7 KO) is a 28-year-old fighting out of Tokyo, who has yet to face real competition, though he did win the WBO Asia Pacific title last November with a majority decision victory over Masahiro Sakamoto. His loss came in his pro debut back in 2013, and he had back-to-back draws in 2014-15 in four and six round fights at the famed Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.

A big crowd will be expected for the fight, surely, as Shiming remains a sporting hero in China, despite some shortcomings as a professional that will keep him from ever being a true global star.