Zou Shiming secures first gold at WBO flyweight championship

Zou Shiming of China celebrates after his unanimous-decision victory over Prasitsak Phaprom of Thailand during their WBO flyweight championship fight at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, US on Nov 5, 2016. [Photo/VCG]

LAS VEGAS - Two-time Olympic gold medalist Zou Shiming claimed the vacant World Boxing Organization flyweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Kwanpichit Onesongchaigym at the Thomas & Mack arena in Las Vegas on Saturday.

The 35-year-old from China easily outpointed Kwanpichit, winning on all three judges scorecards to capture his first world title. Two judges had it 120-107 while the other scored it 119-108.

Zou, who won gold in 2008 at Beijing and 2012 in London, posted his second straight win over Kwanpichit following a similar unanimous decision victory in Macao two years ago.

Zou gave the Thai plenty of punishment, especially in the first half of the fight, when he used a steady jab and combination punches to keep the more aggressive Kwanpichit at bay. Zou landed a total of 347 punches to just 107 for Kwanpichit.