Dubai: China’s sole world champion will take on the next Manny Pacquiao from the Philippines in the Dubai Boxing Showdown to be held at the World Trade Centre here on June 28.
Dubai-based KO Promotion is staging the World Boxing Council (WBC) World Championship fight between strawweight world champion Xiong Zhao Zhong of China and mandatory challenger Denver Cuello from the Philippines.
“I’ve waited for the past three years for this moment. I’ve always wanted to fight a top contender and now finally Dubai has made my dream come true,” Cuello told media here at the formal announcement of the bout on Thursday.
“I’ve been training for the past eight weeks now and I feel I can beat him.”
Undaunted, Zhong vowed he would stand up to the challenge. “I’ve been in training and I am feeling good coming to Dubai for the first time. June 28 is going to be the most important date for boxing in China as I intend to retain my WBC crown,” he said.
“I’m 100 per cent. It will be a fast fight and I will try my best.”
Thirty-year-old Zhong’s rise to boxing fame has been closely watched in China, where the sport is gaining in popularity. His domination and unanimous decision over Mexico’s Javier Martinez Resendiz in Kunming in his home country last November won him the vacant WBC world title belt and improved his fight record to 20 wins, including 11 knockouts, four losses and one draw.
His challenger, 2012 WBC Silver Belt Champion Cuello, is often referred to as the next Pacquiao due to his strength and resemblance to the Filipino legend. The 27-year-old Southpaw is no novice with a record of 33 wins with an impressive 21 knockouts, four losses and six draws.
Cuello earned the right to fight the world champion after beating another Mexican, Ganigan Lopez, in a two-round knockout in May 2012’s WBC Silver Title Fight.
Next week’s fight card will also include contenders vying for the Dubai Challenge Cup, along with four undercard bouts featuring professional boxers from other parts of the world.
The Dubai World Trade Centre venue seats 3,000 spectators and tickets have been priced at Dh250, Dh750 and Dh1,250 and are available at KO Gym, Marhaba Deals online, Virgin Stores and Groupon online.
