Xiong Chaozhong


Xiong Chaozhong or Xiong Zhaozhong 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. 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 scrap often in his youth and one of his cousins eventually convinced him to try boxing professionally, so Xiong moved to Kunming. and it was in Kunming China where he began to train under Zovi Boxing behind the Garden Hotel in northern Kunming. There he was trained by American Coach Abraham Darwish for 7 years and with no Amateur experience turned him into a world class fighter.

Professional career

Xiong debuted as a pro 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 drop 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 win. Over the next three years, Xiong suffered two more losses in Japan, dropping decisions to Takuya Kogawa and Shin Ono.
Xiong defeated Javier Martínez Resendiz for the vacant WBC mini-flyweight title. This made him the first Chinese boxer to ever win a world title. The fight took place in Kunming. Xiong cut Martínez in the third round and outboxed him for most of the fight, winning a unanimous decision. 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. After a further defense, Xiong faced Oswaldo Novoa in February 2014. Xiong was stopped by 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 rounds 2 and 3. The rest of the fight remained close, but Budler retained with a unanimous decision win. 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. Xiong announced his retirement after the fight.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
36LossKnockout CP FreshmartUD1227 Jul 2018Guosen Gymnasium, Qingdao, ChinaFor WBA mini-flyweight title
35Win27–7–1Panya PradabsriMD123 Oct 2017University Gym, Datong, ChinaWon vacant WBA International mini-flyweight title
34Loss26–7–1Jose Antonio JimenezSD1225 May 2016Diamond Court, Beijing, China
33Win26–6–1Crison OmayaoUD1018 Sep 2015Yageer Gymnasium, Ningbo, ChinaRetained WBC International mini-flyweight title;
Won vacant OPBF mini-flyweight title
32Win25–6–1Hiroya YamamotoUD1022 Feb 2015Wenshan, ChinaWon vacant WBC International mini-flyweight title
31Loss24–6–1Hekkie BudlerUD1225 Oct 2014Salle des Etoiles, Monte Carlo, MonacoFor WBA and IBO mini-flyweight titles
30Win24–5–1Jack Amisa9, 3:0025 Jul 2014Central South University of Forestry and Technology Gym, Changsha, China
29Win23–5–1Roilo GolezTKO5, 2:3916 May 2014City Gymnasium, Nanyang, China
28Loss22–5–1Oswaldo NovoaTKO5, 2:365 Feb 2014City Hall, Haikou, ChinaLost WBC mini-flyweight title
27Win22–4–1Lookrak KiatmungmeeTKO5, 1:5930 Nov 2013Maguan, ChinaRetained WBC mini-flyweight title
26Win21–4–1Denver CuelloMD1228 Jun 2013World Trade Centre, Dubai, UAERetained WBC mini-flyweight title
25Win20–4–1Javier Martínez ResendizUD1224 Nov 2012City Stadium, Kunming, ChinaWon vacant WBC mini-flyweight title
24Win19–4–1Osvaldo RazonUD1212 Jun 2012City Stadium, Kunming, ChinaWon vacant WBC Silver light-flyweight title
23Loss18–4–1Shin OnoUD822 Apr 2012Tateyama Gym, Toyama, Japan
22Win18–3–1Guy-Hun LeeKO4, 2:0025 Mar 2012EXPO Garden Hotel, Kunming, China
21Win17–3–1Daisuke IidaUD1219 Nov 2011EXPO Garden Hotel, Kunming, ChinaWon WBC–
20Win16–3–1Rodel Tejares1227 Jun 2011Huili, ChinaRetained interim WBC–ABCO light-flyweight title
19Win15–3–1Pongpan Patanakan GymKO4, 0:2318 Dec 2010City Stadium, Kunming, ChinaWon vacant IBF Pan Pacific and interim WBC–ABCO light-flyweight titles
18Win14–3–1Yasuaki SatoUD109 Jul 2010EXPO Garden Hotel, Kunming, ChinaRetained WBC–ABCO Continental light-flyweight title
17Win13–3–1Herrio PatakomgymKO3 24 Jan 2010EXPO Garden Hotel, Kunming, ChinaWon vacant WBC–ABCO Continental light-flyweight title
16Loss12–3–1Takuya KogawaUD107 Jul 2009Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
15Loss12–2–1Daisuke NaitoUD1226 May 2009Differ Ariake, Tokyo, JapanFor WBC flyweight title
14Win12–1–1Zhao Kang JiaUD817 Dec 2008EXPO Garden Hotel, Kunming, China
13Loss11–1–1Julius AlcosUD126 Nov 2008Sichuan Gymnasium, Chengdu, ChinaLost WBC–ABCO Continental light-flyweight title
12Win11–0–1Yang ChaoTKO7 26 Jul 2008EXPO Garden Hotel, Kunming, China
11Win10–0–1Numchai TaksinisanKO1 21 Mar 2008Luzhou, ChinaWon vacant WBC–ABCO Continental light-flyweight title
10Win9–0–1Lin Guo WeiKO1 1 Dec 2007EXPO Garden Hotel, Kunming, China
9Win8–0–1Numchai KiatpaibounUD69 Oct 2007Sichuan Stadium Center, Chengdu, China
8Win7–0–1Li BengKO2 25 Aug 2007EXPO Garden Hotel, Kunming, China
7Win6–0–1Zhou Hai FengKO5 14 Jul 2007EXPO Garden Hotel, Kunming, China
6Win5–0–1Bai Jun2, 1:588 Jun 2007EXPO Garden Hotel, Kunming, China
5Win4–0–1Zhang Rong ZheTKO6 21 Apr 2007EXPO Garden Hotel, Kunming, China
4Win3–0–1Wang Xin Yu624 Mar 2007EXPO Garden Hotel, Kunming, China
3Win2–0–1Zhang Rong Zhe2, 1:2326 Jan 2007EXPO Garden Hotel, Kunming, China
2Win1–0–1Zhang Rong Zhe421 Dec 2006EXPO Garden Hotel, Kunming, China
1Draw0–0–1Yu Ling Feng415 Aug 2006EXPO Garden Hotel, Kunming, China